It's a commonly heard word around young babies, and aimed at new parents. But what does it mean? 

In short...it is a term used to refer to periods of incessant crying from a seemingly healthy infant (Langden 2010) . One definition bases a Colic diagnosis on 'the rule of 3' - episodes of recurring crying need to occur for more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week and weeks minimum (Wessel's Criteria, 1954). Generally, the definitions available refer to repeated and persistent episodes of crying and fussing in young babies where the cause is not immediately evident. 

Although you may hear a baby described as 'having colic' or 'being colicy', implying colic is a condition to be diagnosed, in reality it is a symptom of something else going on for that particular baby. If a medical professional, or even just your aunty Susan, dismisses your struggles with your crying baby as "oh, he's just got colic", you do not need to accept this as a good enough explanation. The cause of your little one's upset could be something easily solved if only they could talk and tell you the issue! So, a bit of detective work could go a long way:

• Does the crying always corrolate with a particular time or day, activity, situation...? Perhaps it's always towards the evening, after a tiring day of being a baby and building thousands of neural connections, older siblings and the dog are suddenly all in the living room. Perhaps baby is overstimulated. Perhaps they're tired,  overwhelmed and frustrated. 

Try creating space of calm for your baby in the evening madness. And space of calm for you - a tired, busy and stressed you is going to struggle to help regulate your tired and stressed baby. Use your village and the practical tools you have to hand to make these periods as easy on you as possible: babywear, have a conversation and create clear boundaries and tasks for your older children during these periods, divide responsibility with other adults where you can.

• Do you notice more crying around feeding times? Your newborn has a very immature digestive system that is having to work in a whole new way outside of the cosy womb. Some babies find digestion harder work than others - this could be due to a slight sensitivity to something. It could be to do with the speed at which baby recieves the milk - perhaps they're gulping it as it flows in super fast, and air enters the belly and needs somewhere to go. Perhaps baby needs help with their latch on the breast or bottle so they feed more comfortably? Perhaps they're struggling with reflux. A webinar I recently watched emphasised how connected the mouth, jaw and throat are to the tummy: perhaps the birth experience put particular strain on baby's head and neck and that tension runs through the entire body making feeding and digesting a struggle! 

Try getting support with feeding to identify any potential issues there. Play around with feeding and winding positions to help reduce and relieve air intake. Perhaps visit an osteopath or chiropractor to release bodily tension in your baby. 

• Why else might their environment be it's comfiest? Are there labels or fastenings on their clothes causing them bother? Is the space too hot or too cold? I've even seen suggestions or plug-in air-freshners containing allergens or altering the gut microbiome. 

General suggestions of how to soothe your crying baby:

• Holding them upright - if you think wind may be an issue, wonky winding (positioning baby angled towards their left/over your right shoulder) might help

• Holding them horizontally and close - in-utero, your baby was horizontal more than vertical, and they were always very close to you...so positions that mimic this can be calming. Try cradling your baby or look up 'tiger in the tree hold' to see how to hold baby across your forearm with gentle pressure on their tummy. 

• Get moving - hold or pop baby in a sling and rock, walk, climb the stairs etc. 

• Create a calming, quiet space - dim the lights, run a bath (perhaps for you and baby), put on some gentle music, and try some simple massage techniques to relax your little one. Skin-to-skin is a wonderful oxytocin booster for both you and baby from birth so enjoy some cuddles and closeness, taking deep breaths and trying to stay calm yourself. 

As your baby continues to develop, assuming there are no underlying physiological reasons for the crying that need rectifying, the episodes should reduce. Of course, if you're struggling to cope, baby isn't thriving, the crying is persisting past 4 months or you're getting worried, seek professional support! And, if you just need an extra pair of hands to take some of the weight, I'm just a message away. Let's chat!