Fussiness/Colic In Babies
By Dr. Brown
You bring your newborn home from the hospital and everything’s wonderful and exciting. Except for working out some of the kinks in the feeding and longing for sleep, everything seems fine. Then, boom! About a week or two later, you may find yourself with a “colicy” or fussy baby. It’s a dirty trick, but colic typically doesn’t start for one to two weeks, and many parents are left wondering what happened to their beautiful baby that slept so much at the beginning.
What is Colic?
Colic is the name for unexplained fussiness in some babies. In other words, it’s not really a “diagnosis” representing a disease, instead it describes a syndrome in which a baby seems fussy for no apparent or medical reason. This “syndrome” involves unexplained and difficult to remedy crying in a baby, usually occurring at the same time of the day.
Some facts about Colic:
occurs in about 20% of babies
usually doesn’t begin until 10-14 days of age
mostly occurs in the evening hours 5-10pm (but can be anytime!)
spells typically last about 3 hours
tends to peak at 6 weeks of age
typically resolves spontaneously at 3 months of age
Is it just Crying or Colic?
In the short term, it doesn’t matter: if your baby is crying, you want to help him! In the long run, you hope it’s not Colic as it may mean that you’re in for a lot of bad nights! After a few nights of repeated crying, you unfortunately may have your answer!
All babies cry, and a cry usually means a baby is distressed. Sometimes there is something really bothering the baby, other times your baby may just be “blowing off steam”.
Your first job is to see if there’s really something bothering the baby, check to see if she is:
Typically the baby with colic will be fussy during his usual “colic period” and be fine the rest of the day. In other words, if your baby had a problem with digestion, an ear infection, or some other problem, he would probably be fussy all through the day and night.
That’s the enigma of colic. In the evening he’s crying like crazy but finally goes to sleep and wakes up the next morning seeming just fine - all to repeat the fussing again in the evening (or whenever his colic period seems to be).
Obviously, if your baby is fussy most of the day and this continues, or you sense that something else is wrong, check in with the doctor – it may not be just colic; it may be something else.
Medical Reasons
As listed above, there are many reasons a baby can be fussy. Some “medical reasons” that a baby can be intermittently fussy and may mimic colic are:
Acid Reflux – sometimes babies can “reflux” some stomach acid into their esophagus causing “heartburn”. This type of pain and crying can and usually is related to feeding. Characteristically, babies are fussy during feeding and will typically pull off the breast or bottle soon into feeding, frequently arching their back in discomfort. Discomfort can also be seen after a feeding. Parents will commonly see the baby spit up, or appear to be gagging as the baby spits up halfway up the esophagus and tries to re-swallow. There is a difference between reflux and acid-reflux. All babies reflux, but its when they reflux acid that “burns” their esophagus that this can become a problem and may need treatment.
Let your doctor know if you suspect acid reflux. In addition to holding your baby upright after feedings for a while, there is a medicine that can be used to decrease stomach acid.
Gassiness - Some babies’ stomachs just aren’t ready to properly and efficiently digest the milk – breast or formula – given to her. In this case, there can be a overproduction of gas. Usually this type of discomfort is related to feedings. Of course, meticulous burping is helpful in this particular type of case.
Sometimes a special formula that contains “predigested” ingredients can be given to help for gassiness. It seems that some things that a mom eats or drinks might be associated with increased gassiness, although this phenomenon seems to be blamed more often than is really the case. One of the foods that is perhaps more commonly associated with this condition is milk and milk products. If you are breastfeeding, you may try cutting out all dairy – including butter, ice cream, etc. to see if your baby is better. It may take 2-7 days to see a benefit from these interventions.
Special anti-gas drops (simethicone) can work in some cases. These can be purchased without prescription. Keep your fingers crossed that it helps; it doesn’t work in all cases!
Milk Intolerance – Sometimes the milk (breast or formula) just doesn’t agree with the baby. See the discussion above.
