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Important Notice!

Breastfeeding is the best nutrition for healthy growth and development of babies. Good maternal nutrition helps sustain an adequate supply and quality of breast milk. Unnecessary introduction of bottle-feeding, partially or fully, or of other complementary foods and drinks may have a negative impact on breastfeeding, which may be irreversible. Consult your doctor and consider the social and financial implications before deciding to use breast milk substitutes or if you have difficulty breastfeeding. Follow usage, preparation and storage instructions of breast milk substitutes or of other complementary foods and drinks carefully as improper or unnecessary use may pose a health hazard.

Naturally Strong Inside

When your baby’s crying never stops

Colic is the term used when your healthy and well-fed infant cries excessively with no way of being soothed. It is completely normal for babies to cry when they experience discomfort, but colic can also commonly occur in babies in the first few months of life.

Symptoms of colic

All babies cry, but if your child seems to cry inconsolably or excessively when he is otherwise healthy, fed, changed and well-rested, he may be experiencing infant colic. A quick way to determine if your child could have colic is by following the “PURPLE” rule:

Be aware of colic using the "PURPLE" rule

Peak of crying

Unexpected

Resists soothing

Pain-like face

Long-lasting

Evening

Some children are more prone to colic than others, and this can be very frustrating and distressing for new parents still adjusting to parenthood. One key symptom of colic is if your child cries excessively and seemingly without reason. Excessive crying is defined if your child cries for at least three hours a day, for more than three days a week, with each occurrence lasting three or more weeks each time. Other associated symptoms include:

Associated symptoms

Flushing of cheeks

Bending of legs into belly

Crying inconsolably

Stops crying after farting or bowel movement

Persistent

At least 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, lasts 3 weeks each time

It is important to properly diagnose your child, as crying can also be a symptom of other conditions. Other potential conditions include:

Distinguishing colic from other conditions

Gastroesophageal reflux

Lactose intolerance

Abdominal pain due to surgical pathology

Crying because of mother’s history with alcohol or drug use

Fussiness due to infection

Why colic develops in infants

Colic has been around for years, but research is still unable to determine its key cause. Some doctors may attribute it to a natural stage of development as babies get used to life outside the womb. Other possible causes for colic include:

Causes of colic

Poor tolerance or total intolerance of lactose

Flatulence

Your child’s digestive system is still immature, leading to stomach upsets

Allergy to protein in cow’s milk

Inappropriate diet and feeding habits

Parents’ anxiety and soothing worries infant

Remedies colic

Colic is not harmful to the child, but can take a real toll on parents and caregivers. Generally, colic eventually subsides after a number of months, so one can only really wait it out. To cope, you can also learn about varying methods to calm your child, including:

Remedies of colic for children

Providing comfort via breastfeeding or a pacifier

Giving a warm bath

Cuddling your child

Singing a lullaby

Turning on some soothing music

Using anti-flatulence medication as instructed by your doctor

Providing probiotics contained in medicines, and food under the guidance of your doctor

For parents and caregivers, the aim should be to reduce the stress and frustration that comes with having a child that experiences infant colic. Some of these measures can also be taken:

Remedies of colic for parents and caregivers

Learn how to provide care, ensuring that the baby is not hungry or tired

Practice proper breastfeeding

Understand and learn how to cope with baby’s crying

Don’t get frustrated when the baby is crying to avoid doing harm to him

Spend time in rest and relaxation

Advanced reading: when to seek help for colic

If crying persists in your baby, you may want to seek medical help. A good gauge that the crying is not simply a symptom of colic is if your child is:

When to visit your doctor

Crying after a fall or trauma

Crying when ill

Crying accompanied by cyanosis (a bluish tinge to the skin and lips)

Crying accompanied by changes in behaviour, eating or sleeping habits

Before visiting the doctor, parents or caregivers should also monitor the symptoms and frequencies in your baby’s cries, including:

What to do when making doctor visits

Making notes about baby’s diet, food, feeding schedule and weight changes

Sharing solutions and interventions attempted when baby cries

Locations, progress, time and frequency of crying

Signs and changes before, during and after crying

You may also ask the doctor these questions to get more information, including:

Causes of crying
Impacts on the child’s development
What to do when it occurs
Effective treatments

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When you have arrived at the doctor’s office, don’t be alarmed when the doctor performs these routine examinations to find out more about your child’s condition: