How to cure colic

Is your baby crying all the time and you just can’t work out why? Read on for some help on how to deal with colic…

It’s the end of a busy day. Time to tuck your baby up in bed, sit down and relax. But then it begins – just like last night, and the one before that. Your baby is screaming, and it sounds as though she’s in unbearable pain. What can you do to help her? Having a baby with colic is stressful and exhausting, but there are ways to cope.

What is colic?

The jury’s still out. Some experts define it as persistent, unexplained crying, but many believe it’s triggered by intestinal pain and wind. According to M&B’s health visitor Jackie Walsh, the most widely accepted theory is that it’s down to the immaturity of a baby’s digestive system, which finds it hard to break down milk (whether breast or formula), causing painful wind and distress. Other theories range from over-stimulation and over-tiredness to an intolerance to lactose (a natural sugar found in milk).

What are the symptoms?

Persistent and unexplained crying. On average, non-colicky babies may cry for two and a half hours a day, on and off – when they’re hungry, tired, bored or need changing. But colicky babies cry for over three hours on a regular basis, and are very hard to pacify. Jackie says it’s hard to give exact symptoms. ‘If a mum feels her baby has colic, then she’s probably the expert,’ she says.

Other signs include a red face, arching of the back, or alternately pulling up and then extending the legs. ‘A baby with colic looks uncomfortable, and struggles with that discomfort,’ says Jackie.

When will it end?

Colic often starts at around three weeks, and most babies grow out of it by three months. Classic colic time is the evening between 6pm and midnight, but it can happen at any time.

About 20-30% of babies get colic. Some professionals believe bottle-fed babies suffer more, as they take in air when gulping from a bottle. But breastfed babies can get colic too. It’s also thought smoking during pregnancy and exposing babies to smoky atmospheres increases the likelihood of colic.

Colic can be very traumatic for both you and your baby – but rest assured that it has no lasting health problems, and your baby'll grow out of it. However, you should always ask your health visitor to check your baby to rule out other causes, and reassure you that it’s nothing more serious.

Help her feel better:

There are many ways you can help your little one. · Colic drops such as Infacol or Dentinox Colic Drops contain simethicone, which breaks down air bubbles in the gut; they're available from your pharmacy. Colief Infant Drops contain lactase enzymes to break down lactose. Gripe water contains oil of dill and sodium bicarbonate to relax the stomach and break down trapped wind. If you prefer to use homeopathic remedies, try Weleda Chamomilla 3X Granules.

· Experiment by holding your baby in different positions. Hold her over your shoulder, or lie her on her tummy across your knees. Alternatively, lie her on her tummy when she’s awake (not straight after a feed) as this position stretches and relaxes her abdomen.

· Baby massage can be very effective. Gently rub her tummy in a clockwise direction to aid digestion.

· Osteopathy (very gentle manipulation) can be very effective for colic. The theory is based on the idea that discomfort stems from the birth experience. Bones and joints are very gently ‘realigned’ so the central nervous and digestive systems can work properly.

· If you’re breastfeeding, your diet may affect your baby. Jackie suggests noting down what you ate 12-24 hours before a bout of colic, to see if any pattern emerges. Typical colic culprits include orange juice, alcohol, dairy produce, spicy foods, broccoli, cabbage, onions and caffeine. But, Jackie stresses, you shouldn’t eliminate any food from your diet without advice. If you’re convinced that something you’re eating is causing colic, ask your health visitor to refer you to a community dietician.

· If you’re bottlefeeding, anti-colic bottles and teats (available from chemists) can minimise the amount of air taken in during feeding. Jackie also reminds mums to change teats as their baby grows. Using a newborn teat for an older baby means she'll suck harder, gulping more air.

· If you think a different formula may suit your baby better, discuss changing with your health visitor. There are some formulated especially for lactose-intolerant babies.

· Try changing your baby’s environment. Give her a warm bath, turn on soothing music and dance with her, or try a drive or walk with the pram – movement may lull her to sleep.

· White noise – the drone of a vacuum cleaner or hairdryer – can help to settle a baby, too. That’s because she was used to hearing your internal hums inside the womb.

· While distraction can work for some babies, others simply need ‘time out’. Try putting her down in a darkened room with no distractions. Keep interaction with her to a minimum and allow her a minute or two to see if she’ll settle.

Coping with colic

· Make sure you’re not alone at critical colic times. You may need a break or a cuddle from your partner or friend to help recharge your batteries.

· Some mums find making a diary of colicky times helps them feel more in control, and can also reveal a pattern to the crying.

· Talk to other mums at a baby group (ask your health visitor for details of local ones), so you can share tips and sympathy. And most mums won’t object to conversation being interrupted by a crying baby.

COLIC CHECKLIST

If you can tick all of these, then your baby probably has colic…

1. Your baby is three to 12 weeks old.

2. The crying is usually, but not always, worse in the evening.

3. Crying is shrill, intense and distressed.

4. Bouts occur several times a week, for three hours or more at a time.

5. There are obvious signs of discomfort – pulling up or extending the legs, arching the back, a hard or rumbling tummy.