If your baby is healthy but cries excessively for more than three hours a day on three or more days a week, she may be suffering from colic.
Most parents notice symptoms of colic when their baby is between two and four weeks old and it peaks at about six weeks. Colic is often described as excessive crying in an otherwise healthy baby. Colic is particularly challenging to caregivers, who seem unable to help their babies stop crying. In addition, if your baby has colic this can lead to you feeling anxiety, frustration, and exhaustion. The good news is
that babies tend to outgrow colic within several weeks.
Causes of colic
The exact causes of colic are not known. Since colic is not diagnosed in older babies, it could be related to the immaturity of a young baby’s digestive system. Her gut will naturally mature as she gets older. Some experts have also suggested that the excessive crying of colic is related to the amount and types of friendly bacteria in a baby’s intestines.
In fact, multiple studies have shown that babies who were given a specific probiotic supplement, Lactobacillus reuteri, had reduced crying time compared with babies that did not take the probiotic. There’s no need to stop breastfeeding as Lactobacillus reuteri is actually found in breast milk!
If you suspect your baby has colic, ask your healthcare provider for advice.
Sources
https://www.nestlenutrition-institute.org/resources/library/Free/infographics/infant-colic/Pages/Infant-Colic-What-do-you-know-about-it.aspx (Accessed December 29 2016)
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Last revised: April, 2017