Baby colic: causes, symptoms, and relief solutions
Colic in babies often causes intense crying and generally occurs after breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. These episodes can be difficult for parents to experience, as they naturally seek solutions to soothe their child. In this article, we help parents better understand the origin of colic, recognize its signs, and, above all, discover how to relieve and support their baby during this sometimes trying period.
Understanding baby colic to better recognize it:
Colic is not a disease, but rather a sign of discomfort in the baby. It corresponds to abdominal pain caused by intestinal spasms. It generally manifests as bouts of intense crying that are difficult to calm, often at the end of the day or in the evening, which can be particularly distressing for parents.
Colic affects approximately 10 to 40% of infants. It is a common and temporary phenomenon in the early stages of a baby's life. This phase generally does not last long: colic most often appears around the sixth week of life and tends to disappear gradually by the age of four months.
Exclusively breastfed babies sometimes seem less affected than those fed with infant formula.
Therefore, parents should watch for the following signs:
- Sudden and inconsolable crying
- A baby who curls up and draws their legs toward their stomach
- A tense belly and sometimes gas
- Even if they are distressing for parents, colic is frequent, benign, and temporary: it mainly corresponds to the immaturity of the baby's digestive system as it gradually adapts.
It is important not to confuse crying linked to colic with other forms of baby crying, which may simply express a need such as hunger, a necessary change, or even sleep. Indeed, infant colic is characterized by episodes of intense, prolonged, and hard-to-soothe crying in an otherwise healthy baby. These crises often occur without apparent cause and can be particularly unsettling for parents.
What are the causes of colic in babies?
The immaturity of the digestive system is often considered the main cause of colic in babies. Indeed, during pregnancy, the baby is nourished through the umbilical cord, and its digestive system is not yet fully functional at birth. Its intestine must therefore gradually learn to digest and function correctly.
This immaturity can lead to poor evacuation of gas and promote its accumulation in the intestine, which causes discomfort and abdominal pain.
The phenomenon can also be accentuated by the air that the baby swallows during breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, thus contributing to the onset of colic.
Certain factors related to diet can also favor the appearance of colic in some babies.
When a baby is fed infant formula, they may be sensitive to the cow's milk proteins present in certain preparations. In breastfed babies, colic can also be influenced by the mother's diet, as certain components of consumed foods pass into the breast milk. Fermentable foods, for example, can sometimes increase digestive discomfort in the infant.
To a lesser extent, certain environmental factors can also accentuate colic in babies. Since infants are very sensitive to their environment, an environment that is too noisy, a sudden change in habits, or tension felt around them can sometimes amplify their discomfort.
Stress or fatigue in parents can also be perceived by the baby, which can contribute to intensifying the crying. However, the goal is not to worry parents, but rather to give them keys to understanding the different factors that can influence colic, in order to better support their child during this period.
How to relieve colic in babies?
Even though there is no miracle solution or medication to completely eliminate colic in infants, certain natural approaches can help relieve this abdominal pain. They contribute to soothing the baby and providing them with more comfort, while helping parents better navigate this sometimes trying period.
The right gestures to soothe baby
Placing the baby face down on your forearm while rocking them gently allows you to exert light pressure on the abdomen and thus relieve colic pain.
Placing a hot water bottle on the baby's stomach also helps to calm bloating. Massage the baby's belly with circular motions to facilitate the passing of gas. You can also apply pedaling movements (gently folding the baby's legs one after the other) to stimulate digestion.
An adapted diet helps the baby
If the mother is breastfeeding, it is recommended to adopt an appropriate breastfeeding position to promote effective suction for the baby. If the baby is bottle-fed, be sure to choose a nipple with an adapted flow and keep the bottle slightly tilted to limit the ingestion of air bubbles. Some babies may develop an intolerance to cow's milk proteins. In this case, it is important to consult a healthcare professional to choose the most suitable infant formula.
When should you consult for colic?
Colic in babies is most often benign. However, certain signs should lead you to consult a healthcare professional.
If the baby's crying is unusual or very intense, in other words, if the baby cries for hours inconsolably.
If the baby shows symptoms (fever, vomiting, diarrhea, very swollen belly...)
If the baby is not gaining weight normally
If blood appears in the stool, which may reveal an intolerance or an allergy
Finally, if the colic persists for a long time, after the age of 5 months.
Colic is common in infants during the first few months of life. Although it can be distressing for parents, it is most often benign and temporary, linked in particular to the immaturity of the baby's digestive system.
With a few simple gestures to soothe the baby and a little patience, this period generally ends naturally around the age of 3 to 4 months. In case of doubt or unusual symptoms, it is always best to seek the advice of a healthcare professional.
To learn more, discover our other tips for taking care of your baby, such as how to prevent heat rash or the right steps for brushing baby's teeth.
