All babies cry, but if your baby is crying excessively, which is often defined as crying for more than three hours at a time, three days per week, he may be suffering from colic. A colicky baby might cry because he has gas pains or because something in his diet is causing pain and discomfort. Gas pains can cause crying in noncolicky infants as well.
Colic
Colicky babies usually begin crying excessively around the age of three weeks. It may get worse until she is between four and six weeks of age, then it should decrease and disappear around three months of age. Usually the fussiness and crying starts in the evening and follows a regular pattern each day. She may pull her legs up to her torso, and her stomach may look and feel bloated. Once she passes gas or has a bowel movement, the worst of the crying may be over. Usually, babies with colic still eat well and gain weight. If your baby is not feeding normally, contact her pediatrician.
Gas After Feeding
If your breastfed baby does not have a good latch or if you are bottle feeding, he may swallow air during feeding. Relieve his pain by burping him halfway through a feeding and again at the end of a feeding. If you are nursing, burp him when you switch breasts. Another cause of gas during and after feedings is waiting until your baby is upset and crying a lot before feeding him. This can cause him to gasp and sputter while eating, swallowing air in the process. Try to feed your baby before he gets too upset, and if he is gasping while eating, take frequent breaks to burp him.
Physical Maneuvers
You may be able to move your baby in such a way as to help her release trapped gas causing her pain. Try laying her across your lap face-down and rubbing her back. The pressure on her abdomen may bring up a burp or allow her to pass gas. Carrying her upright can also encourage her to expel gas. Sometimes going for a ride in the car or sitting in a vibrating infant seat will both soothe her and help her pass the painful gas.
Common Offenders
In some cases, your newborn's diet can cause excessive gas. If you are nursing, talk to your pediatrician about whether you should cut out certain foods. If your baby is sensitive to milk, for example, cutting dairy products out of your diet might relieve his discomfort. If formula-feeding, talk to his doctor about whether you should try a different type of baby formula, such as one that is lactose-free or soy-based instead of milk-based. Do not change your baby's formula without talking to his doctor.
