When To Seek Medical Advice
If your baby is displaying any of the following symptoms, get medical help straight away:
- has a weak, high-pitched, or continuous cry
- seems floppy when you pick them up
- vomits green fluid
- has blood in their poo
- has a fever of 38°C or above or 39°C or above
- has a bulging fontanelle
- turns blue, blotchy, or very pale
- has breathing problems, such as breathing quickly or grunting while breathing.
How Can You Treat Colic And Reflux
Treating colic and reflux can be frustrating because both can last for months. Colic especially can be hard to manage. When your newborn cries for hours on end, it can become incredibly stressful for everyone involved.
It is important to wind a baby regularly anyway, but more so if they suffer from colic. Babies can become uncomfortable after drinking their milk, simply because their tummies are so small that they become full a lot quicker. Their milk can add bubbles of wind to their tummies too, creating even more discomfort.
The only thing that can help with colic is to ride it out. Keep yourself and your baby as relaxed as possible. Hold your baby when they are crying, it will pass in time.
For reflux, feed your baby in as upright a position as possible and keep them upright after feeding. Take the time to wind them regularly during and after a feed and feed them slowly. In fact, feeding little and often may be the ideal solution for your baby as this will allow their digestive system to make the workload more manageable. Reflux in babies does usually go away on its own. If you are struggling with some of these symptoms, particularly with lack of weight gain, do contact your doctor as they may be able to make a diagnosis and prescribe something for your baby.
What If A Baby Won’t Stop Crying
Caring for a colicky baby can be hard. If your baby won’t stop crying:
- If nothing else works, put the baby on his or her back in a crib without loose blankets or stuffed animals, close the door, and check on the baby in 10 minutes. During that 10 minutes, do something to try to relax and calm down. Try washing your face, eating a snack, deep breathing, or listening to music.
Don’t blame yourself or your baby for the crying colic is nobody’s fault. Try to relax, and know that your baby will outgrow this phase.
If you ever feel like you might hurt yourself or the baby, put the baby down in the crib and call for help right away. Never shake a baby.
Also Check: How Long Do Babies Use Newborn Diapers
What Causes Colic In Babies
While the exact cause of colic is a mystery, experts do know that its not the result of genetics or anything that happened during pregnancy or childbirth. Nor is it any reflection on parenting skills. And it’s also not anyone’s fault.
That said, here are some theories on possible causes of colicky crying:
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Colic
If you suspect you have a colicky baby, look out for the following possible signs and symptoms:
-
Inconsolable crying
-
Give her a warm bath.
-
Play soft music, sing, or talk to her.
-
Wrap her securely in a large, thin blanket.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for colic. Remember that sometimes no matter what you do your baby will cry. So donât beat yourself up about it. Try any number of these different approaches. If one method doesnât work within a week, go with another treatment on the list.
You may find that by the time youâve tried most of these steps, your baby will have outgrown this colicky phase.
You May Like: What Can You Do For A Constipated Newborn Baby
Recommended Reading: How Much Milk Should A Newborn Eat
How To Know If Your Baby Has Colic
Babies cry.
Thats a universal rule of parenting that we cant escape.
However, they usually have reasons to cry. Its how they communicate! If your babys diaper is wet, or if shes hungry, cold, or uncomfortable, shell cry. Can you imagine needing something and not being able to talk or move excessively? Id cry, too!
The thing is, sometimes babies cry for no apparent reason. And when I say cry, I mean, really cry. Face contorted in pain, screaming from the top of their lungs, completely desperate over nothing, apparently? Well, Houston, we have a problem.
Ollie used to cry excessively and we ran through the checklist. Over, and over again. Diaper, fine. Hunger, fine. Temperature, fine. Cuddling, fine! Everything seemed fine. Yet something clearly wasnt.
After some days passed and the crying continued , we desperately took him to the doctor. There was nothing wrong with him. Well, almost nothing.
He was colicky.
How did his Doctor Know he had Baby Colic?
To know if your baby has colic, doctors usually use therule of three. Your baby may be colicky is she has been crying:
- At least three days a week.
- For at least three hours a day.
- During a span of three weeks or more.
In addition, other signs of a colicky baby are:
Having a colicky baby isnt fun, but it doesnt last forever. Colics usually go away on their own between 4 and 6 months .
And, most importantly, there are no long-term differences between babies who had colic and babies who didnt have them.
