by BabyCenter Featured Expert posted in Parenting

By Dr. Smita Malhotra
In the newborn phase, crying is the main way your child communicates with you. And as a parent, it can be overwhelming to decipher what needs to be addressed. As time goes by, you will be able to tell between the different cries -- whether your baby is hungry, needs to be held, needs a diaper change, or is sleepy.
But what if you've tried everything and your baby still continues to cry"
As a pediatrician, one of the most common reasons parents bring newborns to my office is persistent fussiness and crying, despite taking care of their other needs. In these cases, we have to consider other causes.
Here are three of the most common:
1. Colic
My own child suffered through colic, so I understand that what feels like endless hours of crying can bring you to your knees! Medically, colic is defined as frequent crying in an otherwise healthy baby. Babies with colic cry for three hours a day, for more than three days a week, lasting for three weeks or more. They often bring their legs up to their tummy, clench their fists, and tense up their abdominal muscles. While there is no definitive cause of colic, it?s thought that these babies are overly sensitive to stimulation and simply have difficulty self-soothing.
Colic affects about one in five babies and starts early, within the first few weeks of life. And although it may not feel like it to parents, it?s relatively short-lived, resolving by about three t...