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

1. 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
2. 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
3. Warm Bath: If crying continues, take a warm bath with your baby
4. Feedings: Feed your baby, if more than 2 hours since the last feeding or 1and 1/2 hours for breast fed babies
5. 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
6. 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.
7. 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