What To Do If Your Baby Has Colic
Unfortunately, theres no cure for colic and each baby responds differently to attempts to soothe them . But here weve put together some of the more common methods that people say might help soothe a baby with colic.
Positions:
- Holding your baby, wrapping them snugly in a blanket or putting them in a baby sling.
- Holding your baby in different positions, such as on your shoulder, cradled in your arms, or lying with their tummy faced down along your forearm.
- Swaddling: some people say swaddling their baby wrapping them snugly in a blanket can make them feel safe and secure.
- Gently swaying your baby.
- Sitting or holding your baby upright during feeding, to prevent them swallowing air.
- Burping your baby after feeds or gently bringing their legs into their tummy.
Feeding and supplements:
- Some people say using a fast-flow teat if you’re bottle-feeding helps your baby to not swallow air.
- Burping your baby after feeds.
- Do not change your babys formula unless your GP or health visitor advises this.
- Anti-colic drops or supplements are not recommended as theres insufficient evidence they work.
Surroundings:
Your diet if youre breastfeeding:
- Its not recommended that you change your diet if youre breastfeeding . Yet some women find drinking too many caffeinated drinks, eating spicy food and alcohol can aggravate colic.
Also Check: Should Newborns Cry A Lot
How Can You Soothe A Baby With Colic
As you get to know your baby, you learn to check for the obvious causes of distress when they cry. Are they hungry? Are they hot or cold? Does their diaper need changing? Are they over-stimulated? A baby with colic might be crying for one of those reasons. Or they may be crying for a reason you cant understand.
Once youve checked on their possible physical needs and sources of discomfort, its time to go into comforting mode, using whatever technique helps to calm your baby. Every baby is different, and what works for one may not work for another.
With that in mind, here are some ways to soothe a baby with colic:
- Hold and cuddle your baby.
- Walk with your baby.
- Swaddle your baby in a soft blanket.
- Sing and talk softly to your baby.
- Sway back and forth while you hold your baby, or find other ways to gently rock her. Some babies are calmed by a swing.
- Gently rub your babys back.
- Change your babys position: Sit them up if they have been lying down, or hold them face-out if they have been facing your chest.
- Hold your baby near low, rhythmic noises, like the sound of the washing machine or a recording of a heartbeat. The steady hum of a fan or a white noise machine can also be soothing.
- Go for a ride in the car. The motion and noise of a car ride helps to calm some babies.
- Give your baby a pacifier. Many babies are calmed by sucking, and a pacifier can satisfy this need between feedings.
Practices To Soothe Your Baby
Don’t Miss: How To Make A Newborn Baby Stop Crying
How To Help A Crying Baby
- Respond quickly if your baby is crying. This may mean that they will cry less later on.
- Crying babies tend to arch their backs and stiffen their legs. Holding them curled in a C position helps to calm them down.
- Check that your baby is not too hot or cold or uncomfortable in some way.
- Wrapping or swaddling in a cotton sheet can be calming.
- Many babies soothe themselves by sucking, so a dummy can be helpful, once your breast milk supply is going well.
- Patting can help soothe a baby.
- Soft lighting can also help some babies who may be distressed by harsh lights.
- Baby slings are great to provide comfort and contact if the baby needs to be held.
- Deep baths and gentle massage relax some babies, but they often dont help if your baby is already crying.
- Soft music or noise that has a beat or rhythm, such as a loud clock, may help.
- You may be trying too hard to calm the baby . Put your baby down somewhere safe for a while and see if they settle.
- Take the baby for a walk in a pram or a sling or for a ride in the car. You might find yourself going out for many rides in the car for a couple of weeks, but this will not last forever and many babies seem to find it helps them calm down. Dont drive if you are too stressed to drive safely.
Signs And Symptoms Of Colic
Signs and symptoms that your baby has colic include:
- periods of crying where they are harder to console than usual over 3 hours a day for more than 3 days a week and over a period of 3 weeks or more
- drawing their legs up, arching their back or clenching their fists
- going red in the face
- seeming to settle and then having another spell of crying
Crying is more common in the evening time. Sometimes a baby with colic can cry for many hours during the day or night.
If your baby has colic, they may appear to be in distress. But babies with colic are fine between periods of crying. Your baby should be feeding well and gaining weight even if they have colic.
Don’t Miss: What Do Newborns Sleep In
How Do You Know Your Baby Has Colic Or Reflux
A colicky baby can be easy to spot as their marathon crying fits can last for 3 hours or more at a time and occur daily, at a similar time. Colic is quite normal in newborns and generally starts when your baby is around 2 weeks old. It does tend to go away by 6 months but during that time when your baby is so unsettled, it can be stressful and difficult to know how to soothe them.
