Colic has been defined as frequent, prolonged, and intense crying or fussiness in a healthy infant. A lot of research has been done to find the cause but no straight answer exists. This article is here to show you how to read the signs and symptoms and how to handle colic.
Colic starts mostly when the baby is around 3 weeks old and can go on up to when they are 3 or 4 months old. It is perfectly normal for babies to experience it, but not all babies will.
Signs & symptoms
It is normal for babies to fuss and cry. Babies with colic tend to cry more even more though they are healthy. Below are some of the major symptoms;
- Crying for no obvious reason like hunger or soiled diaper that causes discomfort to the baby.
- Babies with colic have a “Crying Schedule” mostly at the end of the day or notoriously at night.
- Fist clenching and legs curling.
- Crying like they are experiencing pain.
What causes colic?
There’s no definite answer but below are some contributing factors that might bring about colic in babies.
- Pain or discomfort from gas or indigestion due to an undeveloped digestive system. There is no solution to this as it’s an ongoing development.
- Sensitivity to breast milk or formula. You can try and feed them with one and monitor the reactions.
- Overfeeding or even underfeeding. You can get a guide to the right feeding amounts from your pediatrician or an experienced parent.
Comforting a baby with colic
- Cover your baby warmly and hold then. You can sing to them to try and ease the discomfort.
- Massage your baby. Seek advice from your doctor for guidelines if you are not sure how to do this.
- Try giving the baby a pacifier.
- Talk to your pediatrician about gas relieving medicine that you can introduce to your baby.
If your baby develops colic, we hope that these guidelines help you better understand how to deal with it.
By Beth Mugo
