Health & Baby

Prolonged Infant Crying: Sign of Trouble?

Prolonged Colic, Mental Deficits Are Rare

"I don't want parents to go crazy worrying about this... The good news is, most infants in this study had garden-variety colic, and they were fine. In general, colic goes away and this study does not imply otherwise," says Steven Parker, MD, director of behavioral and developmental pediatrics at Boston Medical Center and professor of pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine. Parker also writes a biweekly column for WebMD's Parenting and Pregnancy channel.

"If crying lasts over six months, it's worthwhile for a pediatrician to try to figure out what it's due to," Parker tells WebMD. "In some kids, it may be a medical problem like heartburn or reflux, and they end up being OK. In a small percentage, there may be something going on in the nervous system. Early intervention for these kids would help them."