Colic

What is colic and why does it occur?

Colic
Many babies and parents experience colic. Colic is a term used to describe a prolonged period of unexplained crying in infants. Colicy babies tend to be fussy for 3-4 hours at a time around the same time each day. For some babies, colic lasts a few days or weeks and for other babies, colic can last months. The first episode of colic can be a particularly disturbing experience. Out of nowhere, your baby will start crying and there is nothing that you or anyone else can do to soothe her.

New babies do not usually show signs and symptoms of colic while in the hospital because colic is rare within the first few days of life. Because new parents off move their newborns to the nursery when they cry in the hospital, the parents may rarely hear their baby cry during the first few days. Once you bring your baby home, you might notice that your perfectly well-behaved newborn suddenly begins to scream. Usually, colic will strike in the evening with both paretns at home. Why? The cause is not known. New parents and experienced parents usually do not know what to do. You might wonder if the baby is pain, whether the situation is an emergency, if your baby is hungry, hot or uncomfortable, etc. Usually feeding, changing and cuddling your baby does not offer any comfort to her. Occasionally temporary relief can be found when the baby begins to suckle on a fist, pacifier, bottle or breast, but then the objects are violently rejected. Parents of colicy babies often call their child's doctor in a panic or rush their baby to the emergency room thinking something must be wrong.

Typical colic has a number of features that usually begins after the second week of life and peaks at about three months of age. For this reason, it is sometimes called the "three-month" colic. Usually, symptoms of colic decrease after the age of three months. It is unusual for colic to begin after three months of age. Because colic generally occurs in the evening hours, many parents often wonder if it is because their baby does not like the increased activity in the home during the evening hours. For some parents, their tolerance levels may not be as high after a long day at work.

An attack of colic often ends with a passage of gas or stool and gas is often blamed as the problem. However, abdominal pain is not necessarily responsible for the unexplainable bouts of crying that newborns often experience. Your baby should seem perfectly fine before and after the attack and no fever, vomiting or diarrhea should be noted. If you notice fever, vomiting, diarrhea or if your child is less than 2 weeks old, you should call your child's pediatrician. Your baby may have insufficient lactase and need to switch to a different kind of formula. If any attak lasts for more than 4 hours, give your child's doctor a call. The doctor will do a thorough examination of your baby to make sure there are no signs of illness.

Home treatment for colic has been treated many ways. Every baby is different and the methods do not always work for all babies. Colic usually cures itself and does not generally require any treatment. If your child is experiencing true colic, there is no reason for any medication to be adminstered. Research has shown that increasing the amount of time you spend holding and playing with your baby during quiet periods can be effective. To reduce the chances of your baby experiencing gas, make sure to burp your baby every few ounces and between breasts when nursing. Gas drops help break up the gas bubbles and can relieve any gas pain that your baby has.

Colic can be extremely frustrating for parents and caregivers. Colic can cause new parents to become depressed and lose confidence in parenting. Colic is not related to how you parent and your child will outgrow colic. If nothing works for your baby and you are losing patience, do not be afraid to leave your crying baby in a SAFE place while you go into another room and regain sanity for a few moments.

Common Soothers For Babies

Rocking
Cuddling
Playing soothing music
Walking with baby
Taking baby for a car ride
Wrapping a baby snuggly
Pacifiers
Backrubs
Warm bath
Placing baby on his stomach over your shoulder or lap
Swinging
Bouncing gently

Comments: Colic

Comments 1 to 24 of about 36.
1 Next

felabom - 195 days ago.
You can find the best homeopathic natural colic remedies at iHerb, with a huge discount. http://www.iherb.com/Search?kw=colic&x=0&y=0#cid=2517 ** $ 10 DISCOUNT + Free Shipping ** Don't miss the best offer from iHerb.com !!! (limited time offer) Don't miss the best offer from iHerb.com! Just for a limited time use the exclusive iHerb coupon code VAS212 and get 10$ discount for your 1st order over $40 + free product samples and get free shipping- VAS212 !!!! (in US you get FREE SHIPPING on orders above $20) Using this code you'll be able to add a free item from free items category. Free shipping on order above $20- VAS212 !!!! If your order doesn’t reach $40, no problem >>> using the coupon code VAS212 you will still get $ 5 off for orders under $40!!! To qualify, simply checkout with UPS Ground shipping selected. Shop the specials section of iHerb and enjoy up to 75% off regular prices. Please note that this is a limited-time offer, and the coupon value will revert back to $5 after a limited time. http://iherb.com?rcode=vas212

