Most newborn babies cry for a number of reasons but if a well-fed and healthy baby cries for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days per week, for at least 3 weeks, the infant may be suffering from colic. Although distressing and exhausting for the parents, colic is a self-limiting condition which eventually settles on its own and does not harm the baby in any way. It usually starts or becomes more intense a few weeks after birth but normally settles by 3 to 4 months of age. The term colic may be used in various medical contexts so the correct term for colic in babies is infantile colic.
Newborn babies cry for the same reason that any child cries – they want attention and they want it fast. Crying is the only form of communication at the disposal of a newborn baby. As baby learns that the crying will illicit the appropriate response from the caregivers, you can rest assured that baby will use it to their full advantage.
However persistent crying should not be taken lightly. It may be an indication that the infant is in distress, possibly due to a serious medical condition.
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