Is it just fussiness, or is it colic?

Some babies have frustrating periods of frequent, prolonged and intense crying known as colic — typically starting a few weeks after birth and improving by age 3 months.

Colic is often defined as crying for three or more hours a day, three or more days a week, for three or more weeks in an otherwise healthy infant. The crying might seem like an expression of pain and begin for no apparent reason. The timing might be predictable, with episodes often happening at night.

If you're concerned about colic, talk to your baby's health care provider. He or she can check if your baby is healthy and suggest additional soothing techniques.