How Can You Tell if a Baby Has Colic

What is colic?

Colic is a term that used to describe uncontrollable crying in an otherwise good for you infant. The Canadian Paediatric Social club (CPS) does not really employ the give-and-take colic anymore. Instead, CPS says that crying is function of normal development for a newborn infant. Some babies cry for longer periods and harder than others. Regardless of the definition, comforting a crying baby may be very difficult and at times yous may feel helpless.

Listening to your baby's crying may exist enough to make you cry! Merely y'all are non doing anything wrong, and your baby usually won't be crying for whatever particular reason. It is common for newborn babies to cry like this. Crying often peaks betwixt three weeks to eight weeks of age, and is commonly over by the fourth dimension your baby is three or iv months old (Caring for Kids 2016).

Information technology's normal for a newborn baby to cry for well-nigh two hours a 24-hour interval. If your baby is under three months and cries for no apparent reason for more than iii hours a day, iii days per week, that's generally thought to be colic (Turner TL, Palamountain S. 2019).

How can I tell if my babe has colic?

You may observe that your newborn does the following:

• they have frequent bouts of intense and inconsolable crying
• the crying has a articulate commencement and end, and seems to happen suddenly for no reason
• they pull their legs up to their breadbasket and curvation their dorsum when crying
• they may have a lot of gas, pass gas when crying, and may stop crying after passing gas or pooping
• they are impossible to soothe, no matter what you do to console them
  (Turner TL, Palamountain S 2019, NHS 2018)

If your babe has colic, you may find they cry more in the tardily afternoon and evening, although colicky babies can cry during the twenty-four hours and at night, too (NHS 2018). You may detect feeding your baby takes longer than usual if they're upset and restless.

Why does my baby cry like this?

Experts aren't sure exactly what causes some babies to weep more than than others (Turner TL, Palamountain Due south. 2019).

1 theory is that babies cry difficult for a few weeks equally their digestive systems are maturing. They may take frequent and painful stomach aches due to an allergy or intolerance to certain substances in breast and formula milk. However, there's no strong show that the crying is acquired past whatever of these things (Caring for Kids 2016).

Experts have suggested other possible causes:

• Temperament. Some babies accept a more sensitive temperament than others, and crying is a physical release for them.
• GERD. A infant may exist colicky considering of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), also known every bit acrid reflux. Visit the doctor if your babe shows signs of this.
• Gut leaner. Some studies appears to evidence excessive crying may be related to an imbalance of healthy bacteria in the intestines.
• Higher serotonin levels. Research suggests some babies that cry a lot produce more serotonin, a chemical that helps the brain communicate with the torso and also causes intestinal muscles to contract.
• Early on migraine. Some studies advise colic may be linked to migraines later on in babyhood. But it could also be that babies with colic are simply more likely to get childhood migraines because of the genes they've inherited.
  (Turner TL, Palamountain South 2018)

Should I have my baby to the doctor?

Generally no – apart from the stress it creates for you and your partner, your infant'southward crying is non normally a sign of affliction. However, sometimes excessive crying is a sign of something more serious. You lot should call your doctor if your infant:

• doesn't eat or sleep
• has a fever
• is throwing up, has diarrhea or blood in their poop
• has hurt themselves whilst crying
• continues to cry a lot for more than three months
  (Caring for Kids 2016)

Also, call your md if you're worried that your baby's crying is too much for you to cope with, and that you might hurt your baby. Your medico will be able to reassure y'all and give you tips to condolement your baby and stay calm.

How can I soothe my baby'southward crying?

Offset, brand certain your baby isn't crying for an obvious reason such as hunger, a dirty diaper, being too hot or cold, or unwell.

Identifying what might accept caused your baby'due south tears may help you decide how to soothe them. Here are some suggestions of what may help:

