by Sara W.

Created on: January 04, 2011

Bringing baby home for the first time is an unforgettable experience. But don't let the first few days deceive you! Your baby will soon wake from that newborn coma-state and, if you are fortunate, will be one of those so-called "easy" babies. But an unlucky few soon realize that their little one cries often for no reason. Excessive, unexplainable crying is the condition known as colic.

Many explanations have been offered for the cause of colic. Tummy troubles such as allergies and trapped gas have been a couple of the prominent theories. The word "colic", after all, is a derivative of the word "colon". But current research and more than a few frazzled parents have put to bed many of the traditional explanations.

When baby has been fed and burped, when milk and other such allergens have been removed from mother's diet, and when all other baby woes have been solved (clean diaper, cuddle time, etc.), there must be a more accurate explanation.

Dr. Harvey Karp has offered the best understanding yet of this profound mystery called colic. In his book, The Happiest Baby On The Block, he proposes that colic has a two-fold cause. Babies who cry for hours on end lack the self-soothing ability with which most other babies are born. This trait combined with a sensitive or high-strung personality can create the perfect storm for colic.

Self-Soothing

The ability to self-calm is one that many parents take for granted when it comes to their newborn. But for parents whose babies have colic, they can only dream about such luxuries. When a baby with colic begins to fuss, it is as if the baby completely forgets what was so upsetting in the first place. It could have been a startle or a burp. The fussing then triggers an unrelenting cycle of crying—yes, crying simply because of...crying!

Babies who possess the ability to self-soothe are able to calm their crying when the object that triggered the crying in the first place is removed or has passed. But the poor colicky baby has long forgotten the thing that started the crying spell, and has a set of lungs that can scream for hours!

Personality

If your baby has colic, one of the first clues you will notice is that your baby may be uber-sensitive. Does your baby startle very easily? Does your baby's moro reflex trigger frequently? (This is when your baby thinks he is falling even when he is not. His arms will quiver uncontrollably out to the side.)

On the upside, colicky infants usually have very sweet personalities. They love to cuddle, and when their huge cuddle quotients have not been met, they will let you know through tearful wails!

If you have a baby with colic, take heart. This phase will be short-lived, even though it feels like an eternity! Luckily for us parents raising babies in the 21st century, there is a wealth of knowledge on the subject of colic. Stick with Dr. Karp's advice and you will find that your baby can be the happiest one on the block!

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