All About Baby Colic

Colic is when a baby cries or fusses frequently for no clear reason. It’s defined as frequent, prolonged and intense crying. Sometimes there’s nothing you can do to relieve your baby’s crying. Managing colic can add stress to already tired new parents.

What is Colic?

Colic is when a baby cries or fusses frequently for no clear reason. It’s defined as frequent, prolonged and intense crying. Sometimes there’s nothing you can do to relieve your baby’s crying. Managing colic can add stress to already tired new parents.
Colic can start a few weeks after birth. It generally intensifies between 4 and 6 weeks of age. Babies usually grow out of colic by the time they are 3 to 4 months old.

Symptoms of Colic
It’s normal for babies to fuss and cry. Babies who have colic cry more than most babies, even though they’re healthy. Other features of colic can include:

Crying for no obvious reason. For example, if they’re not hungry or don’t need a diaper change.
Crying around the same time each day. Colicky babies often get fussy towards the end of the day. However, the crying can happen at any time.
Clenching their fists when crying or curling up their legs.
Crying like they’re in pain.
Turning bright red when crying.

When your baby cries, they can swallow air. This may give your baby gas. It can make their tummy look swollen or feel tight. They might show some relief in symptoms after passing gas or having a bowel movement (pooping).

What causes colic?

Doctors aren’t sure what causes colic. Some of the contributing factors could include:

Pain or discomfort from gas or indigestion
A digestive system that is still developing Overfeeding or underfeeding
Sensitivity to formula or breast milk
Overstimulation
Early form of childhood migraine headache
Emotional reaction to fear, frustration, or excitement

How is colic diagnosed?

Your baby’s doctor can diagnose colic. They will do a physical exam and review your baby’s history and symptoms. The doctor might perform some tests to rule out other possible problems.

Can colic be prevented or avoided?

You can’t prevent or avoid your baby from being colicky.

Colic Treatment

Colic may be triggered by certain things. There are ways you can avoid these triggers. There are also things you can try to help soothe your baby and reduce their crying.

Feeding your baby

If you’re breastfeeding your baby:

Keep track of what you eat and drink. Everything you consume gets passed to your baby and can affect them.
Avoid caffeine and chocolate, which act as stimulants.
Avoiding allergens should be considered only with the guidance of an allergist.
Ask your doctor if any medicines you’re taking could be causing the problem.

If you’re feeding your baby formula:

Try a different formula with the guidance of a healthcare practitioner. Babies can be sensitive to certain ingredients like proteins in formula.
Try feeding your baby smaller meals but more often.
Avoid feeding your baby too much or too quickly. One bottle feeding should last about 20 minutes. If your baby eats faster, try using a teat with a smaller hole. This will slow down their feeding.
Try warming the formula to body temperature.
Try feeding your baby in an upright position.

Holding your baby

Babies who have colic can sometimes respond well to different ways of being held or rocked, including:

Across your arm or lap while you massage their back
Upright, if they have gas
Rocking your baby in your arms or by using an infant swing

Comforting your baby

Try these movements and stimuli to sooth your baby:

Provide extra skin-to-skin contact.
Swaddle your baby. This mean wrapping them in a blanket.
Sing to your baby.
Give your baby a warm (not hot) bath or put a warm towel on their stomach.
Massage your baby. Ask your doctor for guidelines.
Provide white noise, such as a fan, vacuum cleaner, washing machine, hair dryer, or dishwasher.
Give your baby a pacifier.
Go for a walk with your baby in their stroller. Or go for a drive with your baby in their car seat.

Some Reassuring and Important Facts to Remember

You didn’t cause the colic, so try not to feel guilty.
Colic will go away. Most babies outgrow it by the time they are 3 to 4 months old.
Just because your baby has colic doesn’t mean they’re unhealthy.
There are many ways to soothe your baby.
Giving your baby extra attention, such as holding them for extended periods, won’t spoil them.

Contact your baby’s doctor if:

Your baby’s crying is mixed with a fever, vomiting, loose or bloody stools, or decreased movement.
Your baby’s crying or behaviour changes suddenly.