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- Asthma
- Bronchiolitis
- Chickenpox
- Colic
- Common Cold
- Constipation
- Cough
- Croup
- Diaper Rash
- Diarrhea
- Ear Infections
- Eye Infections
- Fever in Children
- Fifth Disease
- Fluoride
- Head Injuries
- Head Lice
- Immunizations
- Lead Poisonings
- Lyme Disease
- Nosebleeds
- Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac
- Poisonings
- Scabies
- Sensitive Skin or Eczema
- Sore Throat/Strep Throat
- Thrush
- Vomiting
Caring for Children: Colic
Infants often have a regular period of fussiness each day, usually in the evening. Parents may first notice this starting at three to four weeks of age, and it usually peaks at six weeks. Crying can last 3-4 hours a day. This period of fussiness gradually declines to one or two hours a day by three months of age. If the baby cries for several hours a day and is fine for the remainder of the day, there is nothing to worry about.
Crying that worsens and continues throughout the day or night may be caused by colic. About twenty percent of babies develop colic, and generally cry more than three hours a day, more than three days a week. Colic usually begins between the second and fourth weeks. Babies may cry inconsolably, often pulling up their legs, and passing gas. Crying spells can occur around the clock, but often become worse in the early evening.
There is not yet a medical explanation for why some babies get colic, although there are many theories. Often, the infant with colic is unusually sensitive to stimulation. As infants mature, colic lessens and generally stops by three months of age.
Occasionally, colic is due to food sensitivity. For breast fed babies, colic may related to a food in the mother's diet. Rarely, colic is due to sensitivity to milk protein in formula. Infants may act colicky if they have a medical condition, such as an infection or a hernia.
Most parents are reassured to know that colic does not last forever. Your pediatrician can help determine if colic is caused by a medical condition. If colic is due to food sensitivity, breast feeding mothers can try eliminating milk products, caffeine, onions, cabbage, and other potentially irritating foods from their diet. Bottle fed infants can be changed to a formula that has no cow's milk.
Walking with the infant in a baby carrier can be soothing. Motion and body contact can be reassuring even if discomfort is present. A pacifier or swaddling in a blanket also may help. Rocking, running the vacuum cleaner, riding in the car, or placing near the clothes dryer all may help infants fall asleep. Placing the infant tummy-down across your lap and gently rubbing her back may help relieve any abdominal pain.
When you feel tense and anxious, ask someone else to take care of the baby for a short time. Even an hour or two away will help frustrated parents relax. Remember, no matter how frustrated or angry you are, never shake the baby. Shaking an infant can cause blindness, brain damage, or even death.
