Colic & the crying baby

Inconsolable crying is wearing

When a baby cries for hours and can barely be soothed, it wears on the nerves and the heart. You're doing nothing wrong. Some babies cry especially much in the first months, often in the evening. This says nothing about you as a parent.

What may lie behind colic

The exact causes aren't fully clear: an immature digestive tract, overstimulation at the end of the day, processing many impressions. Usually it's a passing phase that settles by itself after the first months, which is comforting to know.

Try soothing gently

Gentle carrying, rhythmic rocking, steady sounds, skin contact, a warm tummy position over your arm, dimmed light. Not everything helps every baby. Try calmly and stay as composed as you can yourself; your calm carries over.

Look after yourself

Hours of crying can drive you to despair. That's human. In an emergency, lay the baby safely in their cot and briefly leave the room to breathe; that's better than losing patience. Take turns, get help, you don't have to carry this alone.

Never shake

However desperate you are, a baby must never be shaken; it can cause the most severe, lasting damage. When the tension becomes too great, lay the baby down safely and get support. Getting help is strength, not failure.

When to see a doctor

With very strong or changed crying, fever, poor drinking, vomiting, marked floppiness or if you're worried, have the baby examined. Crying clinics and counselling centres also offer concrete, relieving help.