Treatments for Colic

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     Newborn infants have been thrust into a world they don’t understand that is too cold, too loud and too much work and, therefore, they cry a lot. In the first six weeks of life, normal infants cry about 2 hours a day. By 10 to 12 weeks, most infants still cry at least 1 hour a day.

     With a normal infant, changing the baby, feeding the baby and letting the baby go to sleep is usually all that is needed to resolve crying. Infants sometimes get into a colic-like episode late in the day after too much stimulation and too little sleep (think Holidays). The cure is quiet time and sleep. Colic has no clear definition, but it is crying above what is normal.

     The most commonly used definition of colic is the “Wessel rule of three”: crying that lasts for more than three hours per day, happens more than three days per week and continues for more than three weeks. Colic crying may sound like the infant is in pain and it can come on suddenly. The infant is usually impossible to console. When an infant is judged to have colic, many treatments have been suggested.

     Because colic is felt by some to be a gastrointestinal disturbance, it has been suggested to eliminate allergenic substances from a breast-feeding mom’s diet: milk, eggs, nuts and wheat. “Hypoallergenic” formulas – casein or whey hydrolysate formulas – have also been recommended, however, they are expensive and still have some milk elements in them. If milk allergy is suspected, it is better to just change to a soy-based formula. “Lactose-free” or “high-fiber” formulas don’t seem to make a difference. Remember that any dietary changes need to be continued for at least two weeks before being effective.

     Chamomile and fennel are herbs that have been shown to be helpful in colic. A study showed that a chamomile and fennel-combined tea decreased colic symptoms, but the amount needed (about 2 ounces per pound of the infant’s weight per day) was so much that it could limit breast milk intake. Fennel oil drops were also found to decrease colic. Simethicone drops, lactase, homeopathic treatments and chiropractic spinal manipulation have been shown to be ineffective in colic. Gripe water and antispasmodic medications are dangerous and should be avoided.

     The most promising treatment for colic is administration of probiotics. Probiotics are solutions containing normal gut bacteria and seem to replace ”bad” bacteria that are thought to cause colic. There have now been three excellent studies in which Lactobacillus reuteri given in drop form daily significantly decreased average daily crying time in infants with colic. Parents of infants given probiotic treatment reported decreased severity of colic and also improved family quality of life. Probiotic treatment has no negative side effects.