When does colic occur?

Colic occurs in newborn babies and peaks in the sixth to eighth weeks. It usually takes place at the same time every day and in most babies, it occurs between 6 pm to midnight.

Colic is extremely common and affects a large number of babies worldwide.

What are some common soothing techniques for colicky babies?

You can try to gently rock a baby, swaddle them or hold them close to you to soothe them.

How to Manage Colic: Signs, Symptoms, and Soothing Techniques

Colic is a condition in which a healthy baby cries for long periods of time, for no apparent reason. Usually, it begins in the first few weeks after the birth and peaks within the sixth or eighth week. Typically, colic episodes occur on more than three days per week, and last for more than three hours a day.

While colic is not a serious issue, it is important for the parents or caregivers to understand it. Colic can be a difficult time for both parents and the baby and it can help you understand if there are any other serious medical issues that are causing it. Usually, it is not a cause for concern and should go away on its own by the time the baby is six months old.

Signs Of Colic In Babies

Frowning and grimacing
Loud, non-stop crying
Loud rumbling stomach
Reddening of the face
Inconsolable baby

Colic is when the baby cries and stays fussy for long periods of time. It can be a very difficult time for parents, as they cannot understand what is causing the baby discomfort. All babies cry, but there are some differences between regular crying and colicky crying.

How Colicky Crying Is Different From Regular Crying

Loudness: Colic crying is much louder than regular crying. It is high-pitched and can often sound like the baby is crying out in pain.

Duration: Crying in colic continues for longer periods of time. It is colic crying if the baby cries for more than three hours in a day and this continues for three or more days a week for at least three weeks.

Soothing: No matter what the parents do, colicky babies are impossible to soothe.

Other symptoms: Colicky babies may have some other symptoms such as a tight belly, passing gas or burping often, clenched fists, curled legs towards their belly, an arched back and a flushed face.

Colic is a very common condition that affects a large number of babies worldwide. Most paediatrician visits in the early phases of the baby’s life are due to colic. All babies with this condition are affected by it equally, regardless of gender, ethnicity, birth order, socioeconomic status or feeding preference. Colic usually occurs at the same time every day and in most babies, this time lies between 6 pm and midnight.

Causes Of Colic

Experts have not been able to figure out a clear cause of colic, however, there are some theories as to why it happens. Colic can occur in newborn babies if:

The baby is sensitive and has trouble adjusting to the outside world: After birth, newborns have some trouble adjusting to loud noises, lights and all the other new stimuli around them. Every baby has a different personality, which is why some babies adjust to these new things smoothly, while others take time to adapt. Crying excessively might be a way for the baby to show their feelings about getting used to the world.

The baby is sensitive to stimulation: Some babies are sensitive to stimulation and have difficulty calming themselves. This is because their nervous system is still developing. As the baby gets older, colic goes away, as they are better able to handle their nervous systems.

The baby has digestive troubles: Babies have immature digestive systems, which can often cause them issues like excessive gas. A lot of babies stop crying and feel more comfortable after passing gas. Babies can also have an imbalance of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract. At times, they have GERD(Gastroesophageal reflux disease ). This is a chronic digestive issue in which the contents of a baby’s stomach flow back to the oesophagus and as a result, the baby spits up. If the baby is breastfed, it could also be reacting to something in the mother’s milk. This is especially true if the mother has a protein-rich diet.

Swallowing air: The baby might be swallowing too much air during feeds or otherwise.

Parental stress: At times, stress from the parents can cause a baby to be fussy, which causes the parents even more stress. This can be an endless cycle.

Prenatal exposure: Prenatal exposure to substances such as nicotine and hard drugs can cause a baby to be colicky after birth.

Migraines: Some studies suggest that colic may be associated with migraines.

Soothing Techniques To Manage A Baby With Colic

Managing a baby with colic can be stressful for new parents. Here are some ways that can help.

1. Comforting techniques

You can try to console or comfort the baby when they are crying using different techniques like

Rocking, holding and swaddling the baby: The rhythmic motion from the rocking can help soothe the baby, while the physical contact from holding the baby can calm their nervous system. Swaddling is also a great way to calm the baby’s nervous system.

