Does Colic Come Back? Prepare Yourself Mom

Dealing with a colicky baby can be one of the more trying aspects of new parenthood. You want to do anything to help your baby feel better, and maybe secure at least a tiny bit of rest for yourself. But even once you've apparently gotten rid of colic, it's easy to worry about a remission. Does colic come back, and is there anything you can do to prevent it from happening?

Colic refers to the situation in which newborn babies cry for no apparent reason, according to Parents. As the publications further noted, colic does tend to go away once your baby is around three to four months old. So once your baby is around four months old and past the extreme crying phase, are you in the clear?

Well, maybe. Unfortunately, the exact causes of colic, and why it affects some babies and not others, is not well understood. Even more mysteriously, colic will usually go away — even without treatment — after a couple of weeks, as noted by the Better Health Channel. And although more research is needed to determine the exact causes and cures of colic, asking about the return of colic is a common topic on parenting forums such as Mothering.com. It looks like many babies, even those who have passed the crucial four-month period, experience recurring bouts of colic for no apparent reason whatsoever. So what can you do to help your baby (and yourself) through these difficult crying jags?

There are plenty of methods you may try to soothe your baby's recurrent colic. For instance, some mothers experiment with giving up dairy to cure colic (if they're breastfeeding). Other ideas, such as a white noise machine or hot water bottle, may also help your little one calm down. In addition, don't be afraid to reach out to friends and family to watch the baby for a bit so you can get some rest: remember to take care of yourself during this stressful time as well. And if your baby's colic is exceptionally upsetting, or you're concerned it may by the result of some underlying health conditions, don't hesitate to reach out to your doctor for more advice.