What IS Colic, Anyway?

If your doctor has sent you home with your crying baby, telling you it’s “just colic”, you’re likely frustrated with this generic diagnosis. Most doctors will simply tell you that some babies just have colic, and that we don’t really know why. Good luck, and it will be gone by around 3 months.

Easy for them to say! They’re not the one who has to deal with a fussy, screaming baby day in and day out. “Colic” is such a little word, but it’s a condition that can turn your life upside down. The sleep deprivation, feelings of guilt and failure, anger, and even rage.

While we still don’t know exactly what causes colic, we do know more than some would lead us to believe. Here’s what do DO know:

“Colic” tends to start at around 2 weeks of age, and ends at 3-5 months. If colic goes on longer than this, it isn’t colic. This is when we often start to understand that a child’s temperament is part of the fussiness equation, or that a medical condition is present (usually the former).
Researchers don’t believe that colicky babies are in pain. While this can sound rather unbelievable if you’ve ever been around a colicky baby, consider this: Research has shown that “high cryers” respond cry longer and louder to the same stimuli that “easy” babies will hardly react to. For instance, while a more adaptable baby might fuss slightly when getting a doctor’s examination, a “high cryer” may scream inconsolably. Another factor that suggests these babies aren’t suffering from a physical condition is that colic tends to end suddenly; if a baby had a medical condition, why would it disappear from one day to the next?
Infants in every culture – and even in many animal species – exhibit the same “crying curve”; that is, an increase in crying at around 2-3 weeks, a peak at 6 weeks, and a plummet between 3-5 months. This is true even in cultures where moms hold, carry and sleep with their babies 24/7. In other words parenting style doesn’t appear to impact the crying curve.
Colic is best described as a developmental stage, not a medical condition. It isn’t something we need to treat, as much as survive and get through.

In speaking with many experts about what they think causes colic and persistent infant fussiness, there are a few culprits that get mentioned most often: temperament, sleep deprivation, and lack of state control (which can lead to overstimulation). I wrote about this in detail in my post, Solving the Mystery of The High Needs Puzzle.

How To Deal With Colic

If only there was a pill we could give that would cure colic (I would be a VERY rich woman!).

Unfortunately, most treatments offer only temporary relief. The classic definition of colic is at least 3 hours of crying, 3 or more days per week, for 3 weeks or more. Some colicky babies will cry much more than this – in my experience, this often indicates the crying is due to temperament or a medical condition (again, most often the former).

If your doctor has given you the all clear and an official “diagnosis” of colic, your best strategy is to try a variety of techniques to soothe your baby and to help him or her sleep.

Some of our parents have reported having success with the following techniques or treatments:

Going on a non-dairy diet, if breastfeeding, or using soy or hypoallergenic formula in place of a cows milk-based formula. Most babies who have a true allergy or sensitivity will exhibit other physical symptoms apart from crying and fussiness; and obviously, this isn’t and never was “colic”.
Chiropractic treatments. Some people believe that a traumatic birth experience can lead to discomfort, and that chiropractic treatments can help.
Digestive aids like gripe water, gas drops or infant probiotics. The most promising of these, according to research, is probiotics. Other aids like gripe water may be effective simply because of their sugar content (who doesn’t calm down after having sugar!).
The 5 S’s from The Happiest Baby on the Block. These are techniques aimed at calming and soothing your baby by recreating the experience of the womb.
Sometimes it helps just to arm yourself with a long list of soothing techniques. This list might help: 40 Fussy Baby Soothing Techniques: The Complete Guide.

Yes, colic is temporary. But it’s also really, really, really hard to live through. I wish I could tell you there was a surefire treatment that would cure, or at least treat it.

But the best advice I can give you is this: Keep trying stuff. Help your newborn get as much sleep as possible, in whatever way you can (car, babywearing, swing, etc.). Rule out any medical conditions. Get help from friends and family; if there’s ever a time to call in the troops, it’s now!

Get support from those of us who have been there.

Although it’s hard to believe right now, you and your little one WILL survive colic. While you’ll never forget these early days, the worst parts will start to fade, and you’ll be stronger for what you’ve gone through.

Are you dealing with colic right now? What’s the hardest part for you?

Image courtesy of Pedro Klien under CC 2.0