Colic In Newborns
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The term colic is a used to describe inconsolable crying in a newborn baby. Whilst no one can tell for sure why a baby is crying, the assumption is that they have a pain in their gut, which makes them colicky.
The cause of this condition is unknown. One theory is that a newborn baby’s gut is unable to cope with milk and air travelling through it, causing discomfort.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptom of this condition is crying non-stop for anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours, and starts from when your baby is a few weeks old. The condition usually starts when a baby is two weeks old and can last up until they are 12 weeks of age.
A baby will often be colicky in the evening and it may be accompanied by them pulling up their legs. You baby will most likely be difficult to console during bouts of the condition.
How to cope with a colicky baby
Winding a baby after every feed can help release trapped air in the gut and help reduce colicky symptoms, although this alone will not stop it completely. For bottle fed babies, position the bottle so that the teat is full of milk at all times whilst a baby is feeding; this will stop your baby from sucking air instead of milk.
When your baby is uncontrollably crying try lying them face down over your arm and rubbing their back. There are also medications available to buy over the counter which can offer your baby relief from the colicky discomfort.
Dr Carol Cooper, General Practitioner
Author of Baby and Child – Your questions answered
10648 Published April 2012
Revised November 2012
Review Scheduled November 2013
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