Colic, just the word strikes fear in the heart of most parents. As any parent of a colicky baby will attest, the hours and hours of screaming that your precious angel can sustain can drive even the best parents around the bend. There is help for this seemingly intractable problem.

What is colic? Excellent question. I wish I had an equally excellent answer. Medical professionals just do not know exactly what colic is or what causes it. It is thought, in most cases, to be gas, but some babies exhibit all of the signs of colic without the signs of gas. Medical opinion is split on whether colic is one syndrome or more than one closely related syndromes.

Colic, or irritable crying as it is sometimes called, usually starts around 2–4 weeks postpartum and ends between 3 and 4 months of age. Most babies have their bouts between 4pm and 10pm.

Before deciding that your baby has colic, check in with your doctor. It could be something else.

Most colicky babies are actually thriving physically. They gain weight at an above average rate and increase their demands for formula or breast milk.

Suggested treatments for colic There are many things you can do to help your colicky child. Not all of these will work on all babies of course so experiment.

1. Pacifier use. Some babies find a pacifier comforting during an episode.

2. Stomach pressure. Most colicky babies like firm but gentle pressure on their stomachs during an episode. Try lying baby face down or holding them with your arm or hand pressing on their stomach, or against your shoulder or chest.

3. Heat. Many babies like either being laid, stomach down, on a hot water bottle or a warm bath. Always test a hot water bottle by pushing the underside of your arm to it. If you feel any discomfort it is too hot for your baby. As an added precaution drape a towel or cloth diaper over it so that you do not burn your baby's delicate skin.

4. Movement. Many babies like being rocked (especially while being in one of the "colic carries" described above), walked (try holding the baby rather than putting them in a stroller) or driven in a car.

5. Change in your diet or your baby's. Sometimes eliminating dairy products from the diet of a breast feeding mother or a change in the formula of a bottle fed baby can reduce colic.

6. Massage. The following massage is designed with the colicky baby in mind. As stated earlier, not all techniques will work with all babies. Do not worry if your baby cries during the first few minutes of the massage or after the first one or two massages, but prolonged screaming after the massage or during the massage after the first massage or two means this technique is not for your baby. If you plan to make infant massage a regular part of your baby's week wait until at least two weeks after starting the colic massage. You do not want the baby to associate the pain of colic with massage.

   As in any massage, let your child guide you. Do not force massage on a child who doesn't want it.

   If your child is always colicky at the same time of day you can do the massage a few hours before you expect the colic to start. Being massaged before the colic starts may reduce the intensity of the baby's discomfort or eliminate it completely.

   After making sure the room you are going to do the massage in is suitably warm and that you yourself are relaxed. Start by undressing your baby down to their diaper and laying them on a soft surface.

   Always start by asking your baby's permission before starting the massage. Even if they are pre-verbal they will learn to recognize the pattern of sounds and actions and will be able to indicate they want to go forward or not.

   Always use a food oil when massaging a baby. They will be sure to get some on their hands and then put their hands in their mouth. Never massage a baby with something you yourself would not eat. I prefer cold pressed almond oil, but any light food oil will work.

   Once the oil is on your hands, rub your hands together to heat the oil and your hands. Gently make contact with the baby and bring your hands to the baby's abdomen. Make 3 or 4 clockwise circles on the abdomen using both hands, about 180 degrees apart from one another.

   Pick up the legs just below the knees. Pushing the legs together gently push them into the abdomen (They will not go all the way!) allowing the knees to bend. Straighten legs, gently shake them out and repeat twice Do not be surprised if your baby passes gas rectally during this move.

   Move your hands up to the top of the baby's abdomen. Using gentle pressure push in and pull your hand down toward the baby's diaper area. Repeat four times.

   With hands on either side of baby's abdomen gently rock baby from side to side encouraging baby to relax.

   Wrap baby in warm clothes.

Good luck and have a wonderful month.

Leslie Hope has been licensed, certified massage therapist since 1988 when she graduated from the Massage Institute of New England. She is the owner of the Healing Hands of Hope in Boston, Mass.