What is colic? Colic in babies is not a new development. In the early 1950s, Dr. Morris A. Wessel, a New Hampshire pediatrician, studied infants who experienced periods of extreme fussiness accompanied by uncontrolled crying, noting that the fussy period often came shortly after a baby had been fed. Dr. Wessel determined that when this type of uncontrolled crying occurred in a healthy infant that was otherwise comfortable, the infant had a condition called colic. About one in four babies experience some form of colic.
Infantile colic can be a horrific barrier in the bonding of an infant and the infant's parents. Because some parents simply cannot deal with the crying, tensions tend to run high in families with newborn colic. A tense environment can cause an infant to become even fussier.
Though the symptoms of colic in babies are heart-wrenching to watch or listen to, there is often very little a parent can do to elevate the pain their baby seems to be experiencing. Often simply holding their baby firmly and making him as comfortable as possible until the colic episode passes is the best solution. But when the crying continues for a period of one to three hours, it's hard to simply hold your baby and hope the crying stops.
When to Contact Your Pediatrician
If your infant cries for more than one hour and appears to be inconsolable during this time, it may be infant colic. Contact your physician to be sure there isn't an underlying medical problem that is causing your baby to cry. If your baby gets a good bill of health, ask your physician for ideas on how to alleviate newborn colic.
Colic or Gas?
When gas bubbles form in an infant's belly or digestive system, it can cause symptoms very similar to colic. For instance, if a breastfeeding mother eats food from the cabbage family, gas bubbles can form in both her and her baby's digestive tract. Gas bubbles can also form when an infant gulps food or does not have a good latch on either the breast or on the bottle nipple.
Another way gas bubbles form in an infant is simply from too much wind, either by inadvertently exposing your infant to the elements or from too much commotion in your home. Your baby gasps and sucks wind into his stomach. This type of wind can also be caused by siblings running past the baby or siblings racing inside and out all day long. Keeping your baby shielded from the elements and away from busy parts of the home can help.
Genuine colic is usually very different from regular gas. Gas symptoms will subside if you burp your baby. Colic symptoms will not subside with this treatment. New research suggests that gastric reflux or a baby's inability to digest certain types of foods could be underlying causes of colic. Gas may be a symptom of these digestive problems.
Secondhand Smoke
There is some discussion regarding colic and secondhand smoke. While research in this area is ongoing, there is indication that babies who are exposed to secondhand smoke from parents, a caregiver or in a smoky environment, exhibit colicky behavior.
 | Colic remedies run from the obvious to the complicated, but that doesn't mean all remedies (or any remedies) actually work. |
 | Common colic symptoms in babies can be horrible to watch. Babies with colic don't just cry, they scream at the top of their lungs and often squirm as if they are in extreme pain. |
Coping with colic is the first great emotional challenge for parents, because there's often nothing they can do to control it. |
Simple home remedies for colic range from slowing her day to infusions of tea and water. Before you reach for those home remedies, learn about the potential dangers and the need to talk to your pediatrician. |
The best lesson in learning how to relieve colic in an infant is also the smartest thing any parent can do: Visit your doctor first to make sure there is nothing physically wrong with your baby, then take the doctor's advice. |
