Infants With Colic

First, lets set one thing straight. ALL BABIES CRY. Some cry alot. Crying is healthy and is one of the main ways that our newborns communicate. But some babies cry more than others do. And some, although they're healthy, well-fed and well cared for, seem to cry inconsolably for hours at a time. If your baby cries about the same time each day and nothing you do seems to comfort him or her, your baby may have colic. First things first. . . DON'T PANIC! Colic is not dangerous and it is not permanent. "Not permanent" means temporary, as in, it WILL go away. You will regain your sanity and you ARE NOT a bad parent. Despite our best efforts, about two in ten infants will suffer from a bout with colic so you are certainly not alone. But, if you have come to this blog for information and guidance, chances are you are feeling pretty desperate at this point. Read on.

What is colic? Basically Colic is a pattern of excessive crying with no readily apparent cause. (No kidding!) Of course, that sounds more like a description of the symptoms and less like a definition of the problem. Traditionally, colic has been ascribed to abdominal pain resulting from trapped gas in the digestive tract. This theory is not yet discredited, and some recent scientific evidence seems to support it, yet it is no longer universally accepted as the general cause.

Some folks attribute colic to dietary factors. But, even breastfed babies can suffer from colic. Which implies that the culprit is not purely dietary. One of the most accepted theories is that colic results from a combination of a baby's sensitive temperament, their environment, and a still immature nervous system. These factors combined create a propensity for them to cry easily no matter what the disturbance. The bottom line is: no expert has an answer for what colic really is.

Another point to take some comfort from is that, though your baby may look very uncomfortable, colic is usually not thought to be very painful. Babies with colic are healthy babies. It is not a medical problem per se and it is not indicative of problems in the way that the baby is being handled or treated. In other words, it is not your fault. However, it is in our nature as parents to take steps to eliminate anything that brings our little one to tears. So, if your baby is crying incessantly, you should make sure to consider other possible reasons (e.g. hunger, tiredness, being startled, temperature, diaper rash, etc.) before concluding that they are indeed colicky.

Since the cause of colic is so poorly understood, there is no singular method of treating or relieving it. Some parents have found the following to be helpful in soothing a colicky baby:

Try "babywearing"
Wrap the baby snugly in a blanket (this is called swaddling)
Keep the baby moving in a baby swing
Put them near continuous noise or vibrations from household appliances like the dishwasher, vacuum cleaner or washer-dryer
Take him or her for a car ride or a walk outside
Give them tummy or back rubs
Take a shower with them - the warm water may be comforting

The following links point to some excellent reading on the topic of colic.

http://www.lpch.org/HealthLibrary/ParentCareTopics/NewbornQuestions/CryingBabyLessThan3MonthsOldIncludesColic.html

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/common/colic.html

http://familydoctor.org/036.xml

Research as you might, there is no reasoning with a colicky baby. One last piece of advice. . . Try to stay calm and get some rest. Colic is harder on the parent many times than it is on the baby. The continuous crying of your baby will likely lead you to feel stressed and frustrated. Your nervousness can actually exasperate the problem. Your baby is very sensitive to your mood and may pick up your nervousness leading the baby to even more crying.

Take time for yourself and seek out some support. If you start feeling overwhelmed, ask a partner or friend to take over for a while, even if only for an hour or two.

If you have experience to share on the topic of colic, please take a moment to share it with us in a comment.