Using gentle music or white noise: Soothing, humming sounds of white noise can often have a calming effect on colicky babies by distracting them from whatever is causing them discomfort or overstimulation. This helps both the baby and parent feel more relaxed and centred.

Taking the baby outside: You can take the baby outside on a stroller walk or a car ride. These activities can distract the baby by exposing them to new stimuli like noises outside.

2. Feeding techniques

If the baby is facing colic issues due to discomforts caused by digestion and feeding, adjustments can be made to their feeding routines and techniques.

Smaller, more frequent feedings: Smaller and more frequent feedings can be beneficial for the baby’s digestive system. Babies need to be fed every 1-3 hours. It is important to make sure you are not overfeeding the baby, as this can cause the baby to reflux and spit up since the baby’s digestive system is still not developed.

Burping: Babies tend to ingest a lot of air when they are feeding. This can cause them gastric discomfort. It is important to burp them during and after feeding to help with this.

Adjusting formula: If the baby is formula-fed, you could try some other brand since the current formula could be causing the baby digestive distress.

Adjusting feeding position: Feeding your baby while holding them in an upright position can help make sure the baby does not regurgitate.

3. Change the environment

Create a calming environment for your baby to help soothe them.

Dim lights: Excessive lights and noises can overstimulate the baby, making them fussy and cry often. Try to keep the lights dim, especially in the evening, when colic is more prevalent.

Use a pacifier: Babies have a strong sucking instinct. Using a pacifier can help them get distracted from their discomforts and instead, focus on the sucking instinct.

Skin-to-skin contact: Skin-to-skin contact is good for colic because it allows the baby’s body temperature to be regulated and provides the baby with warmth and constant, regular sounds. This can help keep the baby calm.

4. Warm baths and massages

Warm baths and massages can distract an overstimulated baby.

Massages: Massages can help ease stomach discomfort in the baby and help them pass gas easily. You can try techniques such as moving the baby’s legs in bicycle position, stroking the baby’s belly in a clockwise motion forming a full circle and raising the baby’s knees to their belly and then stretching them out again.

Warm bath: A warm bath can soothe the baby’s sore muscles and calm them down. Baths also help reduce their stress levels.

5. Products for colic relief

If everything else fails, there are products designed to help with your colicky baby.

Gripe water: Gripe water is a herbal remedy used by some parents to treat colic in babies. While gripe water is widely used in India, most Indian doctors do not recommend using it. Some older formulations of gripe water may contain alcohol and high amounts of sugar, both of which are harmful to the baby. Before giving your baby gripe water, consult a doctor.

Probiotic drops: Probiotic drops can help a colicky baby by creating a healthy balance of bacteria in the baby’s stomach. However, they should always be administered with a paediatrician’s guidance.

Tips For Parents

Handling a colicky baby can be very stressful for new parents. At such times, it becomes even more important for parents to focus on self-care.

Self-care for parents: For parents dealing with a colicky baby, it is important to take breaks and ask other family members for help so that the parents do not get too stressed out.

Build a support system: Building a reliable support system is very important for new parents as it takes more people than just the parents to raise a child. People can take shifts in calming the colicky baby down.

Reassurance: It is important for parents to understand that colic usually resolves on its own within 3-4 months.

When To Consult A Doctor

Not all crying is colic and harmless. Sometimes, a baby cries due to actual underlying health conditions. If the crying is accompanied by other symptoms like fever, vomiting or diarrhoea, it is best to consult your doctor as these symptoms signify a serious issue.

If the excessive crying causes you concern regardless of there not being any other symptoms, you can still consult a doctor. They can help you rule out any underlying health conditions.

Colic is a temporary condition and should resolve on its own by the time the baby is four months old and their nervous systems are more developed. It is important to keep trying soothing techniques and be patient with the baby.

FAQs On How To Manage Colic: Signs, Symptoms, And Soothing Techniques

When does colic occur?
Colic occurs in newborn babies and peaks in the sixth to eighth weeks. It usually takes place at the same time every day and in most babies, it occurs between 6 pm to midnight.
How common is colic?
Colic is extremely common and affects a large number of babies worldwide.
What are some common soothing techniques for colicky babies?
You can try to gently rock a baby, swaddle them or hold them close to you to soothe them.