Colic

How is colic different from other crying?

Unlike other crying, the colicky baby has a high-pitched, non-stop painful cry or scream. Colic becomes predictable and develops a pattern. Some infants have bouts with colic only once or twice a day - at about the same time each day. With others, the colic occurs after nearly every feeding.

What is colic, exactly?

There is no exact definition, and there is no "test" for colic. However, it's most often defined as severe crying and abdominal pain that involves:

	Three hours of non-stop crying per day. Or, relentless screaming at least three days per week, for at least 3 weeks.
	Excessive crying that peaks in the second month, and usually ends by the fourth month.
	An uncomfortable digestive attack that you can see by looking at the baby's clenched up body position. The baby cries with his whole body, drawing in his/her arms and legs. Sometimes he'll/she'll stretch out his arms and stiffen, than draw up again, fists clenched. The baby may even turn bright read. The baby's tummy looks swollen and feels tight.
	The pain appears abruptly. It offered a feeding, the will suck vigorously for a few minutes as it starved, and stop as another wave of intestinal pain begins.

How long does it last?

Colic begins in the first few weeks of life and gradually disappears within 3-4 months. By this time, babies can maintain a more upright position which helps their digestion. (Poor digestion is often blamed for colic.)

What causes colic and what doesn't?

No one is sure what causes colic and there seems to be no "cure." But even though no one knows a lot of guessing, blaming and advising goes on about colic which only makes the bewildered parents more confused. In reality, the cause of colic still remains a mystery.

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Some Good News!

Colic does not mean your baby is unhealthy. Colic is a condition not a disease of illness. It is short-lived and affects at least 1-5 infants, worldwide. (In China, it's called "100-days-crying.")
Colic WILL eventually disappear.
Once colic has passed, your baby will grow up as happy, healthy and "normal" as children who didn't have it.
There are many things you can try which may soothe your baby.
You can't spoil your baby with love! Extra attention won't harm your baby.
research shows that colicky babies grow up especially bright, develop superior cognitive and social skills, or mature faster intellectually. Maybe this is because they are carried or stimulated more!

Getting through a colic attack

There are no clear-cut cures to stop the colic. However, you may be able to control the crying with suggestions that have worked for other parents. The most important thing you can do is to keep calm yourself. Do everything gentle and nurturing you can think of, even if you never understand why the baby is crying. If you CAN possible identify the reason for your baby's crying and respond the right way, you may be able to keep the baby from getting so frustrated and wound up to begin with. If the crying persists after you've tried one response, just try another. Many things work for a little while. However, the baby's getting older is what ultimately works.

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General Suggestions

	Give your baby a Nuk pacifier if he/she is bottle fed. Never tie it to the baby. Hold it in the baby's mouth if necessary.
	Put baby face down with a folded towel under his/her stomach.
	Try swaddling your baby in a soft blanket as a form of gentle restraint. Or, cross the baby's arms across the chest and hold him/her down on a bed with gentle, firm pressure.
	Keep baby away from all bright light.
	Stay calm! Your baby is sensitive to your emotions and your sense of well-being.
	ANY medication needs to be discussed with your health provider. Do not give laxatives or alcohol to your baby.
	Try using a heating pad on the lowest setting.
	Try using a hot water bottle to warm your lap or the baby's bed. Turn your water heater down to 120°F, then use warm tap water.

***Too much heat can burn your baby's delicate skin.

Soothing movement and sounds

	Hold your baby across your lap and massage the baby's back. Or, hold your baby facing outward in a sitting position. If you hold the baby over your shoulder, pull his/her legs up so his/her stomach muscles are relaxed.
	Sit or bathe with baby with skin-to-skin contact. Sing or talk.
	Hold your baby upright and close to you. Breath slowly. He/she may feel your calmness and become quiet.
	Rock your baby in a rocking chair.
	Put your baby in a wind-up swing. Turn on some music. Let the water run in the tub for a few minutes.
	Put your baby in a stroller and go for a walk.
	Rock or jiggle the crib.
	Go for a drive with your baby in a car seat.
	Put the baby in a car seat on top of a running dishwasher, dryer or washing machine. Make sure the seat is secured. Both movement and vibration often soothes a colicky baby.
	Increase holding and carrying the baby to at least 3 hours a day, preferably before any crying begins. Carry the baby in a soft front carrier most of the day if this is possible. The sound of the parent's heartbeat is rhythmic and soothing. When he/she wakes up, feed him/her or respond to him/her in some way.

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Comfort Training Program

A new concept called the "Comfort Training Program" has shown some remarkable results in controlling colic. The concept is explained in a small book titled "Stopping Baby's Colic" by Ted Ayllon, PhD. He claims parents can train their baby to stop the excessive screaming and quietly listen to music instead.

