Colic

Diagnosis

The caregiver for your child will perform a thorough physical examination to determine the source of your child’s discomfort. Exam topics will include:

• Examining the eyes, ears, limbs, fingers, and toes and genitalia.
• Paying attention to the heart, lungs, and abdominal sounds.
• Measuring the height, weight, and head circumference of your child.
• Keeping an eye out for rash, irritation, or other indications of allergies or infection.
• Evaluating response to movement or touch.

Although diagnostic tests like laboratory examinations and X-rays are usually unnecessary, they can be valuable in ruling out other potential causes in cases where the diagnosis is not straightforward.

Treatment

The primary goals are to offer parents the support they need to manage the situation and to employ various therapies in an effort to soothe the child as effectively as possible.

Soothing strategies

Having a strategy, or a list of calming techniques you might try, might be useful. It can be necessary for you to try new things. Certain methods may be more effective than others, and their efficacy may vary from one instance to another.

Strategies for calming down could be:

• Bringing your baby in a stroller for a stroll or a car journey
• Strolling withor rocking your infant
• Covering your infant with a blanket
• Bathing your infant in warm water
• Massaging your baby’s stomach or putting them on your stomach to give them a back rub
• Lowering the brightness and cutting back on other visual stimulants
• Utilizing a pacifier
• Playing a recording of heartbeats or other calming, peaceful noises
• Generating white noise by turning on a white noise generator, clothes dryer, or vacuum cleaner in an adjacent room.

Feeding practices

Adjusting feeding practices could also provide some relief. When feeding your baby from a bottle, consider an upright position and ensure they burp regularly both during and after feeding. Using a curved bottle for upright feeding and a collapsible bag bottle can help reduce the intake of air.

Trial changes in diet

In the event that your child’s weeping or irritability persist despite calming or feeding techniques, your doctor can suggest a brief trial of dietary adjustments. However, there would probably be additional indications and symptoms, such a rash, wheezing, vomiting, or diarrhea, if your kid develops a food allergy. Among the dietary adjustments are:

• Formula changes. If your baby is fed formula, your doctor might advise giving an extensive hydrolysate formula containing smaller-sized proteins a try for a week.
• Maternal diet. Try following a diet free of common food allergens, like dairy, eggs, nuts, and wheat, if you’re nursing. You should also try avoiding irritating foods like onions, cabbage, and caffeinated drinks.

Parent self-care

Even for seasoned parents, caring for a baby with colic may be demanding and frustrating. You may take care of yourself and obtain the assistance you require by using the following strategies:

• Take a break. Ask a buddy to step in for a bit, or take shifts with your partner or spouse. Give yourself a chance to leave the house if at all possible.
• Express your feelings. It’s common for parents to feel furious, guilty, hopeless, or depressed in this kind of situation. Talk about your emotions with your loved ones, close friends, and your child’s physician.
• Don’t judge yourself. The amount of crying your child does not indicate how good of a parent you are. It’s not bad parenting that causes colic, and it’s not your kid rejecting you when they cry themselves to sleep.
• Use the crib for short breaks. When your kid is wailing, it’s acceptable to place them in the crib for a little while you gather yourself or get your own nerves back.
• Take care of your health. Consume nutritious meals, prioritize regular physical activity like taking brisk daily walks, seize opportunities to rest when the baby does, including daytime naps, abstain from alcohol and substances.
• Remember that it’s temporary. Episodes of colic usually become better after three to four months.
• Have a rescue plan. If at all possible, arrange for a friend or family member to step in for you in times of need. For more support, get in touch with your healthcare physician, a nearby crisis intervention program, or a mental health help line, if needed.