Everyone knows that the very first language babies use to express how they feel is crying. Babies cry from the time their born up until the time they develop into toddlers and start talking. When babies cry it could mean that their hungry, sometimes their cries would indicate that they already need to have their diapers change and to some babies crying means they’re not feeling well or something is not right. There is a medical condition where in babies cry at long and extended periods at frequent intervals, this condition is called colic or infantile colic.
According to Family Doctor.org, a website supported by the National Institutes of Health, parents and care takers can tell if their babies have colic, if they observed any of the following signs and symptoms; babies with colic cry a lot compared to normal babies. Their cries are accompanied by reddening of the skin, fist clenching and leg curling upwards, as if they’re under a lot of pain. Colicky babies cry at least 3 hours per day, 3 days per week having the minimum duration of 3 weeks. Colic doesn’t happen at certain times, it can occur during the day or at night when the baby is asleep. With colic, the baby faces the risk of having a distended and swollen abdomen from all the air that goes inside his stomach because of all the crying. If this happens, the baby will get restless, cranky and feel more discomfort. Colic doesn’t have a specific causative agent; experts believe that this condition happens to babies who are highly sensitive to their external environment, the babies’ temperament can also be considered as a contributing element. Colic can start appearing several weeks after birth and at 3 months it starts fading, by the time the baby reaches 6 months, colic should be completely gone.
A very important thing parents need to take note of is that colic doesn’t indicate an unhealthy baby but instead it means that the baby has sensitive needs and requires attention. The best way to manage colic is by soothing the baby. There are several soothing techniques mothers can practice, one of them is feeding the baby in an upright position, after feeding burp the baby frequently to eliminate gas from his stomach. When feeding do it slowly and frequently, milk formulas should be at body temperature, not too cold nor too hot. If the baby is already eating solid foods, avoid giving spicy items, caffeinated products and citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges, these things irritate the baby’s sensitive stomach. Once in a while, gently run and massage the baby’s tummy, doing this together with a warm bath is a very effective soothing technique. A single pacifier can do wonders in situations like this, offering one to a crying baby can help him relax and stop crying.
Colic can be reported to the doctor if it persists longer than normal. If the baby shows other adverse symptoms including fever, severe pain and weight loss he needs medical attention.
