What Are The Signs Of Colic In Newborns

Causes Of Colic In Babies

No scientific evidence has proven beyond doubt the causes of colic in babies, and why some babies get it, and others dont however, numerous theories have been investigated to try and uncover the cause of this condition. Included among these are the following:

• Immature gastrointestinal tract

At this stage in life, the babys digestive tract is considered to be adapting to the new food, be it the mothers milk or formula. This may lead to indigestion, pain, and gas that makes the child uncomfortable.

Some researchers believe that the babies digestive system is suffering from a misbalance of probiotic the good bacteria that assist in digestion and improves overall gut health.

• Food allergies

This theory revolves around sensitivity to formula milk and foods the mother eats that pass to the baby via breast milk. These allergies may lead to pain in the abdomen, and the baby cries as a result of this.

• GERD

Acid reflux from the stomach is the basis of this theory.

It is presumed that at this stage, the esophageal sphincter is immature and unable to contain the stomach contents. This results in irritation that can cause the baby to spit and vomit after feeding.

• Immature nervous system

According to this theory, babies who suffer colic may be reacting and adapting to their new environment. The baby is unable to cope with the stimuli overload, so they cry. Another theory supports the opposite view, this being that colicky babies cry as a result of under-stimulation.

• Parental anxiety

An Advisory On Colic Remedies

Unlike most childhood ailments, theres no standard approach for treating colic. Walk into any pharmacy and youll find over-the-counter, unregulated products claiming to help with coliconly leading to more confusion.

A classic consequence of colic is that parents often revert to dysfunctional strategies , because nothing has worked, says Ideran, who has spent the past 15 years working with colicky infants at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital outside Chicago. Parents come in after having tried numerous techniques at home to calm their babies. They are naturally exhausted and overwhelmed.

Instead of relying on the unverified claims from the plethora of products that promise to provide colic relief, talk with your pediatrician about any symptoms your baby is having. Supplements like gripe waterwhich is often touted as a colic remedydont need approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be sold on store shelves.

Newborn Baby Sleep Help That Works

Need help encouraging your newborn to sleep better, and to sleep longer stretches at night and during the day? We have a great resource designed to do just that. Check out Essential Keys to Your Newborns Sleep, an e-Book from The Baby Sleep Site®. Available in PDF format as well as a variety of e-reader formats, Essential Keys to Your Newborns Sleep is the tired parents #1 newborn resource. Essential Keys lays out everything you need to know about helping your baby to sleep better right from the start. It also includes information on feeding , baby communication, bonding with baby, daily routines, sample sleep schedules, and more. Download your copy today!

Or, if you are interested in personalized, one-on-one help for your newborn, why not consider one of our personalized sleep consulting packages? Our consultations allow you to work directly with one of our expert sleep consultants, and to get a Personalized Sleep Plan® that will work for your family.

First, browse our extensive list of package options and select the one that looks best for your situation. Browse our list of consultation package options here.

Once you make your choice and purchase, you will immediately receive an e-mail with your Helpdesk login information. Youll be able to log in and start your familys sleep history questionnaire right away its that simple!

Also Check: What Is The Average Weight Of A Newborn

What Are The Symptoms Of Colic

Colicky babies are healthy infants who have recurrent periods of inconsolable cryingwithout apparent reason. These sometimes occur for hours without stopping. The baby can be difficult to comfort during these stretches of time. These periods of fussiness are not linked to hunger or discomfort, and the babies are otherwise normal. They may appear to be in pain. They might arch their backs, clench their fists, or pull their legs up to their tummies. In addition, the baby’s face might turn red after a long period of crying. Although the baby is fussy and cries, he or she continues to eat well and gain weight.

Signs Of Colic In Babies Plus Causes Of And Remedies For Baby Colic

By Susan

In this article, we will look at the signs of colic in babies, the causes of it, and the best remedies.

Babies cry. Its their way of communicating. But it shouldnt last for hours at a time. If your baby cries at length yet, they are healthy, this could indicate that they are suffering from colic.

Although baby colic is not a disease and there is no guaranteed cure, there are several things you can try that may help to manage the condition.

Also Check: What To Feed A Newborn

Crying Isnt Always Colic

If your baby is not eating and growing normally, they are not experiencing colic. More likely, there is a medical issue that is impeding feeding.

Notify your pediatrician of this, or if your baby cries for extended periods of time , which could indicate an issue such as an ear infection, dehydration, or an illness.

If a baby under 2 months old has a fever of 100.4 degrees F or above, thats a potential emergency, so seek immediate medical attention.

A Digestive System That Is Mainly Immature

Your baby is just a few days old, and for the earlier weeks, you have restricted him to breastfeeding. But as soon as he is exposed to the whole set of foods, his digestion might be, at first stage struggle. The gastrointestinal system is new, and not all brand would succumb to it. This might so cause the food to pass down without being broken into smaller pieces. This induces gas, and hence the baby cries.

