 Normally infants do some crying during the first months of life. When babies cry without being hungry, overheated, or in pain, we call it "colic". About 10% of babies have colic. Although no one is certain what causes colic, these babies seem to want to be cuddled or to go to sleep. Colic tends to occur in high-needs babies with a sensitive temperament. Colic is not the result of bad parenting, so don't blame yourself. Colic is also not due to excessive gas, so don't bother with the extra burping, special nipples or Mylicon drops. Cow's mild allergy may cause crying in a few babies, but only if you baby also has diarrhea or vomiting.
Colic, is not caused by abdominal pain. The reason the belly muscles feel hard is that a baby needs these muscles to cry. Drawing up the legs is also a normal posture for a crying baby, as is flaying the arms.
Experts have recently concluded that colic is actually a nervous system disorder. The immature nervous system of a young infant can be "overwhelmed" by all the surrounding stimuli, so that by the end of the day, they become almost "frantic". The sometimes the actions we take like rocking, bouncing, and jiggling can make the situation worse.
Symptoms may include:
- Unexplained crying
- Intermittent crying usually worse in late afternoon and evening
- Healthy child (not sick or in pain)
- Well-fed child (not hungry)
- Bouts of crying usually lasting 1 to 2 hours or longer
- Child normal between bouts of crying
- Onset about 4 weeks of age
- Resolution by 3 months of age
What you can expect:
This fussy crying is harmless for your baby. The hard crying spontaneously starts to improve at 2 months and is gone by 3 months. Although the crying can't be completely eliminated, the minutes of crying a day can be dramatically reduced with treatment. In the long run, these children tend to remain more sensitive and alert to their surroundings and have higher IQ's.
What you can do:
Coping with Colic:
1. Cuddle or swaddle your baby whenever he/she cries
Often the infant settles down when tightly swaddled and turned on his/her side. A soothing, rhythmic activity is another best approach to helping a baby relax, settle down, and go to sleep. You can't spoil a baby during the first 3 to 4 months of life.
Consider the following additional actions:
- Cuddling your child in a rocking chair
- Slowly rocking your child in a cradle
- Placing your child in a baby carrier or sling (which frees your hands)
- A windup swing or vibrating chair
- A stroller ride outdoors or a car ride
"White noise seems to help colicky babies by providing a calming background noise that seems to help. This white noise can be generated several ways at home:
- Place the infant in a car seat near a clothes dryer that is running
- Turn on the vacuum cleaner
- Turn on the TV to a "null" station that has only static or snow on the screen
- Purchase a white noise machine or a white noise CD
We have a CD produced by Dr. Harvey Karp in our clinic that you may hear. It can be purchases on line at www.thehappiestbaby.com and also a DVD demonstrating calming and soothing techniques. You can check out either one at our office.
Anything else you think may be helpful (for example, a pacifier, a warm bath, or massages)
If all else fails, Sleep Tight is a new device that attaches under the crib and simulates the motion and sound of a moving car. This gadget has lessened colicky behavior in over 90% of babies. It costs about $70. For more information call 1-800-662-6542.
2. A last resort: Get help from your spouse or friend
Take a break for a while. Close the door, go into a different room, turn up the radio, and do something you want to do. Even consider earplugs or earphones. Save your strength for a little later when you are calmed down and then try the soothing activities again. If nothing works, check with your doctor especially if the infant's won't eat.
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