Colic

Colic is one of the most common feeding problems in young babies
Colic is defined as a baby crying for more than 3 hours each day over more than 3 days a week for a period of 3 weeks
No one is entirely sure exactly what causes colic but possible reasons include; immaturity of the digestive system, trapped wind, lactose intolerance and the balance of gut bacteria. Maternal smoking also appears to play a role

Crying in young babies is quite normal and babies cry for all sorts of reasons, such as being hungry, having a dirty nappy or being unwell
Symptoms of colic include;
- Lots of crying
- Screwed up eyes
- A flushed face
- Clenched fists
- Legs pulled up to the chest
It often starts from 2-3 weeks of age and is often worse during late afternoons and evenings
Colic normally goes away by 3-6 months of age with no long term effects for the baby

Unfortunately there isn’t a cure for colic, but you can suggest the following to parents;

Giving their baby lots of cuddles; rock them gently or have them close in a sling. They could try holding them in different positions too
Putting their baby in a warm bath (always supervised)
Trying some distraction techniques, such as singing, looking in a mirror and showing them toys
Movement can be comforting; they could try walking or gently dancing with their baby. Going for a drive in the car can be soothing too
In some cases babies seem to find household noises such as the vacuum cleaner, washing machine or a hairdryer soothing
Gripe water or colic drops are available. There are different types, so recommend they ask their pharmacist for advice

The following suggestions may also be helpful for parents:

Frequent winding whilst feeding can help, especially if the baby tends to feed quickly. Recommend different winding techniques and advise parents to allow plenty of time at the end of feeding for winding. Take a look at our helpsheet and video on winding a baby.
Suggest that parents don’t let their baby get too hungry between feeds. Feeding them in smaller volumes more regularly may help
Colic tends to occur equally amongst breast and bottle-fed babies, but there are special tips depending on which method of feeding is chosen;

Breastfeeding

Suggest to mothers that they review their own diet; caffeine, spicy foods, garlic, dairy foods and foods that promote wind (cabbage, cauliflower, beans, broccoli, onions) have all been associated with colic
Encourage them to keep a note of what they eat and see if there seems to be any link; advise them to talk to a healthcare professional before cutting important foods out of their diet

Bottle-feeding

Suggest that parents ensure the teat is full of milk at all times during feeding
Suggest trying anti-colic teats or bottles; these are widely available
It could be that their baby is having difficulty digesting lactose (a milk sugar), in which case changing to a lactose-free formula, such as SMA LF may help

Comforting a colicky baby can be tiring and distressing. Suggest that parents seek as much support as possible from their families
Recommend a healthy diet and as much sleep and relaxation as possible – even if it’s just reading a magazine for half an hour
Recommend any available support groups