Babies cry as a solution to communicate that they need something – and you’ve probably gotten really good at identifying those needs. But sometimes babies cry for seemingly no reason in any respect. And in case your baby does so recurrently, they could be among the many estimated 20% of babies worldwide affected by colic.
The excellent news is that colic goes away by itself and doesn’t have any long-term health effects on babies, but it may possibly be stressful for folks or caregivers.
So here, we explain what colic is, how to discover colic symptoms, when to discuss with a kids’ health specialist and suggestions for helping soothe a colicky baby.
What is colic exactly?
Colic is when a healthy baby recurrently cries inconsolably for long periods of time for no reason that a health care provider can discover. For folks or caregivers, colic could be a very emotional and frustrating experience. However it’s necessary to know that colic doesn’t occur because your baby is sick or you’re doing anything unsuitable, and it’s going to stop soon.
The causes of colic aren’t well understood
Doctors don’t know exactly what causes colic in babies. Some theories suggest that it’s related to infants’ sensitivity to stimulation and their developing nervous systems – meaning that it may possibly be easy for them to start out crying and hard for them to stop. Other studies suggest that discomfort from things like gas or food intolerances may additionally contribute to colic spells, but not as direct causes.
How colic is diagnosed
Generally, step one in diagnosing colic is ruling out other potential causes for the crying similar to acid reflux disease, allergies and more. Additionally they take a look at certain criteria to assist diagnose whether a baby has colic, which might include:
- Repeated, prolonged periods of crying, fussing or irritability (with no clear cause) that oldsters or caregivers can’t stop
- The child is lower than five months old when symptoms start (and eventually stop)
- No symptoms of illness or unexpectedly slow growth
Find out how to tell colic symptoms from regular crying
Babies cry for numerous reasons – in any case, it’s certainly one of their foremost ways of communicating. But together with having no clear cause, colic crying tends to produce other features that distinguish it from crying that’s on account of other causes.
The age of your baby when the inconsolable crying begins
Typically, colic crying starts inside the first few weeks after a baby’s birth and peaks between 4 and 8 weeks of age.
The timing of colic crying often has a pattern
Regular crying is often related to a baby’s core needs similar to needing to eat, sleep or get a diaper change, so it may possibly occur irregularly and throughout the day as those needs arise. But colic crying tends to occur around the identical time each day, often in the late afternoon or evening – and the crying has no clear trigger.
Other symptoms of colic crying
Colic crying could be more intense than regular crying. It could be higher pitched and sound like your baby is in distress. With this intensity, your baby’s face may turn red, and the skin around their mouth could also be pale. They might stiffen their arms, clench their fists, pull in their legs or arch their back while crying.
How long does colic last?
Colic often ends when babies are 3-4 months old. Many parents and caregivers find that the crying stops suddenly.
Find out how to soothe a colicky baby
When your baby is crying, all you wish to do is comfort them and make certain they’ve every little thing they need. But in case your baby has colic, the same old soothing methods like feeding, changing or rocking them typically aren’t effective. This could be extremely stressful, however it’s also to be expected since colic is defined by inconsolable crying.
Taking good care of a colicky baby is hard, but keep in mind that colic is common, temporary and could have no lasting effects in your baby’s health. And while there’s no guarantee that any particular technique will fully relieve colic symptoms, some babies respond well to specific comfort measures or changes in their environment.
Step 1: Discover your child’s colic window
As we mentioned earlier, colic crying tends to occur around the identical time every day – and oftentimes later in the day. Once you know the overall timing of your baby’s colic spells, you can attempt to comfort your baby or make changes before the colic window starts. This will likely help reduce the intensity or duration of their crying.
Step 2: Rule out other the explanation why they could be crying
You’re probably doing this already, but when your baby starts crying, all the time rule out any physical needs like hunger or a soiled diaper before moving on to other comfort methods, even during their colic window.
Step 3: Try colic-soothing techniques that change your baby’s environment or focus
Once you’ve determined that your baby has a clean diaper and isn’t hungry, sleepy or gassy, you can try a number of of the next strategies:
- Position changes – Changing your baby’s position in order that they’re sitting up as an alternative of lying down (or vice versa) can provide them latest things to focus their attention on.
- Gentle motion – This could include rocking your baby, putting them in a baby swing on a low setting, taking them on a walk in a stroller or front-facing carrier, or going for a ride in a automobile.
- Reducing stimulation – Babies can get overwhelmed by many types of stimuli, including brilliant lights, loud sounds, strong odors and even an excessive amount of attention. Removing stimuli or changing them to be softer can create a more comfortable, less stressful environment on your baby.
- Introducing comforting sounds – Soft music or white noise (like a fan, vacuum cleaner or washer in one other room) may help calm your baby.
- Holding your baby close – Cuddling your baby, holding them against your chest while taking slow, deep breaths or flippantly massaging their belly or back with circular motions of your palm could be comforting and may reduce crying time.
- A pacifier – The sucking reflex that babies use to nurse also helps them self-sooth. So if you’ve established a nursing routine together with your baby, you can try giving them a pacifier during their colic spells.
Step 4: Take a break to soothe yourself if you have to
Attempting to soothe a colicky baby could be emotionally and physically draining. So it’s normal and totally okay to take a break. If you find that you’re getting stressed or impatient during a colic spell, put your baby in their crib or bassinet on their back with none blankets or other objects, and leave the room for just a few minutes. If you have a partner or one other caregiver is available, you may ask them to take over while you take a moment to reset. And keep in mind that you can reach out to your baby’s doctor or your personal if you feel like you need more support.
When to see a health care provider for colic symptoms
Remember, colic will go away with time, and it doesn’t mean that there’s anything unsuitable together with your baby or the care you’re giving them.
In case your baby is showing possible symptoms of colic, talk with a pediatrician or one other kids’ health specialist. They’ll talk with you about your child’s symptoms and likely do a mild exam to rule out any possible underlying causes. In case your child is diagnosed with colic, their doctor can recommend additional ways to assist improve colic symptoms. They may give you suggestions for managing the stress that colic may cause you.