Effective Colic Causes & Treatment in Babies

Your baby who is perfectly healthy can still fall victim of colic which will send them crying or make them fussy. When a baby cries for longer than a few hours for days on end, it may mean they are suffering from colic. They can be doing it from day one, and the peak of the trouble falls at the age of 4 to 6 weeks. Then it loses intensity and finally fades away by the age of 4 months.

There isn’t any known reason for colic, nor is there a cut-and-dried cure, so you may face the situation that you can’t cope with it. It may add a lot of frustration to parents already worn thin by the avalanche of new responsibilities.

What there is to know about colic:

If your baby developed colic, there’s nothing you can do about it.
Apart from being colicky, babies are in good health generally, they suck well, enjoy feeding and are progressing like they should. So if you have problems with developing and gaining weight, you should consult the doctor.

Babies with colic, like babies who haven’t got it, spit up occasionally. But it doesn’t amount to vomiting. Colicky babies don’t vomit, so throwing up and losing weight are reasons for worrying.

Also, colicky babies should have normal poops; a bloody poop necessitates a consultation with the doctor.

What symptoms to look for:

• Crying and fussing are actually characteristic for newborns. Colic means that the baby is apt to cry a lot more, remaining healthy in other respects. You can speak of your baby having colic if he or she keeps crying for longer than 3 hours, more than 3 days a week and for weeks in a row.
• Colic crying doesn’t have any underlying reason – the baby cries not when it wants to say he’s hungry or soiled.
• Also, colic crying can recur at about the same time, usually in the evening – yet it may not be so predictable at all.
• When newborns cry, they are apt to clench fists and curl legs.
• They cry as if they are hurting.
• As they cry, they redden strongly.
• Crying makes the baby swallow air, and it gives them extra gas – the tummy tightens, bowels get more active. As soon as they have passed gas they are relieved.

Why does it occur?

The factors that bring about colic are yet undiscovered. Research is still being carried out to understand the condition. Scientists believe colic can be linked with:

• slowness in the development of digestive organs;
• getting too much or too little food;
• bad digestion, gases;
• being stimulated more than necessary;
• being extra sensitive to milk or formula;
• early onset of headaches;
• too much excitement or fear or other strong feelings.

There have been indications that colic may arise as a reaction to cow’s milk, yet many doctors are doubtful of this reason.

What else might bring colic on?

Newborns who are breastfed are not immune from colic, and when they begin to cry more, moms can try and mitigate the condition by changing their eating habit. Breastfeeding mothers may exclude coffee, eggs, dairy and wheat products from their meals, and it might do the job.

There is a hypothesis that colic is caused by the movement of food through the body: while the baby is still adapting to their new existence, and the food passes too quickly, it causes discomfort. Other researchers put it down to undiagnosed gastroesophageal reflux, or GER. A suggestion is also being researched that it can be developing migraine. Additionally, it was noticed that babies of smoking mothers are prone to colic.

What can be done about it

Unfortunately, no proved cure for colic exists. However, you can do something that can bring relief to the infant and parents alike.

• To begin with, stop feeding once the baby is no longer hungry. Distract the little one and play with them – let them bask in your care and attention.
• Then, try to walk carrying the child, plant them on a rocking chair and let them assume different positions.
• Place the infant on a swing or something that moves – they may feel more comfortable when in motion.
• Another way to get them distracted by motion is to arrange them in the infant car seat and ride off. Riding and feeling the vibration can make them feel good.
• As you feed them, burp them often and well.
• Apply a warm towel to their tummy, or make them a warm bath (make sure it isn’t hot)
• Give them a pacifier.
• Try and distract them with soft noise, like coming from a hair dryer, a fan, or a vacuum cleaner.
• Play them some music and sing along to make them involved in listening and producing noises.
• Treat them with simethicone drops that relieve gases.
• Put them on your lap and give them a gentle back massage.

Observe your child – he may want less stimulation rather than more of it. Very young ones (up to two months) can respond to staying in a dim room.
It takes more effort and perseverance to care for a colic-suffering infant, so you need to look after your sweet self as well. Persuade yourself not to worry over these crying bouts – you are not to blame for the condition, and it will fade away with time. Take it as easy as you can. If you are on the edge, you can replace the baby in the crib for a short spell of relaxation before you resume your childcare.

Of course this constant crying will be wearing you down, mind you get enough rest. Turn to your family and friends for help, enlist them to care for the baby while you will enjoy a good shuteye. Refrain from shaking the child or showing your anger and frustration in other ways.

Mind you call in the doctor if the child displays:

• a temperature of higher than 100.4°F;
• a spell of crying longer than 2 hours on end;
• problems with feeding;
• vomiting, diarrhea;
• a continuous half-awake state.

Consult the doctor to learn if you are really dealing with a case of colic – the symptoms may be indicative of another problem.