About 20 per cent of newborn babies develop colic. It usually begins within an infant's first few weeks and tends to peak at about eight to 12 weeks. Colic normally stops when the child is three or four months old.

The exact cause of colic is unknown. It may be due to trapped wind swallowed during feeding or crying, or the fact that the baby's digestive system is not fully developed.

Colicky babies tend to have periods of the day or night €“ often early evening €“ when they cry and fuss intensely for no obvious reason. They may pull their legs up to their stomach as if in pain, clench their fists and arch their backs.

What are the treatment options?

Current guidelines advise trying drops containing simeticone (example: Infacol) or lactase (example: Colief) for seven days to see if symptoms improve.

Simeticone works by breaking up tiny bubbles of trapped air in the baby's stomach to form larger bubbles which are easier to bring up. Lactase drops break down lactose in the baby's milk, making it easier to digest.

Also available is gripe water. This contains alkaline substances like sodium bicarbonate and soothing ingredients like dill oil. Some are unsuitable for children under one month.

Special infant formula milk (examples: Aptamil Comfort, Cow & Gate Comfort) could also be considered. These contain broken down whey protein to make the milk easier to digest. They are also thicker in consistency to help babies take in milk more evenly with less air, and they have a reduced lactose content to aid digestion. Only a healthcare professional (e.g. a pharmacist, pharmacy technician, health visitor or doctor) can recommend a special infant formula milk, so always refer to the pharmacist.

To help ease colic, suggest:

• Holding the baby during a colic episode or wrapping them snugly in a blanket (swaddling) to help comfort them
• Sitting the baby upright during feeding to prevent them from swallowing too much air
• Burping the baby after a feed by sitting them upright or holding them against a shoulder, making sure the baby's head and neck are supported. Advise gently rubbing the baby's back until they burp. The baby may regurgitate a small amount of milk, but this is normal
• If bottle feeding, using teats with larger or several holes may be useful, as teats that are too small may cause babies to swallow air along with their feed
• If breastfeeding, don't drink too much tea, coffee or other drinks that contain caffeine.