How much should a 3 month old cry?

I know babies cry a lot, but I think my son cries more than he should. We don't see his pedi for another month. I don't think he is sick or anything, but he cries a lot. It used to be because he would get belly aches after he ate, but I don't really think that is what it is anymore. As of a few days ago he has become even harder to console than before. He used to just fuss/cry on and off all day, he still does that. He is starting to smile more and is developing an interest in his activity mat, but when he cries he just screams 5x louder and harder than he ever has before, turns red, and is so worked up that I am not sure he could quite crying if he wanted to. I don't even know why he cries. Feel like I am going to lose my mind.

Maybe he has colic? I think that's what it's called.. My mom said my oldest sister was like that

Quoting Erin Berlin:" I know babies cry a lot, but I think my son cries more than he should. We don't see his pedi for another ... [snip!] ... that I am not sure he could quite crying if he wanted to. I don't even know why he cries. Feel like I am going to lose my mind."

colic?
reflux?

I think they are at the stage of "purple crying" at that age.

I don't think he is colicy. He used to spit up a lot at every meal, so we put him on spit up formula, which worked wonders for that, but he had terrible gas to the point where he'd cry when he would fart. So we tried soy, on a hunch. Gas went away, but spitting up came back, so we give him half and half bottles and that has worked wonders. He barely spits up now and his gas is almost completely gone except around the hour or two prior to a BM. He doesn't get as upset after meals now. He sleeps 8-9 hours at night but then wants to eat every 1-2 hours during the day, which the pedi said was fine, except now he wants larger bottles. There are days when he eats 40-45 oz in a day (which given his sleep pattern would really only be between like 7am and 10pm). He's a big boy. 16ish lbs at 3 months. He's not really fat...just...solid. Pedi said he was fine in the weight area too. I just want to know what I can do for him...for both of our sanities.

My son is 5 1/2 months now an hes just like that. Hes been that way pretty much since he was born. Ive took him to the hospital over his crying fits n everything. They always told me he just has tons of gas. He did used to fart tons in the begining but I think thats because my breast milk was giving him gas cause of what I was eating but at 9 wks he got on formula n the farts n stuff pretty much went away. The ped said he has reflux so hes on a special formula. But my son still has really bad crying fits n I cant confort him. I say my son crys more than normal babies too. Have u tried gripe water? I know I saw a little bit of a difference in his crying with that. Us mothers know our babies so just inform ur ped about it. I keep trying new things with my son which I hope he will grow outta this all time crying an hope that theres something really not wrong with him. Good luck

We have tried gripe water, I don't think it makes much of a difference. My kid is always so hungry. Sometimes we don't want to feed him because he JUST ate and think that he couldn't possibly be hungry, but he is. He just has a massive appetite.

Quoting Erin Berlin:" We have tried gripe water, I don't think it makes much of a difference. My kid is always so hungry. Sometimes ... [snip!] ... want to feed him because he JUST ate and think that he couldn't possibly be hungry, but he is. He just has a massive appetite. "

probably reflux. does he eat in small frequent amounts? arch his back? gag? choke? hate lying flat? spit ups often?
my LO had severe silent reflux so all those symptoms without the vomiting. he got put on meds at 5 months and is the happiest baby ever now, he used to scream in pain 24/7 before  

Unless you consider 5 oz at a time to be small, then no. Before bed and when he wakes up in the morning he eats 6oz. He eats fairly large, frequent meals. It started when he began sleeping through the night. As for arching his back, I don't think so, but gag, choke, cough during meals, yeah he does that. Not always, but sometimes. He doesn't necessarily hate laying flat, but he's just now starting to like it. This may sound odd, but he likes to be suspended. Like when we hold him under his arms and don't let his feet touch our laps. He also like to be lightly bounced in that position. As for spitting up often, definitely.

Quoting Erin Berlin:" Unless you consider 5 oz at a time to be small, then no. Before bed and when he wakes up in the morning ... [snip!] ... don't let his feet touch our laps. He also like to be lightly bounced in that position. As for spitting up often, definitely."

id say reflux then.
try elevating the top end of his bassinet, a paci, sitting up as much as possible for feedings and for about 20 mins after feedings, maybe even try infant gaviscon, unfortunatly none of this worked so the doc told me to put him on a couple of spoonfuls of rice cereal a day, didnt work either finally at 5 months old he started his meds, worked wonders!