• If you're breastfeeding, and you lot think your babe may have an allergy or intolerance to something y'all've eaten or drunk, talk to your doctor. They may recommend changing your diet to see if you notice your infant crying less. Some women notice that a diet low in allergens, such as dairy, soy, eggs, peanuts, wheat and shellfish, can assist reduce their baby's crying (MedScape 2017). But don't stop breastfeeding to formula feed. There'southward no evidence that switching to formula helps with excessive crying (Turner TL, Palamountain Due south 2019).
• If your baby is formula-fed they may have a milk allergy (NHS 2018). Your medico can prescribe a hypoallergenic formula.
• If you lot're breastfeeding your baby, try to keep them every bit upright equally possible during their feeds to reduce trapped air (NHS 2018). Also check that they are latched on properly. Take a await at the pictures in our how to breastfeed commodity, and inquire your midwife or a lactation consultant for assistance.
• If your baby'south bottle-fed, make sure they aren't swallowing air from the bottle. Try to sit down them upright to feed them, and tilt the bottle plenty and then that the milk covers the entrance to the nipple. Special (anti-colic) nipples and bottles designed to reduce the amount of air swallowed, may as well aid (Turner TL, Palamountain S 2019).
• Some studies take shown probiotics (specifically L reuteri) help reduce colic in breastfed babies. More than studies are needed to observe out if information technology works for formula-fed babies too. Before giving whatever probiotics to your baby, speak to your doc outset (Turner TL, Palamountain S 2019).
• Concur your baby close to yous (NHS 2018) or, if they're less than a month one-time, wrap them snugly in a blanket (swaddling).
• Requite your baby a warm bathroom. A calming bath might distract and relax them. Some babies are soothed by the spray of a handheld nozzle on their back. Your baby may likewise bask the rhythmic pulsing of the warm h2o (Turner TL, Palamountain S 2019).
• Some experts believe that over-stimulating a baby can make the crying worse, so keep the room quiet and dark. And if you don't feel that holding them is helping, try putting them in their crib or bassinet for a few minutes.
• Your baby may weep less if they are kept in motion. Carry your baby in a sling, rock them in a swing, or push them effectually in their stroller (NHS 2018).
• Your baby may settle when you expose them to repetitive noise or vibrations. You could grab up on the vacuuming or have them for a automobile ride. Some babies are soothed past the steady rhythm of the washing car. Never put your infant on top of a washing machine or tumble dryer. Always put them in a prophylactic identify on the flooring, at a skilful altitude away from it (NHS 2018).
• Your baby may calm down if they suck on a soother or their fingers, or if you lot massage them gently.
• Burp your babe subsequently every feed. Hold them over your shoulder, sit them upright on your lap, or identify them face down on your lap. Then pat or rub their dorsum to bring upwards trapped air (NHS 2018).
• If they have a severe case of gas, your midwife or doctor may suggest an anti-gas medication. However, there isn't any evidence that this treatment works.

Don't smoke effectually your baby – or meliorate nevertheless, give up completely. As well equally the possibility of cigarette smoke causing the crying, it's bad for your and your baby'due south health.

Be cautious about giving any herbal remedies, such as chamomile, fennel seed and balm-mint to your infant. And avoid gripe h2o (a mixture of herbs and water) and a homeopathic remedy, chosen colocynthis, which comprise dangerous ingredients (Turner TL, Palamountain S 2019).

I'yard feeling overwhelmed by my babe's crying. What tin I do?

If your baby is crying a lot and tin't be soothed hands, yous're bound to feel exhausted. The intensity of the crying tin crusade immense stress for you and your partner. Merely if y'all're anxious yous may find it difficult to soothe your baby.

If you commencement to feel tense, put your babe downwardly for a while then that you can calm yourself. Taking a intermission will assist you both. You can take your baby for a walk so both of you tin can get some fresh air. Meliorate still, inquire your partner or a friend to babysit for a short while. Accept a long bath or lie downwardly in a quiet room. Fifty-fifty merely an hour away will requite y'all the energy to go back to your baby.

Never shake your babe. Phone call the md immediately if you lot fright you lot or another caregiver may injure your baby (Caring for Kids 2016).

Go on reminding yourself that your baby'southward crying is not your fault, and that they won't hurt himself. This is a phase that will laissez passer, just requite it time. Read our articles on coping with intense crying and how to soothe a crying baby for more tips.

References

Caring for Kids. 2016. Colic and crying. Canadian Paediatric Gild. https://world wide web.caringforkids.cps.ca [Accessed June 2019]

Medscape. 2017. Colic. https://emedicine.medscape.com [Accessed June 2019]

NHS. 2018. Colic. NHS Choices, Health A-Z. https://www.nhs.u.k. [Accessed June 2019]

Turner TL, Palamountain S. 2018. Infantile colic: Clinical features and diagnosis. UpToDate https://www.uptodate.com [Accessed June 2019]

Turner TL, Palamountain South. 2019. Patient education: Colic (excessive crying) in infants. UpToDate https://www.uptodate.com [Accessed June 2019]

Lynda has been a wellness and medical writer for 20-plus years. She has all-encompassing feel in re-framing and streamlining complex medical information so it is easily digestible and actionable for family unit physicians, patients, and consumers.

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Source: https://www.babycenter.ca/a77/colic-in-babies

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