Crying and Colic

By responding quickly to your baby's cries and providing comfort, your baby will learn to trust you. Remember that you cannot spoil a baby and that they rely on you or another loving person to provide them with the food, warmth, and comfort that they need. Crying is your baby's way of communicating these needs. Most commonly, your baby will cry if they are hungry, uncomfortable, too cold or too hot, or unwell or if they need to be held or need to rest. When your baby is crying you can try to comfort them by feeding, playing gentle music or singing a lullaby, massaging their back or tummy, walking around or sitting in rocking in a chair while holding them in your arms, or using a soother.

Colic is a term that is used to describe uncontrollable crying in a healthy baby. Crying is part of a newborns baby's normal development. Some babies cry for longer periods and with greater intensity than others. Some refer to this normal phase of an infant's development as the period of PURPLE crying.

As a new parent it may be difficult to determine what your baby needs. Comforting them may be very difficult and at times you may feel helpless. It is important to remember that with time you will begin to recognize your baby's different crying patterns and be able to anticipate their needs. It is also important to remember that crying is normal and it will not last forever.

For more information on the most common reasons babies cry, techniques for soothing, and strategies for coping with colic or the period of PURPLE crying, please see the links below.

• National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome - What is the period of PURPLE crying?
• Canadian Paediatric Society - Colic and crying
• KidsHealth from Nemours - Your colicky baby
• Hospital for Sick Children - Colic
• CHEO - Understanding and coping with your baby's crying