Health Tip: Colicky Baby?

Wednesday, June 18, 2008; 3:00 AM

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(HealthDay News) -- Colic -- an attack of unexplained crying that affects young infants -- can frustrate many new parents.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions when your baby shows signs of colic:

• Colic does not mean that your baby is unhealthy. Its exact cause is unknown.
• Don't feel guilty. You didn't do anything to cause your baby to be upset.
• Colic generally subsides by about 3 months of age, and almost never occurs beyond 6 months.
• It's not a bad thing to give your baby extra attention when colicky. Don't worry about spoiling your baby.
• There are lots of ways to calm your baby. Try different things until you find what calms the infant down, such as feeding your baby in an upright position, burping the infant often, or rocking the baby gently in a rocking chair.