Colic: Nightly Screams of My Infant

It is distressing to see your infant upset and uncomfortable.  

Because infants are not able to speak, crying and irritability is their means of communicating their discomfort.   

Colic is used to describe a condition where a baby cries and is irritable for no known reason.It can begin when a baby is only a few weeks old. An episode may last for a couple of hours, occurring several times a week. It is expected to have resolved by the time the baby is 4 months old.  

However, there are a number of other reasons a child can be irritable.  A wet nappy, uncomfortable room temperature, hunger, underlying medicalcondition can make a child cry. It is therefore important to ensure that these obvious reasons are taken care of.  

“Your child is not sick. Nothing is wrong with him/her” is what your doctor says when they have excluded possible medical causes and have determined that your baby might have colic.   

This is not something any parent wants to hear. You want to know what is wrong with your child and how it can be fixed.  

There are a number of apparent reasons for colic but the most commonly blamed cause is tummy ache and discomfort.  

In addition to crying excessively, other common symptoms reported by parents include:  

• Twisting and turning  
• Drawing in their legs towards their tummy and arching of the back.  
• Excessive rumbling of the tummy and passage of gas.  

Babies with colic have no particular health condition causing their symptoms. They often gain weight normally, have a normal appetite and normal poo. They do not have unusual vomiting and are generally fine in between colic episodes.  

How Can You Help your Baby Feel Better?  

There are a few simple things you can do to help your baby feel better if they have colic:   

• Burping: Hold your baby upright, over your shoulders, rub their backs and gently rock them after feeding. This may help reduce tummy discomfort. Do not immediately lay your baby down for a nap after feeding without burping.  
   
• Feeding method: Colic can occur in both breast- and bottle-fed infants. Air in the tummy causes discomfort. If breast feeding, make sure your baby's mouth is not only on the nipple but covers the areola. This reduces the amount of air sucked in. Also, in bottle-fed infants, hold the bottle at an angle that ensures that the baby isn’t sucking in air. Ensure the baby's mouth covers the teat of the bottle adequately.  
   
• Hold your baby close and cuddle them when they are crying.  
   
• Bathe them in warm water as this can help soothe the discomfort.  
  
   
• Change of formula: If you notice onset of symptoms or an increased number of episodes after introducing a new formula feed, you may want to have your baby’s doctor review your baby's feed. This is because some babies may react to some milk formulas and may be crying due to discomfort from taking the milk.  

Some anti-colic medications, herbal and prebiotic supplements have all been tried for management of colic. These however have minimal evidence of efficacy. It is generally not advised to give medicines that are not prescribed to your baby as these may cause more harm than good.  

When to See your Doctor?  

You should have your baby reviewed by a paediatrician if:  

Symptoms have persisted beyond the 4 th month  

• Your baby’s weight for his/her age is lower than expected  
• Your baby cries excessively and unrelentingly, refusing to be pacified   
• You are worried and want your baby checked out.  
• Vomiting regularly  
• Poor feeding habit  
• Abnormal poo or urine.  

Summary  

Colic is quite common. It is estimated thatone out of five babies suffersfrom it. In most cases, your child has no other problem causing the symptom, so simple diet change and adjusting feeding methods may be all you need to make your baby feel better. However, have your child reviewed by your doctor if the cries become more concerning.