Common Colic Symptoms in Babies

Colic symptoms usually appear shortly after a baby is fed, which leads some pediatricians to point to food as the cause of the problem, or a contributing factor to the problem, along with the way baby is being held during feeding and how the baby is being fed.

Common Infant Colic Symptoms
Infant colic can be quite severe. One of the first signs of colic is how and when a baby cries. Babies with colic tend to cry around the same time each day. The crying episode lasts for anywhere from one to three or more hours. When this type of behavior takes place on three or more days each week, and continues for more than three months, it is referred to as infant colic.

• Uncontrollable Crying: The first sign of infant colic is a crying baby that cannot be consoled. If your baby begins to cry and cannot be consoled for several hours, but then seemingly is fine afterward, it's a good sign that your baby is suffering from colic. Schedule an appointment with your pediatrician if your baby suffers from periods of uncontrolled crying to be sure there are no other causes.
• Tightening Up: Babies with colic often tighten up and squirm as if they're trying to get away from the pain. The pain is assumed to be gas bubbles in their tiny digestive systems. Try laying the baby in the crib, face up, and moving her legs upward and back slowly in a bike-pedaling motion. By pushing gently on the baby's belly with the baby's knees, some of the gas may be expelled. If your baby protests or is tightened up too firmly to move, do not attempt this motion. Instead, swaddle your baby firmly in a receiving blanket and hold her. Sing gently, hum or place the TV on static. Some babies prefer white noise in the background over a completely silent room.
• Clenched Fists: As your baby thrashes around in your arms, you may notice that her hands are clenched into tight little fists. Try massaging her arms, back and belly to get her to relax. If she does relax enough to unclench her fists, massage the palms.
• Firm or Distended Belly: While this is a classic sign of colic, it is also an indication that the baby may have sucked in too much air when she was feeding, which can happen if your baby gulps down a bottle or does not latch onto the nipple correctly. Sit on the couch and pull your legs up so that they are bent at the knee, forming a bridge. Carefully place the baby over your thighs, face down. Gently lift one of your legs about two inches at a time by going up on your toes, rocking the baby back and forth. This motion may help the gas move through the baby's intestines quicker.
• Squirming: When your infant has stomach pain, she will twist and squirm in much the same manner as an adult. If your baby begins to show signs of colic, sometimes a gentle massage to the belly, back, legs, feet and particularly the palms, if they are unclenched, can soothe her. If possible, try massaging the infant about an hour before the first sign of colic appears.

By the age of four or five months, it is believed that the baby's digestive and nervous systems have adequately developed and the colic symptoms pass. At the same time, however, foods that may have been causing the reaction have probably been eliminated from his diet. There's no way to know if it's maturity or food avoidance that helps colic pass.

Signs not Associated with Infant Colic
If your baby cries, has a red spot or a bruise somewhere on her body, has bloodshot eyes, blood in her stool or urine, does not urinate at least several times a day or cannot pass a stool at least three times a day, she may be suffering from serious digestive problems. All infants and newborns will pass urine and stool according to how much they are being fed, often following each meal. If you feel your baby is not soiling enough diapers, call your physician immediately.