In the past, most doctors, midwives, paediatricians and nurses, as well as parents and grandparents, would label babies with the condition called 'infantile colic'. 'Colic' described the frequently disgruntled, upset and/or having long periods of unexplained crying, especially during the first 3 to 4 months after the baby's birth (and usually in the early evenings). Typical 'colic' behaviour includes the baby seeming distressed (or perhaps even in pain), having regular bouts of inconsolable crying and grizzling, usually in between frequent feeding, pooing and vomiting. Even when the baby was not crying, they would appear restless and uncomfortable.
Because colicky behaviour was labelled as a 'health condition', many caregivers would prescribe various 'treatments' for infantile colic, which may have included anything from sedatives (making the baby very drowsy, but nonetheless more quiet) and anti-spasmodic medications. Parents may have used gripe water (a herbal mixture), homoeopathics, chiropractic spinal manipulation or even cooled weakened chamomile tea on a teaspoon. However, none of these interventions have yet to be shown to be of long term benefit (but may have helped in temporary situations) and in most cases, made little difference to the baby's behaviour. (Or they are introduced at a time when the baby was starting to 'grow out' of this behaviour - around 12 to 16 weeks, therefore they 'worked'.)
In more recent years, the fussy and irritable behaviour (which is common for many newborn babies) has now been recognised as being quite normal, and the label of 'colic' is being moved away from. One theory put forward about the cause of 'colicky' behaviour by an American paediatrician, Dr Brazelton, is that the baby's nervous system is still maturing and can only cope with a certain amount of stimulation each day.