Monika80 - 561 days ago.
Firstly, I truly, absolutely believe in this technique. Not only have I used it many times myself, I have also treated many mothers and babies with immediate and amazing results. How Can It Help My Baby? Colic Wind Gas Bloating Reflux Constipation Indigestion Hiccups Restlessness Difficulty Sleeping Stiff Neck Cough Cold Running Nose Blocked Nose Swollen Eyelids Asthma Eczema Click Here!

tiffanyxoxo83 - 667 days ago.
im pretty sure my baby has colic also..the only thing that seems to help is breastfeeding him. as long as hes on the boob hes not crying. he'll even fall asleep rather quickly but if i move him he wakes up and starts screaming so ive come to the conclusion to just let him on the boob. also another thing that helps is pumping his legs. he gets gas sooooo bad, ive tried everything and nothing seems to work exept pumping his legs and he'll fart and fart and fart. sometimes this calms him down but if its serious gas pains only the boob helps.

1busymommy@plainuncommonsense.com - 800 days ago.
Music soothes and calms both babies and adults. Our baby also responded beautifully to a sound machine of ocean waves. It took care of the noise 2 older brothers bring. Our problem is we are away from home a lot with the older kids so naps are interrupted. We found Sleepy Bee (www.sleepybees.com). He is our favorite take-along. Naps are no problem now.

Charlotte B - 801 days ago.
I used the 5 S's from Happiest Baby on the Block DVD. Especially swaddling & shushing. Also, I recently read an article on MSNBC.com about a Baby Shusher App for iPhone - it can be set to adjust to your baby's cry. It makes the shush sound over and over (mimics the sound baby heard in the womb for 9 months). I have it and it works like a charm! Here is the article: http://tinyurl.com/4jb9jnn.

clange - 817 days ago.
Anyone who is interested in using gripewater can if you buy the little remedies/ little tummies brand. There is no alcohol in that brand at all. It isn't listed in the ingredients and it says on the box. Alcolol Free. It seems to help my youngest son when he is really fussy.

ulandi - 830 days ago.
Gripe water is not actually good for baby, was unaware of it until the pead heard i was giving it to my colic struck girl.....it contains 5% alcohol (like giving baby a beer) I also went crazy with my first one, and decided at two months, I had enough. Introduced solids, and gone was the colic! Goodluck, and remember, it's not your fault!

mommy4the very first time - 830 days ago.
I was wondering if our LO maybe has colic and after reading this, I am sure he has. He is perfectly fine during the day and every evening between 7 and 10pm he cries for no reason at all. Nothing we seem to do helps and seeing as he is a premature baby, being 3 months old and weighing only 2.36kg at this age, we cannot give him just anything.

aleah - 839 days ago.
I feel like crying my eyes out right now!! My baby either has colic or something else is wrong. She is fussy all of the time especialy at night anywhere from 6pm to 10 or 11pm! I feel bad on 3 occasions I got so frustrated I let her cry it out and she won't even be a month till the 7th. My other 2 were'nt like this at all, Im feeling so helpless! She hates the swing most of the time, and the bouncer! so far I found the vaccum cleaner to be helpful.

christinea - 994 days ago.
My guy has colic and we have him on probiotics (BioGaia) and some homeopathic drops (no alcohol or dyes) and his colic is pretty much gone.

escribo86 - 1000 days ago.
We changed my baby's formula, started her on medicine for teething and acid reflux, did an upper gi scan, a x-ray of her lower abdomen, spent the night in the ER and discovered that she has Colic. And the formula that we switched her to which is supposed to be so amazing for colic is giving her diarriha and so she has a bad diaper rash. So when she's not crying from the colic, she's crying from a diaper change. My husband wants to punch someone he's so frustrated that his little girl is in pain and there's nothing he can do, and I just wanna sit there and cry with her because I'm so frustrated that there's nothing we can do. She's 8 weeks old now, how much longer will we have to deal with this? How long does it go usually?

leamerre - 1158 days ago.
My DS is 5 weeks old and has had colic for about 2 weeks now (each night from 10pm - 2am). I ordered some 'Colic Calm' online and it seems to help. He likes the taste so he calms down to take it and then I'm able to soothe him with belly rubs or whatever since he's not putting all of his attention into crying. Each night is different with what soothes him so I just go down the list and try everything.

