during the first few months of life. It usually begins at two to three weeks of age and lasts up to three to four months.

The attack can be brief or last several hours. It can occur after one or more, or after all feeds. Colic often seems to be worse at night. The crying is often accompanied by abdominal discomfort. The infant's stomach is often hard to touch. His legs may be drawn up to his body.

The precise cause of infant colic is unknown. However, it has been attributed to many factors. Included among the factors are an over active nervous system, overfeeding, trapped air and allergies. The following are suggested methods that you can use to soothe your colicky baby: Hold your infant in the upright position when feeding. Burp him/her frequently during the feed and at the end. Keep your infant upright for a while after feeding. This will help trapped gas rise and be released. If you are breast feeding, check your diet.

Certain foods can cause stomach discomfort in your baby. Included in the list are fried and fatty foods, gaseous fruits and vegetables, such as apples, avocado, cantaloupe, beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, onions and cucumber.

Caffeine, cola beverages and chocolates can also affect some infants. Recent reports show that some relief from colic has been obtained by removing cow's milk for the diets of breast feeding mothers. However, this may necessitate the addition of calcium supplements. It is best to consult your doctor before trying this remedy.

Remember each baby is different. Often only trial and error will enable you to identify foods that may be causing distress to your baby. If you think that a particular food is distressing your infant, eliminate that food for five to seven days to see if it makes a difference.

If you are bottle feeding your infant ensure that the nipple hole is not too large or too small. Milk should flow easily and steadily at a rate of about one drop per second. Avoid overfeeding your infant. A newborn only has a stomach capacity for one to three ounces at a time increasing to three to five ounces at one month. Giving your infant more than he needs will make him feel uncomfortable and unsettled. Small frequent feeds will assist in preventing colic.

Other methods that may assist comforting your colicky baby include wrapping him tightly in a light blanket. Many infants feel secure when confined.

Additionally infants find contentment in sucking.

Finally raising the head of your baby's mattress may help him to burp while sleeping.

It can be difficult to remain calm when caring for a colicky baby. You may find that leaving your infant with a trustworthy sitter and going out for the evening occasionally is extremely helpful.

Also it may reassure you to know what although babies with colic appear to be suffering great distress; they are also almost in perfect health. Many grow at an average rate or even better than average rate.

Remember too that babies outgrow colic when they are about three months or a little older. Do try to enjoy your infant; after the colic is over you'll enjoy him even more. Lovette Lovell Health Visitor Department of Health.