How To Know If Your Baby Has Colic

Colic is a common malady that occurs in about 25% of infants. The condition usually occurs in babies of ages ranging from a few weeks to 3 months old and can be very stressful to new parents. The first sign of colic is when a baby suddenly starts crying for no apparent reason and continues wailing inconsolably for a prolonged period of time. There seems to be no way of calming the infant as it continues to cry for hours.

So how do you know if your baby has colic? Perhaps there is something else causing discomfort or maybe s/he’s just plain fussy. In 1954 Dr. Morris Wessel defined colic as “an infant who cries more than three hours a day, three days a week for more than three weeks in an otherwise well-fed, healthy baby.” Though your baby may not fit that definition precisely, if there is sustained crying in your otherwise healthy infant for a regular period of the day lasting for several weeks, your baby may have colic.

The main clue to watch for is if these crying jags happen at about the same time of day each time. Colic episodes usually occur in the late afternoon or early evening and often after feeding. The wailing can last a few minutes or for hours and will stop just as mysteriously as it started. Sometimes the bout will end with the baby passing gas or having a bowel movement. This leads some to believe that the colic is caused by some kind of digestive problem, but it hasn’t been definitively confirmed.

Another symptom of colic is the intensity and prolonged period of the crying. Nothing you try will console your baby which can be very stressful. During these episodes your infant will usually have clenched fists, tense abdominal muscles and will alternately curl and then extend the legs. The poor thing appears to be in intense pain or discomfort and parents have a hard time dealing with a situation they have absolutely no control over.

The key thing to remember about colic is that it occurs in infants who are otherwise healthy in every way. It seems impossible that a baby can cry this much without having some underlying cause. That’s why it’s important to consult with your pediatrician if you suspect your baby has colic. The only way to ultimately make a diagnosis of colic is for a doctor to rule out any other underlying causes or health issues. You don’t want to assume you just have a colicky baby if there could be some legitimate reason for your child’s discomfort.

Although a diagnosis of colic can be a big relief that there isn’t something seriously wrong with your baby, it’s still not that easy to live with. Nobody wants to deal with a screaming baby for hours at a time night after night, after night. The only consolation you have is that colic isn’t a major health problem and it’s only temporary. Most infants will grow out of it by the time they’re 3 to 5 months of age.

Though there doesn’t seem to be any definitive cause or cure for colic, feel free to try different things to help your baby feel more comfortable. Rocking, walking or swinging your baby may have a calming effect. You could also try a soothing massage or warm bath during colic episodes. Something may work one day but not work the next, so continue to experiment. Play some background music and be sure to take a break when you can. Keep in mind that you’re not the first parent to have a colicky baby and you’re definitely not the last. Eventually the colic will pass and become a distant, though not so pleasant memory.

Taken From Nanny Pro