JoJos Mommy - 1297 days ago.
my baby boy is 3weeks old tomorrow and im almost sure he has colic. almost every night somewhere btwn 11pm and 4am he starts screaming and crying for hours like some one is seriously hurting him. my husband and i are trying gripe water but i cant say that its helping. we jus take turns napping and walking around the house wit him until he goes to sleep (and he sleep doesnt last very long)...there has to be a better way. im going to try the blow dryer thing tonight because it is very frustrating. i feel like i should be doing more, but nothing stops the crying.

anitasmum - 1306 days ago.
Oh and mummy's who use white noises for calming their babies. I got a REALLY SERIOUSLY good CD from Ebay with all different white noises on it. It is so calming and relaxing. Even I enjoy it :) I can take it away with me and it's like I have my hair dryer, rain, all sorts of different sounds with me all the time. love it x

anitasmum - 1306 days ago.
Hi mummys, I am Anita's mum and she is 4 months old and still very colicky but I found a new cure for her problem and thought I share it with you. Have you ever tried Wellements Gripe Water? It is a really really good organic product. My baby didn't show any signs of colic until i stopped breastfeeding her at 2 months old. I used infacol for a while but it gave her nothing but constipation. Then I moved to Hi, have you tried Wellements Gripe Water? It is a really really good organic product. My baby didn't show any signs of colic until i stopped breastfeeding her at 2 months old. I also used to use infacol, Hi, have you tried Wellements Gripe Water? It is a really really good organic product. My baby didn't show any signs of colic until i stopped breastfeeding her at 2 months old. I also used to use infacol, dentinox, colic calm, colief, everything in the market. Then I just wanted something organic, i just didn't want to put anymore chemicals in my baby's 2 months old body. so I bought Wellements and it did wonders. I bought mine from organixbaby.co.uk and i think that is the only place in UK that you can buy it from. give it a try. it is seriously good.

wishingpink - 1350 days ago.
what a great idea on the blow dryer. I found some great info on colic here too: http://www.chatterscene.com

artemisxlr8 - 1435 days ago.
My son's colic lasted 3 1/2 weeks. The magic bullet so to say 'MY BLOWDRYER'. If he's not wet or poopy, has eaten, not in pain, has passed gas, and is still fussy... when I turn on the blow dryer on the lowest setting the crying stops immediately. I cannot tell you how much my blowdryer hates me right now. I have to buy a new one soon. Not for my son, for me, so I can blow dry my hair. I also found that the soy formula he is on makes him amazingly constipated, so the dr. told me 1 oz of prune juice (not diluted) a day will help ease his stool. She said the sugars helps with the constipation. Or white grape juice or pedialyte non flavored. He can't stand the pedialyte. The white grape juice he only marginally likes, but the prune juice, he sucks that down. Go figure.

Mother of Mi Raye of Light - 1476 days ago.
My baby had colic for a few weeks but then it went away. my mom told me about gripe water. IT REALLY WORKS. It made her feel better most of the times. Babys r us and Walgreens sells it. I can't guarantee that your baby will stop crying instantly but it will make her feel better and it won't be much longer before she stops.

jhbmom - 1489 days ago.
My 2 girls had terrible colic, I was told about a physiotherapist here that specialized in babies with colic so took them there as a last resort as I was at my wits end. After only 4 visits, they were completely cured and were the most content babies thereafter. Seemingly, when the baby is born by C section, their spines do not always align properly which causes the colic (similar to an adult with whiplash) which makes sense that a physio or chiropracter can help. Just make sure you see someone who specializes in babies though. Good luck mommies!

tamm - 1490 days ago.
my baby is 15 days old. he was so quiet and easygoing in the hospital, and the first week wasn't so bad; he mostly slept. This week has been a nightmare; he screams and cries even while in his swing or bouncer; i have to walk around with him shooshing, rocking, patting, soothing for at least 5-10 minutes sometimes before he gets tired and falls asleep, but he'll just freak out again if i try to put him down. Diaper changing has become such a dreaded task; he screams the whole time

♥Lucky♥ - 1508 days ago.
i used colic calm for the first 2 months of my sons life. it does work a treat just the colour of it puts me off we had so many stains on bibs and clothes as he used to try and spit it out all the time

zajaceks - 1508 days ago.
The colic calm is great. It works withtin minutes. Its so nice to see him in peace.

lynsey-3 - 1512 days ago.
hey, my baby boy is 3 weeks old and has colic, i have tried infacol, dentinox, he has anti colic bottles as well, the 1st 2 have done nothing to help him, i have now just bought a bottle of colief which seems to be quite good just expensive. i have also found that white noise helps, u can download it for free from the soothing sounds website. xxxx

Bek 30 - 1513 days ago.
I also did the chiropractor for my daughter when we thought she had colic also, and I swear after every treatment she was ok for a day ( turns out she had severe silent reflux), but I still kept up with her 3x a week sessions, seriously it does help give them relief, and every time that the chiro would touch a certain part on her back, she would fart and burp, they also teach you how to do it, so u can keep up with it at home. Some chiros actually work on babies for free until they turn 1, mine did, you just have to phone around and find one.

zajaceks - 1514 days ago.
My son has colic. He doesnt spit up he is just very gassy and the mylicon drops just help gas in the stomach and not the intestines. Has anyone tried the colic calm.?