Colic — A Common Cause for Baby Crying
Colic — A Common Cause for Baby Crying
What is Colic?
Colic is a major cause of crying in infants.There is a very strong relationship between crying and colic. Colic is a kind of mystery, as it has no specific cause. It is defined many different ways, but in common terms, it is an attack of crying for no apparent reason. Babies may cry for different reasons, but if they are colicky, the nature of crying is different: it is a fit of crying that goes on for hours and hours. A baby may have different episodes of inconsolable crying. Experts agree that a baby with colic usually cries for three hours a day.
It is important to know that not all fussy babies have colic. There might be other reasons for the crying. A normal baby may cry for two to three hours in total, but this crying time is spread throughout the day.
Symptoms of Colic
The following are symptoms of colic. Your baby may have only a few or all of these symptoms.
- Inconsolable Crying: Your baby’s cries will be so intense that nothing you do will console him or her. The crying will often start in the late afternoon or after feeding, but it can start anytime. You may even have to face this challenge at midnight, too. These spells of crying can last up to three hours and your baby may show these characteristics:
- Reddish face
- Arched back
- Clenched fists
- Prominent or swollen belly/tensed abdominal muscles
- Taut legs/drawn up knees
- Cold feet
- High-pitched crying
- Disturbed Sleep: During the night, your baby might have spells of crying and will not be able to sleep for hours.
- Irregular Feedings: Your baby may experience irregular feedings because of interruptions from crying and restlessness.
- Gas in Stomach: One symptom your baby may have is gas in his or her stomach or passing wind while crying. However, this will not be the only symptom a colicky child will experience.
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