Also Check: What Helps With Jaundice In Newborns

Take Heart Baby Colic Will Pass

Be patient with implementing these natural remediessome can take time to see the effects, particularly the diet/digestive-related ones. Know that your baby will get through this phase. For most, colic lasts for the first 3-4 months of life. You can look at it as growing pains, as baby makes the transition to life on the outside. You will get through it and get to the other side.

What’s Normal Crying And What’s Colic

Don’t be surprised if your newborn cries a lot. During their first 3 months of life, babies can cry for up to 2 hours a day.

If your baby has colic, though, they are more likely to:

• Cry for what seems like no reason — even when they don’t need to eat or have their diaper changed
• Start to cry in the evening, or at the same time every day
• Cry for 3 or more hours each day, more than 3 days a week, for at least 3 weeks
• Make sounds that are more intense than normal — more like a high-pitched scream than a cry
• Not be soothed, even when you feed or rock them

Don’t Miss: How To Help Your Newborn Pass Gas

Southern Cross Medical Library

The purpose of the Southern Cross Medical Library is to provide information of a general nature to help you better understand certain medical conditions. Always seek specific medical advice for treatment appropriate to you. This information is not intended to relate specifically to insurance or healthcare services provided by Southern Cross. For more articles go to the Medical Library index page.

Seeing Your Baby’s Health Care Provider

Your baby’s health care provider can often diagnose colic by asking you about the baby’s medical history, symptoms, and how long the crying lasts. The provider will perform a physical exam and may do some tests to check your baby.

The provider needs to make sure your baby does not have other medical problems, such as reflux, a hernia, or intussusception.

Read Also: Should I Buy Newborn Clothes

When To Call Your Doctor

If your baby doesnt gain weight or loses weight, they may have another health problem, so its best to call their doctor.

Also call the doctor if they:

• Can’t be soothed at all, even for a few minutes
• Doesn’t suck strongly at the bottle or your breast
• Doesn’t like to be held or touched
• Has an odd cry or sounds like they are in pain
• Has diarrhea or blood in their stool
• Is less alert or sleepier than usual
• Eats less than usual
• Runs a fever of 100.4 degrees or more
• Throws up

Signs Of Colic In A 2 Month Old

Hello my dear friends. In todays vlog, Im answering a question from a new mom Alena whose 2 month old shows signs of discomfort after feedings and is waking up crying after just 30 minutes of napping. Alena, babies at two months are still very young! Keep that in mind! At this point, most of us were struggling to get our babies into a routine and to establish good feeding and sleeping patterns. Babies having difficulty sleeping at this age are pretty much the rule, from my experience. And short naps in a two month old are common two, often because babies at this age just need to eat, eat, eat which is a good thing! You just want to make sure that your baby is getting enough rest and digesting well, so glad that you wrote in and I hope I can be helpful.

Pin for later!

How were your 2 month olds in the sleeping and feeding departments?

Recommended Reading: How Often Do You Bathe A Newborn

How Other Mamas Helped Soothe A Colic Baby Naturally

I asked the moms on my Facebook page what they did to ease colic symptoms. Here are some of their responses:

• My daughter had really bad colic. At 2 am and almost 24 hours of no sleep, I turned on my hair dryer. Instant quiet. As soon as I turned it off, shed start crying. Thank God my hair dryer had a cool setting. My daughter, hair dryer, and I spent a lot of time rocking together. Kimberly G.
• My second child was extremely colicky. I tried wearing him, different holding positions , catnip tea, among others. Our saving grace was a chiropractor. He was amazing. After our first visit, it was like we had a new little boy that same night. Kimberly H.
• My first baby was extremely colicky until almost 6 months. It was really one of the hardest experiences of my life! Wearing her a lot, infant massage, and being proactive about helping her get gas out were super helpful. Also, we would put her infant tub under the warm water and let it run on her bellythis would almost always bring her relief! Kelley S.
• Brauers homeopathic colic formula. Simba & Mama
• Catnip tea. Ashley G.
• Babywearing, bouncing nothing really helped much. It was an agonizing three months. Julie T.

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.

Read Also: What Should I Bring To The Hospital For My Newborn

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.

How Do You Know Baby Is Not Sick

When your baby has colic, there is a pattern of crying meaning it happens every day at the relatively same time of day. Since this pattern of crying will last weeks or months, your doctor will rule out health issues and diagnose your baby with colic.

If your baby is sick, there will probably be other things going on such as diarrhea, vomiting, fever, weight loss, not feeding, etc.

Because you wont know if your baby is showing a pattern of crying from colic for a number of weeks, it is very important to have your doctor do tests and examine your baby just in case it is a medical condition. Your doctor needs to rule out other reasons for the crying first and foremost.

Read Also: How To Get More Breast Milk For Newborn Baby

When To See The Doctor

Babies can cry for lots of reasons. If you think thereâs more to your little oneâs distress than colic, see your doctor to determine whether your little one has colic or potentially another medical condition.

See a doctor or call 111 straight away if your baby

• has a fever with a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher

• has an unusual, weak or very high-pitched cry

• is vomiting or has diarrhoea

• seems listless or sleepier than usual

• isnât feeding well.

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:

You May Like: Why Is My Newborn Constantly Crying