Crying is a way for newborns to communicate with us. They can tell us if they are hungry, need a nappy change or just want a cuddle. However, if your baby has colic, crying takes on a whole new meaning and can be incredibly stressful!
What is colic?
Clinically, colic is defined as:
- Repeated and prolonged episodes of crying, fussing and irritability with no obvious cause, and caregivers cannot prevent or resolve.
- The symptoms start and stop when the baby is less than 5 months old.
- There is no evidence of fever, illness or faltering growth in the baby.
Other clinical indicators of colic may include:
- Crying more in the late afternoon and evening.
- Baby drawing their knees up to their tummy or arching their back when crying.
- Baby clenching their fists.
What causes colic?
No-one really knows what causes colic – or why some babies are more prone than others, but there are various theories:
- An imbalance of healthy bacteria (microflora) in the intestines. You can ask your doctor for a probiotic recommendation, as this may help alleviate the symptoms in some babies.
- Inflammation of the gut lining.
- The muscles in the intestines aren't working as effectively as they should. Meaning food is moving too slowly through the gut, causing discomfort, bloating or gas.
- Psychosocial factors – in other words, that some babies may be more sensitive than others and come the evening are overstimulated and don’t know how to handle it.
- One thing we do know, is colic is more likely to occur if you smoke during pregnancy or after your baby has been born. This risk can be reduced if you breastfeed your baby.
What can I do to calm a colicky baby?
Unfortunately, there is no magic cure for colic. However, some of the following techniques may help soothe your baby:
- Hold your baby close and rock them. It might be easier to hold them in a sling, especially if the crying goes on for a long period of time.
- Why not try skin-to-skin too? This is a great tool in calming a crying baby and can be used by mums and dads alike.
- Take your baby for a walk, the fresh air and movement can calm some babies.
- Bath your baby. The sound and feel of water can be relaxing for some babies.
- White noise can soothe some babies.
- If you are breastfeeding your baby, it is another great way to calm them down.
- Regular winding. In long bouts of crying, your baby will be swallowing more air than normal, which can make them windy and uncomfortable.
- Consider a dummy. Some babies just need to suck to self-soothe.
Your wellbeing is important too!
Inconsolable crying and irritability can be very stressful for parents, causing anxiety and even depression in some cases. If your baby is suffering with colic, it’s really important to surround yourself with a strong support network who can help you when things get tough. This could be friends, family or even your health visitors.
If you’re on your own and finding your baby’s crying too stressful, put your baby down in a safe place such as their cot and step out of the room for a few minutes. If you have friends or family close by, call them and ask them to take the baby for a walk so you can take some time to calm down too.
If your baby's colic is impacting your sleep, consider how you can incorporate more rest into your day; reach out to your support network if necessary for additional support.
Colic is tough, but there are a few things to remember:
- It’s not a reflection of your parenting skills!
- It’s a phase, it won’t last for ever. Colic usually starts when the baby is less than 6 weeks old and resolves itself before 5 months of age.
- You might not be able to stop your baby crying, but holding them close and responding to their needs helps them!