Is colic getting both you and baby in a frazzle? Here’re some helpful answers.
Does your newborn fuss and fidget all the time? Does she wail the neighbourhood down for hours in a row? Your sympathetic friends will blame colic. They could be right. Or they could be wrong. Here’s how to tell and what to do about it.
What is colic?
Colic is a condition that involves repeated or prolonged crying in an infant, usually for no apparent reason. The American Academy of Family Physicians estimates that at least one in five infants gets colic.
What causes it?
No one knows for sure. Experts are quite certain colic isn’t caused by gas alone although many babies are gassy when they are crying. In fact, two scientists from the University of New Hampshire and McGill University have shown that colicky infants may not even be in pain.
Researchers think colic probably happens when several factors come together. These factors include the infant’s oversensitivity to stimuli such as bright lights and loud noises, a nervous system that is just beginning to kick in and of course, newly developing digestive processes. Your little one may also have a testy personality…although many colicky babies grow up to be perfect angels!
Do note! Studies strongly suggest that second-hand smoke increases colic risk.
How do I know it is really colic?Colic usually peaks when an infant is about four to six weeks old. Babies naturally cry a lot at this time, so it can be difficult to differentiate colic from normal crying. But if you watch baby closely, the frequency, intensity and duration of her crying can give you a few hints.
Colic tends to follow a “three’s” pattern:
Crying for three or more hours a day,
at least three times a week,
for at least three consecutive weeks,
in the first three months of life.
A colicky baby will wail lustily even when her diaper isn’t wet! She may cry more in the afternoons or evenings although the actual timing can vary from infant to infant. Normal crying usually stops when baby is held, fed or given attention. In contrast, a colicky baby may not stop crying until she’s exhausted.
A few other signs of colicky crying are:
An arched back
Legs pulled into stomach
Clenched hands
Cold feet
Bulging or tight belly
Colicky infants are otherwise healthy, drink hungrily, pass motion regularly, sleep normally and go through normal weight gain.
I breastfeed. Is baby getting colic because of what I eat?
It’s possible. Culprits can be anything from dairy products like milk and cheese to spicy food, wheat products, garlic, coffee, alcoholic drinks and even fresh fruits. You can track baby’s sensitivity by eliminating one by one the foods you think are causing her to fuss. When she seems to be feeling better, reintroduce one or two of the foods to your diet after a few days. If she starts fussing again, you’ll know what is causing it.
If you’re going to cut down on dairy products for a while, do make sure that you supplement your diet with other calcium-rich foods.
For formula-fed babies, switching to soy-based/ lactose-free or hypo-allergenic formula may help.
The ‘5S’s to a happy baby
In his well-received book The Happiest Baby on the Block, paediatrician Dr Harvey Karp outlines the 5S’s to calming a colicky baby:
Swaddle. Wrap baby up snugly in a big towel or blanket, being sure to cross her arms over her chest. This helps her to feel safe.
Side/Stomach. Lying on her back may make her feel worse so turn her onto her side or stomach in a “football hold” position.
Shhh. Shushing is said to remind baby of her comfy days in the womb. Shush her close to her ear and about as loudly as her cries.
Swinging. Support your swaddled baby’s head securely. Then, swing her gently but rapidly in a rhythmic motion.
Sucking. Sucking is baby’s natural, calming-down reflex. When she’s less fidgety, offer her a breast or bottle if she’s hungry or a clean pacifier or finger if she isn’t.
What else can I do?
Establish a routine. When a baby knows what to expect, she’ll probably be less irritable.
Feed her in a quiet room where the lights are turned down low. Avoid talking to her more than necessary.
For some babies, walking or bouncing stimulates them more. Instead, hold baby close to your body and rock her slowly. Sitting with her on a rocking chair may help too.
Play soothing music, use a music box or gurgling toy aquarium or try singing to her softly. It’s odd but some parents swear by the sound of a hair dryer or vacuum cleaner for quick results!
At bedtime, lay her tummy-down over your lap and gently rub her back to relieve pressure in the stomach.
Short car rides work wonders for some babies. Always strap her securely in her own infant carrier seat.
Run a hot shower. Hold baby securely against you and pace back and forth out of reach of the water but close enough to let the warm steam and rhythmic sound soothe her.
Your own reaction can also help her calm down. If you can, increase your tolerance to her crying. Or purchase ear plugs (honestly!). Every once in a while—even if she’s screaming her lungs out—lay baby down in her crib and take a short break. She may not look fine but she will be.
Do remember that what works for one baby may not for another. Even if these methods are effective, they may not be so for the full duration of your baby’s colic. Ideally, you should experiment with different methods to determine what works best for your baby.
Three important don’ts
Don’t put baby down after a feed without first burping her.
Don’t over-feed baby to make her sleep. This could be the start of many a bad eating habit in later life.
Don’t rely on paediatric over-the-counter medications. “There’s really no evidence that colic needs to be treated anyway,” says Michelle Garrison, a paediatric researcher at the University of Washington School of Medicine. So always ask your doctor before giving baby medicines or unproven anti-colic remedies.
Will a colicky baby have fever or vomiting?
A colicky baby may spit up from time to time but will not be feverish or actually vomit. Fever, vomiting and/ or excessive crying (for five hours or more) could indicate a ear infection or some other medical problem and should be checked immediately by a doctor.
Take a deep breath.
It is very important not to blame yourself for your baby’s colic. Her crying has nothing to do with your parenting abilities. Colic is merely a frustrating but temporary and common situation that will gradually disappear when your child reaches three or four months of age.
All you can do is your best. Be sure to consult your doctor regularly if you are particularly worried. Then, just hang in there!
