How to Keep a Colic Diary

Click on Image to Download Colic Diary

The following are things to note in your colic diary:

• Periods of fussing and crying. Note how long the crying episode lasts and what was done by whom to comfort the baby, such as holding the baby.
• Signs and symptoms. Take note of your baby’s posture, body language and other physical signs and symptoms during a crying spell, such as clenched fists, bloated stomach, and passing gas while crying. Even changes in the pitch of your baby’s cries can be helpful to your doctor.
• Sleep pattern. Write down the baby’s sleeping periods and how long each one lasted. Also, did the baby sleep alone or with someone in the room?
• Feedings. Note how often the baby was fed and whether they were given formula or breastfed. Also be sure to note details such as whether the baby spit up, burped, etc. Type of formula and how much was given is also important to keep track of.
• Your food intake if breastfeeding. Keep track of the foods that you eat if you’re breastfeeding.

Keeping track of these details in a colic diary is an important part of helping your doctor rule out other conditions that could cause your baby to cry excessively. It can also help you and your doctor identify your baby’s colic pattern so that you can take measures to try to prevent, or at least lessen, the severity and duration of episodes.

Along with symptoms and the other details you track, your doctor will also perform a physical exam, checking for tender spots and pain, fever, and other possible causes. In most cases a doctor can tell if a baby has colic based on the symptoms provided by the parent.

You can download a colic diary PDF to help you keep track of all of these details. Be sure to include any extra details that may be important, such as activities and mood during the periods that your baby is awake.