Colic, the word that both frightens and confuses parents everywhere.  No one wants their child to have it, but no one really knows what it is.  

Don’t all babies cry?

Yes.  Studies have been done in cultures all over the world that have shown that there is a general pattern to babies crying in the first few months of life.  They tend to start increasing in crying by the second week of life, but peak at about six weeks old. After that, it slowly improves, and is often resolved by four months old.  They can cry as much as three hours a day at the peak, and often do so in the evening.

What is colic?

Colic is when a baby cries for about three hours a day at least three days a week, usually in the evenings.  Some definitions require it to have been happening for over three weeks. So colic is basically like regular crying, just worse.  In fact they can become inconsolable.

What causes colic?

We honestly don’t know what causes colic.  There have been many guesses, including an immature GI tract, maternal smoking, food allergy, parent stress, infant temperament, and migraines.  None of these have been shown to be the actual cause of colic. Gas can be swallowed while the baby is crying, so it is a result of colic, not the cause.

How do I know if my child has colic?

Colic is what we call a ‘diagnosis of exclusion – since we don’t know what causes colic and we don’t have a test specifically for it, we have to make sure there’s nothing else wrong.  There are many things that can cause a baby to cry, including infections, reflux, pain, and abdominal problems. However, these can usually be discovered by seeing your pediatrician. They will talk to you about the problem, and do a thorough exam to find out if there is another reason your baby is crying.  Luckily blood tests aren’t usually needed during this process unless something unusual is found.

When you go to your pediatrician be prepared to tell them how long your baby has been crying, how many days it happens, what you’ve already tried, and concerns there were during pregnancy, any family history of allergies (like milk protein) or crying episodes, and even how much support the baby’s caregiver has.  

So, my baby has been diagnosed with colic.  Can I do something to help them?

The first thing really, is to know that colic is no one’s fault.  It’s something that happens, and while it may feel like you are a horrible parent for not making your child feel better, you’re not.  Also know that crying doesn’t cause brain damage or emotional trauma – it isn’t going to hurt your baby. Then remember that colic doesn’t last forever.  I know 4-6 months can feel like forever, but it will end. Finally, know that your pediatrician is there to reassure you as well as treat your baby. If you need to call to make sure everything is still okay, then do it.

It can help to make a plan for when the episodes occur.  It’s always good to start with making sure they aren’t hungry, wet, or obviously uncomfortable in some way.  Then you can go to the basics including swaddling and the pacifier. There’s nothing wrong with the old colic stanbys of running the vacuum cleaner or going for a ride in the car.  Setting the baby down and letting them cry for a while is just fine, it gives you time to regroup (and it won’t hurt the baby).

Most importantly, you need to take care of yourself.  A parent who is tired and hungry has a much lower tolerance for a crying baby than one who is fresh.  I know it can be very hard to get time for yourself, but do what you can. Daycare or mother’s day out can be a necessary evil, or a good way to give you time you need to get things done.  A family member or close friend might be able to help you out even for a few minutes so you can calm down while the baby is crying. You can put your baby in their crib, then count to ten, play some music, dance to youtube – do whatever it takes to chill out for a bit.    

Medicines in general don’t help much when it comes to colic.  Simethicone, or mylicon, is often suggested, but it hasn’t really been shown to help.  Herbal teas, if given in quantities large enough that they may help actually can mess up baby’s electrolytes and decrease the amount of formula or breast milk they eat.  Probiotic may help, but the studies haven’t been clear on that yet.

Remember: crying won’t hurt the baby, and you’re still a great parent.  

Links.

This is a great site about crying in babies for parents.