“Bad” Bacterial Flora in the Gut – You probably know that we have bacteria in our colon to help aid with digestion. As it turns out, some bacteria in the colon can be more beneficial than other types to help assist digestion. There are several products on the market called “PROBIOTICS” containing “good” bacteria that you can safely administer to your baby. There have been several studies that this may be a promising help for colic. Probiotics come in powder form and can be mixed into a baby’s bottle.
See some of the general recommendations listed below for other things to try.
So, It Seems Like My Baby Has Colic, What Can I Do?
The best advice is to do whatever you can to make your baby comfortable. If that means changing her feeding routine and feeding frequently during this time, then do it! If it means that you have to hold or rock your baby for hours, then fine. If it means offering a pacifier (even though you’re against it) the sucking may help. On the other hand, some babies just need to “blow off steam” and are best left to just shout it out (although this is a very hard thing for parents to stomach – a little pun intended).
People have done all sorts of crazy things to help their baby with colic including long car rides, a baby swing, playing “white noise”, turning on the vacuum cleaner or washing machine, etc. Hey, whatever works!
Here are some additional ideas that may help – no promises, but worth a try:
There's not much good to say about colic, except that babies with colic gain good weight and otherwise tend to well. In fact, if your baby is not doing well, this may be a sign that something else is going on and we may have to think of something else causing your baby's fussiness.
Best of Luck getting your baby to be comfortable. You can’t really spoil a baby at this age, so do whatever you need to. This will end sometime!!!
You bring your newborn home from the hospital and everything’s wonderful and exciting. Except for working out some of the kinks in the feeding and longing for sleep, everything seems fine. Then, boom! About a week or two later, you may find yourself with a “colicy” or fussy baby. It’s a dirty trick, but colic typically doesn’t start for one to two weeks, and many parents are left wondering what happened to their beautiful baby that slept so much at the beginning.
What is Colic?
Colic is the name for unexplained fussiness in some babies. In other words, it’s not really a “diagnosis” representing a disease, instead it describes a syndrome in which a baby seems fussy for no apparent or medical reason. This “syndrome” involves unexplained and difficult to remedy crying in a baby, usually occurring at the same time of the day.
Some facts about Colic:
occurs in about 20% of babies
usually doesn’t begin until 10-14 days of age
mostly occurs in the evening hours 5-10pm (but can be anytime!)
spells typically last about 3 hours
tends to peak at 6 weeks of age
typically resolves spontaneously at 3 months of age
Is it just Crying or Colic?
In the short term, it doesn’t matter: if your baby is crying, you want to help him! In the long run, you hope it’s not Colic as it may mean that you’re in for a lot of bad nights! After a few nights of repeated crying, you unfortunately may have your answer!
All babies cry, and a cry usually means a baby is distressed. Sometimes there is something really bothering the baby, other times your baby may just be “blowing off steam”.
Your first job is to see if there’s really something bothering the baby, check to see if she is:
- hungry
- sitting in a dirty diaper
- overstimulated
- over-tired and needs to be helped to sleep
- needs to change positions
- needs soothing / rocking (don’t rock too fast!)
- running a temperature
- needs to burp / pass gas
- needs to get a bowel movement out (constipation)
Typically the baby with colic will be fussy during his usual “colic period” and be fine the rest of the day. In other words, if your baby had a problem with digestion, an ear infection, or some other problem, he would probably be fussy all through the day and night.
That’s the enigma of colic. In the evening he’s crying like crazy but finally goes to sleep and wakes up the next morning seeming just fine - all to repeat the fussing again in the evening (or whenever his colic period seems to be).
Obviously, if your baby is fussy most of the day and this continues, or you sense that something else is wrong, check in with the doctor – it may not be just colic; it may be something else.
