Colic
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Symptoms
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Medicines
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Colic is when a baby cries for longer than three hours every day for
more than three days a week. It is the extreme end of normal crying
behaviour. The condition is harmless, though it can be very distressing
for parents or carers. The cause is not known, but there are ways to
help calm a baby down.
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Colic is uncontrollable, extended crying in a baby who is otherwise
healthy and well-fed. Every baby cries, but babies who cry for more than
three hours a day, three to four days a week, may have colic.
About 20% of babies get colic, and it equally affects boys and girls,
first-born children and those born later. In general, it appears at
around two to four weeks of age and can last for three months, or longer
in some cases.
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The cause of colic isn't known. In the past it was thought to be
related to the digestive system. However, although painful abdominal gas
may contribute to colic, there is little evidence to prove it's due to
gastrointestinal problems.
Another possible cause of colic is a combination of the baby's
temperament and an immature nervous system. The baby's temperament may
make him or her highly sensitive to the environment, and he or she may
react to normal stimulation or changes to the environment by crying.
Because the baby's nervous system is immature, he or she is unable to
regulate crying once it starts.
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The main symptom is continuous crying for long periods of time.
Although this crying can occur at any time, it usually worsens in the
evening. Although colic is not thought to be due to pain, a baby with
colic may look uncomfortable or appear to be in pain. Babies may lift
their head, draw their legs up to their tummy, become red in the face
and pass wind. Some babies refuse to eat. Difficulty falling and staying
asleep is also common.
Normally, colic is not a serious condition. Research shows that
babies with colic continue to eat and gain weight normally, despite the
crying.
The main problem with the condition is the stress and anxiety it
creates within the home. Parents and other family members may find it
difficult to cope with the constant crying, so it's important to have
support and to take a break now and then.
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Colic does not need medical treatment. However, any parent or carer
who is worried about their baby's crying may want to get advice from a
healthcare professional to make sure there is no serious problem.
Before visiting a doctor, all other possible causes of crying should
be eliminated. These include:
 | hunger |
| tiredness |
| lack of contact - some babies want to be cuddled all the time |
| startling - eg due to a jerky movement or sudden noise |
| undressing - most babies don't like the feel of air on their skin
|
| temperature - is the baby too hot or too cold? |
| pain - is there an identifiable source of pain, eg a nappy rash
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Before going to the doctor, parents should take note of when the baby
cries, eats and sleeps, as well as the pattern of bowel movements. This
will help the doctor determine the cause of the crying. The doctor will
examine the baby and ask about the symptoms to help exclude any other
disorders that may be causing the crying.
If the doctor diagnoses colic, there are many things parents can do
to help the baby - and themselves - through the next few months.
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There is no single medicine or proven cure for colic, but there are
several measures that may help. Different babies are comforted by
different measures, and parents usually need to try various methods to
see what works.
Parents who bottle-feed their babies may want to try a different
formula. For parents who breastfeed, it's a good idea to continue this
because weaning the baby from breast milk may make the colic worse.
Some women find that certain foods in their diet seem to make colic
worse and they may find that cutting these foods out helps. These might
include cruciferous vegetables (eg cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower,
sprouts and parsnip), beans, onions, garlic, apricots, melon, spicy
foods, caffeine and alcohol. By reintroducing foods gradually, women may
be able to identify which food, if any, is causing the problem.
If there is a family history of milk sugar (lactose) intolerance,
breastfeeding mothers could try eliminating cows milk from their diet.
Sometimes babies are not able to digest lactose well - this improves as
they get older.
Some parents who bottle-feed their baby try changing over to soya-based
formula, but there is no evidence that this is effective at reducing
colic.
If the baby seems to have a lot of wind, make sure he or she is
burped frequently. Babies who are bottle-fed may swallow air from the
bottle: try feeding the baby in a different position, or using a bottle
and teat designed to reduce the amount of air the baby swallows during a
feed. These include curved bottles, bottles with a collapsible bag
inside or bottles with a vent.
To soothe babies with colic, the following techniques may be helpful:
| carry the baby in a front sling or back pack |
| wrap him or her snugly in a blanket (this is called swaddling)
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| keep the baby moving in a baby swing |
| place him or her near continuous noise or vibrations from
household appliances like the dishwasher, vacuum cleaner or
washer-dryer |
| take him or her for a car ride or a walk outside |
| give him or her a dummy to suck on |
| give him or her tummy or back rubs |
| take a shower together - the warm water may be comforting |
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Medicines are not used to treat colic. However, medicines may help to
relieve abdominal symptoms. It may be worth trying "colic drops" or
"gripe water", which are available without a prescription. A medicine
called dimeticone (eg Infacol) is available to relieve trapped wind.
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Having a colicky baby can be very stressful, frustrating and
challenging for any parent, particularly if it is the first child.
Babies may pick up on anxiety around them, and this may make colic
worse.
It's important for the parents or carer to have time to themselves.
Parents who feel overwhelmed should take a break. Ask a partner or
friend to take over for a while, even for an hour or two.
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Published by BUPA's Health
Information Team |
