Colic

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      I have written about fussy babies before (see: “The baby’s crying” -  Dec 2012; Gas and reflux -  Jan 2012; Fussy 1 month-old  - Jan 2012). Nothing makes a parent feel more frustrated and helpless then when a baby is crying and the parent has “tried everything” to make him stop. Between birth and 3 months of age, babies cry a lot. Even when there is nothing wrong, they will make fussing, straining or crying noises when they are just “talking” to you. Feeling cold, hungry, tired and having their bowels move are things that never happened to them while they were in the uterus, so their response to normal living is often to cry. Eventually, they get used to being here, as we all did, but for a few months, it can be rough for babies and parents.

     There is no clear definition of colic. An infant with colic is simply one who cries a lot in the first months of life.

     The most common causes for an infant’s crying are hunger, a soiled diaper and being tired. Change your crying infant first, then feed him as much as he wants (don’t limit the amount – let him eat until he stops actively feeding) then gently hold or rock him. If he has been up for more than an hour or two and starts to drift off when you hold him, put him down in a quiet, dark room and let him fall asleep (even if he has to cry a little to do it). Infants need more sleep than most parents realize and an infant who has had lots of stimulation and little naptime is certain to be wildly fussy by 4 pm.

     Infants normally spit up a lot (some more than others), but “reflux” that needs “treatment” is actually rare – even though it is commonly diagnosed and often treated. Most spitty babies only require lots of laundry and a few months of growing. Medicines for infant reflux don’t usually cure fussiness any better than placebo.
     Too much carbohydrate in the diet can make a baby bloated and fussy, so, if you use powdered formula, be sure to prepare it correctly

     Pushing at hard stools can make a baby fussy and, if a baby seems to strain and push a lot, using a half of a baby glycerin suppository on a regular basis can keep the rectum dilated and make the stools easier to pass. If that doesn’t work after a week’s trial, switching from a milk-based formula to a soy-based formula is worth a try.  Lacto-free and other “gentle” formulas are primarily marketing gimmicks and, if the formula is actually making the infant fussy, the only change that makes medical sense is to a soy formula (breast-feeding mothers should stop drinking cow’s milk). If you change to a soy formula, the baby will need at least two weeks to get used to it, so don’t give up too soon.
      Studies show that giving probiotics to babies with colic decreases their symptoms. Discuss how to do this with your baby's care-giver.
      Another interesting theory is that babies with colic may be suffering from migraine headaches. Teenagers and adults with migraines are reported to have had colic as infants more than people who don't have migraines.

   If your infant is unusually fussy, especially if it is a change from his normal pattern, he needs to be examined by your care-giver. If he is found to be otherwise healthy, trying some of the things I’ve mentioned may help. If not, he’ll be older by then and colic rarely lasts much beyond three months.