Colic Symptoms and Treatment Tips?
Parents are always concerned when their baby has Colic symptoms; excessive crying for no reason, clinching their fists and holding their breath, eating disorders and more. Crying and being colic are two terms that always accompany each other when it comes to parenthood. It is natural for a baby to cry after all, that is the only way your bundle of joy can tell you if he/she wants to eat, sleep or have their diapers changed.
But some babies have an almost unnatural and excessive amount of crying which are symptoms parents should discuss with their pediatrician. If you are wondering why your baby keeps on crying for hours without stopping, then, yes, it could be a sign of being colic.
What is colic in babies?
In most cases there are two key reasons for your baby being colic. One being affectionately called the fourth trimester. This is when the baby is having trouble adjusting to the life outside of the womb and is sensitive to all the new stimuli and experiences such as light, temperature, sounds, etc., while the other is associated with having bacteria in the gut that causes abdominal pain.
Gassy babies have sensitive intestines and so excess gas can cause them stomach aches. Doctors assess this situation using the rule of threes. Signs of colic babies start as early as 3 weeks. Babies can cry up to 3 hours and this condition usually subsides by the end of the third or maximum fourth month.
However, new scientific research shows that gas in the gut may be caused by excessive crying because babies swallow a lot of air when they cry for hours. Either way, being colic usually means a stomach ache and gassy babies need to be treated with extra care.
What are colic symptoms and why do babies become colic?
Doctors have found no main cause other than gut bacteria relating to colic. It is not genetic and is certainly not considered to be a disease. It is merely a condition a small percentage of babies go through, and it usually ends within the first few months. Consider it a growth phase, albeit a very annoying and troublesome one. If your baby cries excessively for three or more hours, at least three days a week and doesn’t calm down after whatever you to try to soothe him/her, then you might have a colicky baby. Of course, a pediatrician’s opinion and ruling should come first before you jump to any conclusion. So get your baby checked for any possible illness. Experiencing all or many of these colic symptoms to watch out for:
- Strangely enough, many colicky babies cry usually at the same time every day, either in the early afternoon or evening.
- They cry excessively and uncontrollable for no apparent reason and the crying lasts for hours.
- The baby hold his/her breath for longer than normal why crying.
- Clenching of fists and pulling up the arms and legs.
- Increased bowel activity, such as passing gas and even spitting out milk.
- Eating and sleeping are disturbed by crying spells.
- Your baby’s face is excessively red and flushed when they cry.
How do you treat colic?
Although there are many remedies to calm a colic baby, doctors advise to use the rule of S’s…
- Swinging
- Swaddling
- Shooshing in the ear
Remember all babies are different, you can also try some of these methods listed below, some will work while others won’t.
- Babies love attention, entertain them, make funny faces
- Try having the baby suck on a pacifier
- Laying your baby on his/her side for short periods of time which may help release gas.
- Get some fresh air for your baby
- Give your baby a warm bath
- Singing or play some calming music
- Try distracting your baby with a toy or noisemaker.
- Many parents swear by using gripe water to soothe the aching tummy of their baby. Click Here for information about Gripe Water
- Ask for help. Whether it is your spouse, friend or mother, there is nothing wrong with asking for a little extra support in trying to calm your baby.
- Simply take a break, although it seems counter-productive. After you have tried and tested everything and the baby is still crying, sometimes it’s best to take a breather and walk away for a couple of minutes. This does not make you a bad parent, in fact it is helping you gather yourself and relax a little so that you can get back to soothing your baby.
More ideas on how to put your baby to sleep
How long does colic last in babies?
Working through colic symptoms can be exhausting and stressful. Although there is no cure as of yet for colic babies, there is one good thing you can count on, your baby being colic is only a temporary phase. Most colicky babies stop at 3-4 months and only a fraction of them take an additional time to get better.
If you are you having trouble with your baby constantly crying get your baby checked by a certified pediatrician as soon as possible to properly diagnosis the condition and help you develop a plan to manage your baby’s symptoms.
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