The ordeal of comforting infants crying continuously for no apparent reason can be traumatic and frustrating for parents. Colicky babies tend to cry for two to three hours or more, almost every day, writes Mini P

Colic — frequent, prolonged and intense crying or fussiness in an otherwise healthy infant — is every mother’s nightmare. The ordeal of comforting infants crying continuously for no apparent reason can be traumatic and frustrating for parents. Colicky babies tend to cry for two to three hours or more, almost every day.

“It’s natural for parents to be anxious about their infant’s incessant crying with many unable to differentiate between colic and normal sobbing,” says Dr. Yogesh Kumar Gupta, head of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru. He advises parents to watch out for these symptoms of colic:

• Reddening of the infant’s face

• Clenching of fists or curling up legs when crying

• Intense wailing like she in pain for no apparent reason

• Sensitivity to overstimulation by the environment

• Predictable timing. Colicky babies often get fussy toward the end of the day.

REMEDIES

Over the years, every imaginable remedy has been tried for colic — some work and some don’t. Every infant responds differently, so parents need to decide what works best for their child. Dr. Gupta suggests the following remedies.

Avoid over-stimulation. Infants tend to get tired much faster than adults. Visitors and loud conversations unsettle infants and disturb their sleep. Therefore limit visitors and travel.

Carry/hold the baby. Picking up your wailing baby may not always stop her crying. But, it always comforts and reassures her.

Rock your child. Rocking your infant is soothing, and can help her to sleep. Speak to your infant. Hearing a mother’s voice calms infants and makes them feel secure and loved.

Change the scene. Sometimes, a change of scene helps. Take her for a walk, show her toys, or just take her to the balcony.

Check infant’s clothing. She could be overdressed in summer or may not be warm enough in winter. Ensure that her nappy/ diaper is dry, and that she is in comfortable clothing.

GENERAL ADVICE

• Calm down. If your anger or frustration is mounting, put her down for a while, or let someone else substitute. Parents need to calm down before trying to comfort colicky children. Or both can end up in a worse state than before.

The colic phase, which usually starts at three or four weeks, ends when infants are 12 weeks (or earlier) old. Rest assured that colicky babies don’t suffer any adverse physical effects, and usually outgrow this phase. “Onefifth of all babies in India have colic, so it is common, and self-limiting,” says Dr. Gupta. However, he suggests seeking immediate medical help if you observe the flowing symptoms:

• Sudden crying or behaviour changes

• Lips or skin turning blue during crying

• Crying is intermittent with a fever, vomiting, loose or bloody stools, or palpable mass in the abdomen.