Crying Baby - Less Than 3 Months (includes Colic)
Symptom Definition
- A newborn or infant < 90 days of age has the sudden onset of unexplained crying
- The younger the child, the harder it is to identify the cause of the crying
- Main cause of recurrent crying: colic (excessive normal fussy crying)
- Other common causes: hunger, sleepy, pain, too cold, too hot, clothing too tight
See More Appropriate Topic
- If age > 3 months old (Not colic), see Crying Child >3 Months Old
- If Fever or any symptoms of an illness, see that topic
Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If
- Your child looks or acts very sick
- Newborn (< 1 month old) who looks or acts sick
- Age younger than 3 months with fever > 100.4°F (38°C) rectally
- Low temperature < 96.8°F (36.0°C) rectally
- There is vomiting
- You are afraid you might hurt your baby or have shaken your baby
- Your baby cannot be comforted after trying for > 2 hours
Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 and 4) If
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Not gaining weight or seems hungry
- You are exhausted from all the crying
Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If
- You have other questions or concerns
- Your baby has never been examined for colic
- Crying began after 1 month of age
- Crying occurs 3 or more times per day
Parent Care at Home If
- Normal colic and you don’t think your child needs to be seen
Home Care Advice for Chest Pain from Sore Muscles
- Reassurance: Colic is the normal fussy crying seen in healthy babies. It occurs once or twice a day and should respond to comforting. With colic, babies act happy between bouts of crying
- Hold and Comfort: Hold and soothe your baby whenever he cries without a reason. The horizontal position is best for helping a baby relax, settle down, and go to sleep
- Provide a gentle rocking motion in a cradle or rocking chair
- Dance with your baby to some slow music
- Place in a front pack or sling (which frees the hands of the caregiver)
- Place in a wind-up swing or a vibrating chair
- Take for a stroller (or buggy) ride – outdoors or indoors
- Warm Bath: If crying continues, take a warm bath with your baby
- Feedings: Feed your baby, if more than 2 hours since the last feeding or 1and 1/2 hours for breast fed babies
- Cry to Sleep: Put your baby down to sleep, if more than 3 hours have passed since the last nap and you have tried quiet holding for more than 30 minutes. Some overtired infants need to cry themselves to sleep
- Expected Course: Once you find the right technique, the crying should decrease to 1 hour per day. Colic improves after 2 months of age and is gone by 3 months.
- Call Your Doctor If
- Becomes worse or develops any of the “Call Your Doctor” symptoms
- Cries constantly for > 2 hours, using this advice
- Cannot be comforted, using this advice