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Oh, the sweet sounds of parenthood: laughs, babbling… and never-ending crying? Infant colic affects between 10 and 40% of babies worldwide, and while these episodes usually disappear by six months of age, they can definitely feel like forever.
You can identify colics by the rule of threes—when crying happens for more than 3 hours a day, at least 3 days a week, for over 3 weeks. If that’s your case, don’t worry, as there are several strategies and ways to assess your baby’s health and find solutions. Our team at Katy Pediatric Associates has created this guide for managing infant colic while you wait for your doctor’s appointment.
Causes and Symptoms of Colic
Possible Causes
While not fully understood, infant colic episodes can be triggered by digestive discomfort or gas buildup due to an immature digestive or nervous system, sensory overstimulation, possible food sensitivities or allergies, or even parental stress influencing the baby’s mood.
Signs and Symptoms
If your baby is suffering from infant colic, they will probably start intense and inconsolable crying (especially in the evening), clenched fists, arched back, or stiffened limbs, red or flushed face, a bloated tummy, or difficulties falling asleep despite exhaustion.
👉🏻 Read more on colicky newborns and what to do.
What Can I Do? 3 Soothing Techniques
Comforting Your Baby
When your baby starts crying, you can try swaddling them for an improved sense of security, gentle rocking, bounding, or swinging motions, using brown noise or other calming sounds, offering a pacifier, or providing a warm bath or a tummy massage.
Feeding Adjustments
Infant colic episodes can be triggered by different issues with food and digestion. You can start improving your burping techniques after feeding, try different bottle nipples, monitor for potential food sensitivities (for breastfeeding mothers), or experiment with a specialized formula if recommended by a doctor.
Managing Gas and Digestion
Besides the traditional burping movements, you can try bicycle leg movements when your baby is lying down or, if approved by your pediatrician, over-the-counter gas drops or gripe water.
Coping Strategies for Parental Stress
We know that, while your little one is your beloved star, infant colic affects much more than just them. It can have a negative impact on parents’ sleep, tranquility, and emotional wellbeing. You should try:
- Acknowledging the emotional toll, as frustration, exhaustion, and feelings of helplessness are normal. Additionally, you should avoid self-blame, as colic is not caused by parenting mistakes.
- Accepting help from family and friends when needed so you can take a break and rest.
- Ensuring your adequate sleep and nutrition for better management of your baby’s episodes.
- Practicing deep breathing or mindfulness exercises for concentrating and emotional management.
- Seeking support by talking to other parents, joining parenting support groups
You can also discuss this at the pediatric appointment, and they will give you tailored strategies.
When to Seek Medical Care
While infant colics are normal and mostly go away on their own, there are some warning signs that could indicate their severity is going beyond what’s normal. If due to their colic, your baby:
- Isn’t gaining weigh
- Refuses to eat
- Vomits, has fever, or unusual bowel movements during crying
- Could have another condition like acid reflux
Make an appointment with a pediatric practice.
Your Pediatric Team in Houston, Texas
We know how frustrating infant colic can be. But we also know it is temporary. By finding the right soothing techniques and taking care of your own mental health, these episodes will get easier to navigate and they will end sooner than you expect.
Our team at Katy Pediatric Associates understands how crucial and important your kid’s health is, and we are determined to not only help in their healing, but also be a source of calm and knowledge.
If you suspect your child might be suffering from an ear infection, you can schedule a consultation with Katy Pediatric Associates by calling 281-492-7676 or contacting us online.