Colic

What is colic?

Colic is a term used to describe uncontrollable crying in a healthy baby. Comforting a colicky baby may be very difficult and at times you may feel helpless. Listening to your baby’s crying may be enough to drive you to tears of your own. But you are not doing anything wrong, and your baby usually won’t be crying for any particular reason. Colic is a common phase in newborn babies. It starts at about two to four weeks and is over by the time they are three or four months old.

How can I tell if my baby has colic?

All babies cry. A newborn baby can cry for about two hours a day.

If your baby has colic, you may notice the following:

• he has frequent bouts of intense and inconsolable crying;
• he pulls his legs up to his tummy and arches his back when crying;
• he passes wind when crying.

A colicky baby usually cries in the late afternoon and evening. A severe bout of colic means a baby can cry during the day and at night, too. Feeding your baby could take longer than usual if he is upset and restless.

Why does my baby have colic?

Scientists have been trying to answer this question for more than 50 years. We still don’t know that exactly causes colic.

A popular theory is that babies get colic for a few weeks as their digestive systems are maturing. They may have frequent and painful tummy aches due to an allergy or intolerance to certain substances in breast and formula milk.

Experts have suggested other possible causes of colic:

• a baby’s nervous system is still maturing and unsettled;
• a baby is suffering from painful wind;
• a mum smoking during pregnancy or smoking around her baby.

Is colic serious?

No – apart from the stress it creates for you and your husband! For peace of mind, take your baby to the doctor to confirm that it is colic. Your doctor can also check his crying isn't due to a hernia or other medical problem.

Your baby’s crying won’t hurt him in any way. In truth, it may be more painful for you to endure your baby’s constant crying.

How can I soothe my baby’s crying?

Identifying what might have caused your baby’s colic may help you decide how to soothe him. Here are the possible causes of colic, with suggestions of how to cope:

Digestive or allergic reaction to breast or formula milk

Your baby’s digestive system may still be maturing, so certain substances in breast or formula milk may unsettle his tummy.

How to cope:

• If you are breastfeeding your baby, talk to your doctor about changing your diet to see if you notice your baby cries less. It’s thought that traces of some food and drink in your breastmilk may cause colic. These can include cow’s milk, chocolate, alcohol, cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage), onions, spicy foods and beans. Your doctor may refer you to a dietitian, who can work out how you can have a healthy, balanced diet without certain foods.


• If your baby is formula-fed he may have a milk allergy. Your paediatrician can prescribe a hypoallergenic formula.


• Whether your baby is breastfed or bottle-fed, make sure you feed him whenever he seems hungry. This is called feeding on demand. Some young babies will cry and fuss from hunger if you try to time their feeds.


• You baby may have trouble digesting the sugars (lactose) found in breast or formula milk. If he is intolerant to lactose your doctor may suggest adding lactase drops to his milk for a week. This could help him digest lactose. Babies tend to grow out of this intolerance by the time they are a few months old.

An immature and unsettled nervous system

He may be very sensitive and not yet ready for the unpredictable stimulation of the world. You may find it difficult to comfort him because his need for sleep and food is erratic. Hard-to-soothe babies are often those trying to recover from a difficult birth.

How to cope:

• Hold your baby close to you or, if he's less than a month old, wrap him snugly in a blanket (swaddling).


• Some experts believe that over-stimulating a baby can make colic worse, so keep the room quiet and dark. And if you don’t feel that holding him is helping, try putting him in his cot or Moses basket for a few minutes.


• Your baby may cry less if he is kept in motion. Carry your baby in a sling, rock him in a swing, or push him around in his pram.


• Your baby may settle when you expose him to repetitive noise or vibrations. You could catch up on the vacuuming or take him for a car ride. Some babies are soothed by the steady rhythm of the washing machine. (Never put your baby on top of a washing machine or tumble dryer. Always put him on the floor next to it.)


• Your baby may calm down if he sucks on a pacifier or his fingers, or if you massage him gently.

Painful wind

You may notice that your baby seems to have wind or pain, especially after feeding or before doing a poo.

How to cope:

• Burp your baby after every feed. Hold him over your shoulder, sit him upright on your lap, or place him face down on your lap. Then pat or rub his back to bring up wind.


• If you’re breastfeeding your baby, try to keep him as upright as possible during his feeds to help reduce wind. Also check that he is latched on properly. If he is crying and pulling off during feeds, this could mean he isn’t latched on well. Have a look at the pictures in our how to breastfeed article, and ask your paediatrician for help.


• If he is bottle-fed, make sure he isn't swallowing air from the bottle. Try to sit him upright to feed him, and tilt the bottle enough so that the milk covers the entrance to the teat.


• If he has a severe case of wind, your doctor may suggest an anti-gas medication (simeticone drops). You may also like to try homeopathic chamomile preparation, sold as a colic remedy. However, there isn’t any evidence that either of these treatments work.

Exposure to cigarette smoke

Studies have suggested smoking around your baby or smoking during pregnancy may cause colic.

Hope to cope:

• Don’t smoke around your baby – or better still, give up completely. As well as the possibility of cigarette smoke causing colic, it’s bad for your baby’s health, and your own.

I’m feeling overwhelmed by my baby’s crying. What can I do?

If your baby is crying a lot and can't be soothed easily, you’re bound to feel exhausted. Colic can cause immense stress for you and your husband. But if you’re anxious you may find it hard to soothe your baby.

If you start to feel tense, put your baby down for a while so that you can calm yourself. Taking a break will help you both. You can take your baby for a walk so both of you can get some fresh air. Better still, ask your husband or a relative to babysit for a short while. Have a long bath, or lie down in a quiet room. Even just an hour away will give you the energy to go back to your baby.

Talk to your doctor, who can offer support and practical suggestions. Keep reminding yourself that your baby’s crying is not your fault, and that he won’t hurt himself. Colic is a phase that will pass, just give it time. Read our articles on coping with colic and how to soothe a crying baby for more tips.