COLIC

What Is Colic? Colic is the occurrence of severe or excessive bouts of crying or fussiness in an otherwise healthy baby. It is a common condition and usually begins in babies at about 2 weeks of age and lasts till 3-4 months of age. It often comes on in the early evening, but can occur at any time and may last as long as 3-4 hours. While colic can cause a very difficult time for both baby and parents, the good news is that it almost always disappears about 3-4 months of age and causes no permanent harm.

What Causes Colic? There have been a number of suggestions as to why it occurs, but the bottom line is that no one really knows its exact cause(s). Both breast- and bottle-fed babies suffer from it. As a mother you should not feel guilty that your baby has colic; in particular, there is no evidence that over-concern of a mother for her baby is a factor in causing it.

With What Can Colic Be Confused? It is vital to be sure that the baby has no other more serious cause of pain. Check the baby's temperature and make sure that he/she has no cough, tender ear, abdominal swelling, diarrhea, vomiting, blood in the stool, etc.

What Can You Do For Colic? The first time that your baby has colic, you will be very concerned and will probably take your baby to your family physician or pediatrician. The doctor will recognize the condition, reassure you, indicate that colic runs a limited course and give you appropriate advice. If you have had other babies, you may have encountered colic previously and learned how to manage it.
There is no specific medication for colic. The following is a list of things that have proven useful to many babies with colic and to their parents:

• try to soothe the baby by holding it frequently and rocking it gently (colicky babies need more attention and care than non-colicky babies)
• make sure the baby's room is quiet with no distractions
• a tummy rub or warm (not hot!) water bottle laid over baby's abdomen may help
• carrying the baby in a front carrier often helps; you can take the baby for a walk or car ride
• a pacifier may be useful
• sometimes a formula change (e.g. a shift to less sugar or to use of soy milk)
• or even a change of mother's diet (e.g. less spicy foods) may help; also check that the hole in the nipple of baby's bottle is not too large allowing too rapid a flow of milk
• don't be afraid to let baby cry for a while if nothing is helping
• it may be important for the mother to get away from the baby for a while several times a week in order to relax and unwind.

Summary Colic can be a difficult experience for baby and family. It is important to realize that it will go away relatively soon. A number of useful measures are outlined above and others will be suggested to you by health care personnel, family and friends; as experience builds up, you yourself will probably come to recognize the best way of handling your baby's colic.