Colic - a small word with a big impact! You may be wondering, as you try every technique under the sun to soothe your crying newborn, why you haven’t heard of it before now. And why someone didn’t explain exactly what to do. But you’re here now and are not alone: 1 in 5 babies suffer from colic. Colic is the word used for when babies cry for a consistent period of time without any obvious cause. It’s poorly understood, and there’s no consensus on the cause. One theory is that a baby’s gut is underdeveloped early on, making it harder for them to digest food and causing some temporary distress. Another theory is that it occurs with an overactive letdown of the milk supply when breastfeeding. How long does it last? Colic typically starts in the first six weeks of life. It fits the diagnosis if a baby cries for more than three hours a day, for at least three days a week. Most babies suffer from colic in the evening, but it can happen at any time of the day. Colic usually goes away by itself after three to four months. But, of course, every baby is different: you may feel relieved if it’s short-lived, or you could be unlucky, and it lasts for six months or so.

Meningitis is a life-threatening infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and the spinal cord called the meninges. You must be able to identify the symptoms of meningitis as it can develop into a life-threatening infection known as sepsis or septicemia. It is critical to know that the symptoms of meningitis can occur in any order. Because of the severity, if you suspect that a family member or someone you know could have meningitis, you should seek urgent medical advice.

Projectile vomiting is when vomit flies out of a baby’s mouth forcefully. It will project like an arc several feet back, and looks quite different from the undramatic dribble of spitting up or possetting. One important cause of projectile vomiting is pyloric stenosis, which affects 2-4 in 1,000 newborn babies. Pyloric stenosis occurs when there is a progressive thickening of the lower aspect of the stomach, causing a tightening or narrowing of the outlet of the stomach where it goes into the small intestine. This tightening means food can’t leave the stomach, causing an obstruction, and it requires immediate medical attention and treatment. The symptoms often occur in the first 5 weeks of life. It is more common in children whose parents had pyloric stenosis as a child, and in first-born males.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is commonly referred to as crib death. It is the term for the sudden death of a healthy baby that occurs without explanation or expectation. Thankfully, SIDS is rare, with about 1,300 babies dying in the US every year, but every death is one death too many, so the aim is to reduce the risk as much as possible.