Colic is the most probable diagnosis because the baby cries for at least 2 hours per day, for at least 3 days a week, and has been crying for more than three weeks, and is growing well, with a normal physical examination. Colic usually starts when a baby is more than three weeks old. Colic may last as long as 8 weeks and will stop as quickly as it started. Babies who have colic are often more sensitive to their environment and body sensations. Milk intolerance although frequently incriminated, is very rare when crying is the only symptom.
It is important to evaluate the number of hours a baby cries to make sure it is not neurological irritability. A baby who cries more than 4 hours total per day may have something other than colic. It is very important to validate with the parents precisely the number of hours their baby cries because they may overestimate it. It is also of most importance to assess if other digestive symptoms are present.
