While colic can be relatively harmless to your baby, it can be a stressful time for the parents!
Infant Colic No parent likes to hear their baby cry. Now just imagine for a moment, your baby crying for at least three hours a day, non stop. If you are a parent and reading this, you are probably curled into a fetal position with a box of hankies close at hand, but this is the reality that many face when their baby is colicky.
Colic is when an otherwise seemingly normal healthy baby, cries for three hours or more a day for at least three times a week. About twenty percent of all babies born get colic, and this condition doesn’t discriminate between boys and girls; both are affected equally. It has a higher chance of affecting children between the ages of two to four weeks of age, and lasts about three months.
Doctors are flabbergasted as to what causes this condition. They have some theories, but no hard evidence to prove it.
Here are some of the possible causes of infant colic:
In the past doctors believed it had to do with the baby’s digestive system. Although painful abdominal gas may play a role in colic, there is little evidence to suggest that it is due to only gastrointestinal problems.
A combination of a baby’s natural temperament and an immature nervous system may be a factor in colicky babies. Some babies may be more sensitive to their surrounding, and so they cry. Because of their immature nervous system, these babies can’t stop crying once they have begun.
Some doctors believe that it could have something to do with the baby’s diet. Sometimes when a breastfeeding mother changes her diet, the baby’s colic may disappear.
It’s possible that colic could be caused by a milk allergy.
Movement of food through the baby’s digestive system. Sometimes the food may pass too quickly or too slowly.
How do you know if your baby has colic? Well there is no scientific method to tell for certain, but you can start by taking your baby to a doctor and ruling out all other possibilities.
Here are a few things you should try to rule out before taking him to see your doctor:
Hunger.
Tiredness.
Needs a diaper change.
May want to be cuddled and held. Some babies desire to be held more than others.
Baby may have been startled by a sudden loud noise, or movement.
Rash or other source of pain.
If the baby is naked, it may be that the feel of the air on parts that are normally covered may be irritating them.
The baby is too hot, or cold.
Parents should also take note of the babies sleeping pattern, bowel movement and eating habits, before taking them to the doctors. That way the doctor can easily rule out some of the other disorders that could be causing the crying.
There is no tried and true method of curing colic, but there are several things a parent can try that may help.
Some of these are:
If the baby is bottle fed, try changing the type of formula they drink. If the mother is breastfeeding, the mother can try changing her diet. Some foods to cut out would be coffee, alcohol, beans, onions, garlic, spicy foods, caffeine and melon.
Some babies are born lactose intolerant. Check to see whether this condition is prevalent in the rest of your family. If it is, your baby may also suffer from this intolerance. If they do, breastfeeding mothers can remove cow’s milk from their diets, so that the baby is better able to digest the mother’s milk.
Try playing soothing music. Some babies respond well to sounds.
While colic can be relatively harmless to your baby, it can be a stressful time for the parents. Lack of sleep may add to a parent’s irritability. If you find yourself getting hot under the collar, take a break. Get a friend or family member to watch your baby for a bit, and take a breather.
Remember, colic only lasts for about three months, after which you can stop shuddering at the thought of someone waking your baby from a much needed nap, and untangle yourself from the fetal position. Put away your tissues and enjoy the company of your new baby.