The week-long program teaches you how to alternate 3-minute crying "tension release" periods with systematic, controlled intervals of music. The training teaches the baby that his/her calm periods are rewarded with music, which he/she can hear only if he remains quiet. You learn to track your baby's progress with a Crying Diary. Within 3 to 7 days, if your training is done correctly, the colic-type crying of most babies goes down by 75% - 90% ! Hard to believe, but anything is worth trying to stop the screaming.

Ask your pediatrician for more information, or find the book in a library or bookstore.

Changes in feeding may help the crying

Formula fed babies

Switching formulas has worked for some parents, However do not switch kinds before consulting your health provider. They'll discuss other brands with you and teach you how to "test" another formula.

Most formulas are cow's milk based which some babies are allergic to. Iron-fortified formulas might also contribute to colicky behavior, like fussiness, spitting up, constipation and/ or diarrhea. Some parents have had luck switching to a soy or hydrolyzed-protein formula instead.

Other tips for formula fed babies:

	Warm the formula to body temperature (98.6°F) before a feeding. Sometimes this helps.
	Trying using a bottle with a disposable bag. This will prevent your baby form swallowing air.
	Check the size of the nipple hole. Perhaps your baby is swallowing too much air during the bottle feeding. Check how much milk comes out of the nipple: hold a filled bottle upside down and watch the drip. One drop should come out per one second. If not, enlarge the nipple hole. If your baby seems to like sucking and the bottle feeding takes less than 20 minutes, then try using a nipple with a smaller hole on the bottle.
	Offer a little warm water. In desperation, add a tiny bit of sugar to the water or to weak camomile tea.

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Breastfed babies

Breastfeeding is not to blame of colic , and babies never allergic to their mother's milk. However, what the mother eats and drinks IS passed along to her baby in her breast-milk. Certain foods may trouble the baby.

Many mothers give up drinking cow's milk to help control the colic. In fact, some say they've given up all dairy products for a period of 3 days to see if this helps. If the baby shows any improvement, they continue to eliminate all dairy products for 3 weeks. This is enough time to make sure that the baby's system is free of all dairy products.

If the baby is still fussy, it can mean he/she is sensitive to other things as well. Discuss your diet with your health provider or location consultant. They'll teach you how to "test" what you are eating and the effect it has on your breastfed baby.

General feeding suggestions

Feed your baby more often but less at a time. Do not wait longer than 2 hours. Small frequent feedings are better than a few large ones because it prevents a bloated stomach.

Be sure the baby's head stays higher than the feet while he/she nurses.

Burp baby well, and often. Burp before feeding, when the baby pauses during the feeding, and at the end of the feeding.

Soothe your baby with skin-to-skin contact during feedings. This reassures your baby and promotes good digestion.

Try the "colic hold" recommended by La Leche League. Hold your baby across your arm with the head resting in the crook of your elbow and the top of the legs in your hand.

Keep infant in an upright position or in an infant seat for one-half hour after feeding.

Provide a quiet, soothing atmosphere during the feeding, both mentally and physically. Avoid the television and noisy older children which might stimulate the baby to drink to rapidly.

Try this old German fennel tea recipe. However, water should never take the place of a feeding.

4½ cups hot water

1 teaspoon fennel seeds

Pour hot water over seeds. Let it steep for 10 minutes. Strain the seed carefully. Let liquid cool. Feed the infant an ounce or two from a bottle or spoon. The fennel tea helps soothe the baby's intestines and has a warming effect.

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Dealing with your frustration

Frustration and helplessness can all too easily turn into anger. Any time you fell frustrated, try calling Parents Anonymous in your community. Or, get someone else to care for your baby for a while.

If you can't find anyone to help you, try going into another room and watch TV or listen to the radio. Crying will not hurt your baby. Don't feel guilty about leaving the baby once in a while.

In order to keep your own physical and emotional well-being intact, a 15-minute break is a must for you. Be sure to give yourself this time away from your baby so you don't get too frustrated.

Also, try to get enough rest yourself. A baby with colic is physically and emotionally exhausting. Ask others for help. This way, you'll be able to stand the stress, and in turn, better able to love and reassure your baby.

Coping with the Crying

	You are not the cause of your baby's colic.
	Something INSIDE your baby is causing the distress.
	It will pass and there ARE ways to help your infant.
	Colic is a common condition, not a disease.
	Remember, your baby is healthy and will thrive.
	Allow your baby to cry for a short time (15 minutes) before comforting him/her in hope that your baby will comfort them self.
	Feel good about your attempts to comfort baby with rocking or walking.
	Plan for time off at time when baby is most likely to cry.
	You will survive it.

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* This information is not a substitute for professional medical care. Diagnosis and treatment should be done only by your health care provider. For more information contact your local health department or physician.