Page 150 - (DK) Home Doctor: Providing practical advice on home treatments

148 COMMON CONDITIONS: PROBLEMS IN BABIES

Colic

Colic is used to describe bouts of crying and upset behavior in an otherwise healthy baby. These bouts tend
to recur at the same time each day, usually in the early evening, and can last for 3 hours or more. A colicky
baby screams and draws up his or her knees, clenches the fists, and appears to have a stomachache.
Comforting has little effect. As many as 1 in 5 babies develops colic, usually starting 2–3 weeks after birth,
and no one is sure why it occurs. The problem disappears when the baby is about 4 months old and causes
no lasting harm, but it is distressing for parents. In a few babies, colic may be due to a cows’ milk allergy.
See also Feeding problems, pp.144–145; Sleep problems, pp.146–147; Excessive crying, opposite page.

See your doctor first
PRACTICAL TIPS
Make an appointment to see your doctor if:
● Your baby’s behavior or crying suddenly Calming a colicky baby A colicky
baby can be unpredictable so you might need to
changes from its normal pattern switch tactics from time to time.
● Your baby has a fever, diarrhea, or vomiting
● There is blood in your baby’s feces ● If your baby is jumpy and oversensitive to
● Your baby is not gaining enough weight stimulation, try a tranquil, orderly bedtime routine,
taking time to bathe and feed your baby. Put him or
her in a crib in a quiet place, with the lights dimmed.
● Background noise calms some babies, so try putting
What you can do yourself your baby to sleep with a vacuum cleaner or washing
machine running nearby. If your baby can only be
Colic varies from one baby to the next, so try a calmed by movement, try an outing in the carriage or
variety of measures to see which helps. put him or her in a car seat and go for a drive.
● Enlist help from family and
● If you are bottle-feeding, try changing to a
friends during difficult
hypoallergenic formula for a week to see if
evenings. If you are on your
the problem is due to a milk allergy. If you are
own, put the baby in a sling
breast-feeding, exclude dairy products from your
and sing to him or her
diet. If colic improves, continue these measures. while you do
● Too much caffeine in breast milk can make a other tasks.
breast-fed baby irritable, so reduce your intake
of coffee and other caffeinated drinks.
Soothing actions
● “Pause and burp” your baby at least twice during
You may find that
each feeding, and don’t let your baby guzzle. If you
your baby enjoys
are bottle-feeding, check that the hole in the being rocked or
nipple is not too large so the baby gulps, or too having you sing
small so the baby struggles to feed. You may find to him or her.
an “anticolic” bottle and nipple effective.
● Experiment with different ways of soothing your
baby (see PRACTICAL TIPS, right).
Seek further medical advice
● Your baby may pick up on your mood if you are
tired and tense. Deep breathing exercises (see Arrange to see your doctor if:
PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE, p.20) may help you stay calm
● You find it difficult to cope with the crying
through a bout of colic.
● You think the problem is not due to colic