Medical Reasons
As listed above, there are many reasons a baby can be fussy. Some “medical reasons” that a baby can be intermittently fussy and may mimic colic are:
Acid Reflux – sometimes babies can “reflux” some stomach acid into their esophagus causing “heartburn”. This type of pain and crying can and usually is related to feeding. Characteristically, babies are fussy during feeding and will typically pull off the breast or bottle soon into feeding, frequently arching their back in discomfort. Discomfort can also be seen after a feeding. Parents will commonly see the baby spit up, or appear to be gagging as the baby spits up halfway up the esophagus and tries to re-swallow. There is a difference between reflux and acid-reflux. All babies reflux, but its when they reflux acid that “burns” their esophagus that this can become a problem and may need treatment.
Let your doctor know if you suspect acid reflux. In addition to holding your baby upright after feedings for a while, there is a medicine that can be used to decrease stomach acid.
Gassiness - Some babies’ stomachs just aren’t ready to properly and efficiently digest the milk – breast or formula – given to her. In this case, there can be a overproduction of gas. Usually this type of discomfort is related to feedings. Of course, meticulous burping is helpful in this particular type of case.
Sometimes a special formula that contains “predigested” ingredients can be given to help for gassiness. It seems that some things that a mom eats or drinks might be associated with increased gassiness, although this phenomenon seems to be blamed more often than is really the case. One of the foods that is perhaps more commonly associated with this condition is milk and milk products. If you are breastfeeding, you may try cutting out all dairy – including butter, ice cream, etc. to see if your baby is better. It may take 2-7 days to see a benefit from these interventions.
Special anti-gas drops (simethicone) can work in some cases. These can be purchased without prescription. Keep your fingers crossed that it helps; it doesn’t work in all cases!
Milk Intolerance – Sometimes the milk (breast or formula) just doesn’t agree with the baby. See the discussion above.
“Bad” Bacterial Flora in the Gut – You probably know that we have bacteria in our colon to help aid with digestion. As it turns out, some bacteria in the colon can be more beneficial than other types to help assist digestion. There are several products on the market called “PROBIOTICS” containing “good” bacteria that you can safely administer to your baby. There have been several studies that this may be a promising help for colic. Probiotics come in powder form and can be mixed into a baby’s bottle.
See some of the general recommendations listed below for other things to try.
So, It Seems Like My Baby Has Colic, What Can I Do?
The best advice is to do whatever you can to make your baby comfortable. If that means changing her feeding routine and feeding frequently during this time, then do it! If it means that you have to hold or rock your baby for hours, then fine. If it means offering a pacifier (even though you’re against it) the sucking may help. On the other hand, some babies just need to “blow off steam” and are best left to just shout it out (although this is a very hard thing for parents to stomach – a little pun intended).
People have done all sorts of crazy things to help their baby with colic including long car rides, a baby swing, playing “white noise”, turning on the vacuum cleaner or washing machine, etc. Hey, whatever works!
Here are some additional ideas that may help – no promises, but worth a try:
- Occasionally, babies are helped with a little “back-pressure” on their belly – either as stomach lying (while supervised) or holding your baby across your abdomen with your hand under the baby’s abdomen to give a slight pressure.
- Using a warm heating pad or water bottle on the baby’s tummy can help relax things.
- Give the baby a warm bath.
- Use some soothings sounds or "white noise".
- Pumping a baby’s legs back and forth or using a bicycle motion can relax the stomach muscles.
- Swaddling your baby tightly may relax and calm a baby.
- Use a baby swing for short periods.
- Simethicone drops (mentioned above) may help.
- Chamomile tea (non-caffeinated) tea can help. Brew a little of the tea and then give an ounce or two 2-3 times a day at room temperature may help.
- Grippe water (found out at health food stores) may help. Follow directions on the box as there are many different formulations.
- Probiotics (mentioned above).
- Colief is a product you can obtain without a prescription. This helps to reduce the lactose in milk, which may help some babies to reduce gas.
- Consider a formula switch.
There's not much good to say about colic, except that babies with colic gain good weight and otherwise tend to well. In fact, if your baby is not doing well, this may be a sign that something else is going on and we may have to think of something else causing your baby's fussiness.
Best of Luck getting your baby to be comfortable. You can’t really spoil a baby at this age, so do whatever you need to. This will end sometime!!!