Prevalence of infant colic

SUMMARY Colic affected 16 % of 843 infants. It was not related to breast or cows ' milk feeding. Increased prevalence was noted if cereals or solids had been introduced during the first 3 months of life and in infants from professional or skilled social groupings. Colic is a common problem in infancy. Although it is not generally associated with serious disease it may be profoundly disturbing to the child and his family. The mother's distress is exacerbated by lack of an adequate explanation. Her inability to help her infant is made worse by the implication that the colic may result from some failure in the relationship between mother and baby. Certainly a young infant with severe colic tests the affection of any member of the family exposed to it. Many hypotheses hav