Symptoms include:
- Your baby cries a lot, and you are not sure why
- Your baby cannot be soothed, and the crying feels most common in the evenings
- Your baby looks angry and rather red in the face
- Your baby brings their knees up to their chest or arches their back when you hold them
Colic In Babies: How To Know If Your Baby Has Colic
If your baby has been crying at least 3 times a week for 3 or more hours for the past three weeks, she may be colicky. Colic affects up to 1 in every 5 babies. Having a baby with colic can be a highly stressful situation for us parents It affects up to 1 in every 5 babies, and nobody really knows for sure why it happens!
Colic can happen to any baby, full term or preemie. However, premature babies have an increased chance of developing it. It usually resolves on its own when the baby is 4 to 6 months , and there is nothing to worry about. That is, except the countless nights of excessive crying.
What we have to keep in mind is that theyll eventually go away. And, although nothing but time can fully resolve colic, there are things you can do to soothe your crying baby.
Keep reading to find out if your baby has colic, and how to calm a colicky baby.
Read Also: How Much Should A Newborn Eat A Day
How Is Colic Diagnosed
The healthcare provider will ask about your childs symptoms and health history. He or she will give your child a physical exam. You may be asked questions such as:
- How long and how often does your baby cry?
- Have you found anything that seems to trigger the crying?
- What comfort methods help to calm your baby, if any?
Blood tests and X-rays or other imaging tests may be done. These can help find out if your baby has other health problems.
Does Your Baby Have Colic
All babies have periods of crying and fussing. Its considered colic when the crying goes on for more than three hours a day for more than three days a week. The crying is often accompanied by burping and other signs of gas, which may be because the baby is swallowing air when they cry.
When parents come to her about a crying baby who isnt easily consoled, Dr. Bonita asks questions and examines the baby to rule out health problems. If the baby is eating well and growing, has no vomiting or diarrhea, and follows a pattern of extended crying in the evening it is probably colic.
Colic typically starts when babies are about 3 weeks old, with extended periods of crying in the evening, between 6 p.m. and midnight. The long crying spells usually end when the baby is about 3 months old, though some babies continue to have crying spells until they are 6 months old.
You May Like: How Should A Newborn Sleep At Night
What’s The Difference Between Colic And Normal Crying
There isn’t a clear definition of exactly what colic is or how it differs from other types of crying.
But doctors typically agree that colic crying is louder, more intense and higher-pitched than normal crying sometimes almost like screaming.
Colicky babies also seem inconsolable, and tend to cry more throughout the day than babies without colic.
Most often, colicky periods recur daily, though some babies take an occasional night off.
How To Soothe Colic Baby:
- Check to see if your baby is hungry
- Make sure your baby doesnt need a diaper change
- Rock your baby gently
- Take a walk with your baby
- Sing or play soothing music
- Go for a ride in the car with your baby
- Gently pat your babys back
- Change your babys formula without first talking to their healthcare provider4,5
- Shake your baby
Read Also: How To Find Pediatrician For Newborn
How Do I Know If My Baby Has Colic
4 min read
Most parents experience sleepless nights in the first three months of their babys lives. This is because of frequent feedings, cuddling, diaper-changes and just general fussiness. But many of these parents also go through total sleep deprivation, especially when their babies cry for long periods at night and nothing can seem to soothe them.
There are several reasons why babies cry, and colic is one of them. Its best to be knowledgeable about it, so youll know how to respond if your baby cries continuously. First, lets learn what colic is and to determine if our baby has it?
Signs That Crying Might Not Be Colic:
While colic is often the cause of excessive crying, there can be other causes that you want to look out for.3
If your baby isnt eating well or gaining weight, has vomiting, diarrhea or blood in their baby poop, seems less alert or doesnt want to eat, has a fever or cant calm down after a long bout of crying be sure to contact their healthcare provider.2
You May Like: What Clothes Should A Newborn Sleep In
How To Soothe Your Colicky Crying Baby
Unfortunately, there isnât a cure for colic, but take heart: it usually clears up by itself within a few weeks or months. Still, many parents feel helpless and confused about what to do to soothe their colicky baby.
Here are some remedies you could try to comfort and soothe your little one, and give some relief from colic or lessen the symptoms: