Just What Is Colic - And Does My Baby Have It
There are few things more nerve wracking than a crying baby,
particularly when nothing you do seems to console him. But, how
do you know when your baby's symptoms have are just crying and
when he has colic? And, just what is colic, anyway?
No one knows exactly what causes colic, though many old wives
tales abound. Lots of older women will tell you that it is
caused by parental inexperience, but colic does not occur more
often in first children than in subsequent children, so they One
thing that seems clear is that most babies who are experiencing
colic have a stomach ache. Many are gassy, though a baby won't
cry so inconsolably every time he has gas, so it is clearly gas
plus something, though just what is not clear.
Though we don't know what colic really is, it is hard to miss
when your child is experiencing it. The inconsolable crying
usually begins in the late afternoon or early evening and often
lasts until the baby finally falls asleep for the night,
exhausted. Colic typically begins between two and three weeks of
age, and is over its worst by twelve to sixteen weeks, though
there are babies who start later and end later. My daughter
started at twelve weeks, but thankfully her bout of colic was
over in two weeks. A colicky baby will typically draw his knees
up to his chest, clench his fists and scream. He may act like he
wants the breast or bottle, but reject it as soon as you it's in
his mouth. You will get the sense that your child is frantic,
and needs something very badly, but doesn't know what.
If you believe your baby has colic, it is still wise to take him
to a doctor. There is no cure for colic, but you should rule out
other causes, such as an allergy to formula or some other
gastric disorder. Once your doctor has proclaimed the baby
healthy, you can chalk it up to colic.
Once you know that your baby has colic, though there is no cure,
there are some remedies you can try. Simethicone drops, which
are available over the counter as a gas medication for babies,
helps in some cases. In addition, there are numerous tricks you
can try such as taking a drive in the car or running the vacuum
cleaner that will work for some babies some of the time. But,
overall, colic is just a waiting game. Keep the baby (and
yourself) as calm as possible and look forward to the day when
it will be over.