What Is Colic? How To Identify If Your Baby is Colic?

We could describe colic as the uncontrollable crying in an otherwise healthy baby below the age of 5 months; the child cries uncontrollably for 3 hours, 3 or more days a week for about 3 weeks. Colic is neither a disease nor does it cause long-term harm but it is tough and upsetting to the babies and parents. Colic affects every 1 in 5 babies, with it proving upsetting, frustrating and traumatic for the mother who fails to soothe a crying baby.

How do you know that your baby has colic? 

A baby could start experiencing colic when he/she is about 2 to 3 weeks or 2 to 3 weeks after due date if he/she is a pre-mature baby. The newborn would cry for at least 3 hours in a day for about 3 days or more a week for at least 3 weeks. The infant may draw up his/her knees pass wind and there could be redness of face.

The crying due to colic is quite different from when a newborn cries when hungry, frightened or tired; the baby cries excessively during the same time of the day each time usually in the late afternoon or evening. It is also significant to note that the cries are high pitched and louder than the normal crying, with the episodes starting and ending suddenly.

A newborn infant that is colicky could also show signs of a gassy tummy; it is best to understand here that gas does not cause colic, but the air that the baby swallows while crying could cause it. It is also common to notice that an infant with colic clenches his/her fingers, arches his back, becomes flushed, and alternately extends or pulls up his legs and passes gas as he cries. You will notice that the newborn feels better after passing the gas or having a bowel movement.

How long does colic last? 

It is good to note that colic tends to peak when an infant is around 6 weeks and improves significantly between 3 to 4 months, with about 8 or 9 babies out of 10 getting over colic in about 4 months. It is best for parents to learn how to handle the colic of their infant; it could be stressful and one should take breaks to maintain one’s own well-being. It would help to have your spouse or friend take over for a while you go for a walk and use ways to release the built-up stress.

The exact cause of colic is not known; one of the recommended steps is to rule out milk sensitivity. You could use a colic relief drops which contain the naturally-occurring enzyme lactase as recommended by a doctor that could help rule out or identify milk sensitivity. The drops could be mixed with breastfed or formula milk. The drops break down most of the lactose and make the feed more easily digestible. In case of improvement these drops can be used longer term to ease the symptoms.

As a last note, do not worry about colic; in most cases it disappears as the baby grows older. 

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