Colic in infants
What is infant colic?
Colic is a very common condition. It is a pattern of unexplained, persistent crying that occurs in an otherwise healthy baby, most commonly between the ages of 2 weeks and 16 weeks, often peaking when the baby is about 6 weeks old. Colic can last for months, although it usually settles sooner, and the cause remains a mystery. Maternal smoking may be a risk factor for colic.
What are the symptoms?
Babies who suffer from infant colic cry and fret inconsolably for at least 3 hours at a time on at least 3 days each week, for at least 3 weeks. They may clench their fists and draw their legs up to their tummies, or stretch them out straight. The baby's crying tends to have a higher pitch than usual, and they may appear to be in pain. The crying often occurs in the late afternoon or early evening. Sometimes the baby will pass gas or their stomach looks to be enlarged or swollen with gas.
Other conditions which colic may be confused with are reflux and lactose intolerance. If the baby is very miserable it may be difficult to tell the difference. Colic is not dangerous, although it can be frightening. Babies with colic are usually otherwise healthy and thriving.
What is the cause?
Doctors don’t know what causes colic. It was once thought to be due to abdominal problems but this has never been proven. Some theories which have been put forward over the years include: the baby being sensitive to something in the mother’s diet; intestinal wind; intolerance of cows’ milk; and parental anxiety.
Treating colic
The management of infant colic is very difficult. It often seems to be at its worst when parents are tired and overwrought themselves. There is no sure-fire cure for colic and most babies will outgrow it by 16 weeks.
Coping with colic
The following is a list of tips to help you and your baby cope with colic.
- Check with your doctor to ensure your baby is otherwise well.
- Avoid startling your baby, e.g. with quick movements.
- Make sure your baby is not hungry and feed your baby whenever he or she wants.
- If the baby is likely to require your undivided attention for several hours in the evening, plan to keep those hours free for them. At the time it may seem that it will never end, but feel confident in the knowledge that it will pass. Be creative, the family can eat tea and have baths at 3pm for a few months etc.
- Resist the temptation to find something on which to blame the colic. Colic has been a problem for babies (and parents) for many years.
- Look after yourself. Eat a nourishing snack before an anticipated crying period. If you are breast feeding and the baby seems worse after you eat certain foods, then it may be wise to exclude them.
- If the baby is bottle fed, check that the formula is made up correctly. Stop the baby once or twice during the feed to burp them. Discuss with your community child health nurse or doctor whether you should change the brand of the formula you are using.
- Buy or borrow a carrying device such as a front pack or sling in which to carry your baby. This allows your baby to be carried around when it’s crying.
- Colic is a frightening experience for your baby. To reassure the baby, hold or carry him or her as much as you can. Play soothing music and keep the lights dimmed. Handle the baby smoothly and speak quietly. The baby knows you are offering comfort even if he or she still cries.
- When the crying becomes too much, ask someone else to take the baby for a while so that you can take a break and get a bit of a breather. Even getting outside and taking the baby for a walk in its pram may help. Remember that the colic is no-one’s fault.
- Unfortunately, there are no medications than can help relieve colic. There are many traditional or complementary treatments that remain unproven. Products such as car-ride simulators, infant swings, sheepskin blankets and recordings of sounds from the womb have not been shown to be effective.
- Ask for and accept all offers of help. Caring for a baby with colic is not a one-person job. Make sure you seek advice from, and keep in regular contact with, your doctor and child health nurse.
Last Reviewed: 23 June 2009
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