Infant colic is one of the main conditions of babies. It is characterized by a intense crying that occurs in healthy babies with no apparent cause and is usually accompanied by gases. Knowing what are the symptoms of a colic is one of the keys to identify and calm our baby. And in the case of one of the main conditions that infants suffer, detecting them correctly, knowing what solutions exist and what myths associated with colic are unfounded are very useful tools in the first months of parenting.
What is infant colic: causes and main symptoms
Infant colic is a very common disorder the first months of life of babies. It usually happens late in the day and is characterized by intense and prolonged crying without apparent cause. Although it is suffered by approximately 15-20% of children under five months, what causes it and why some babies experience and others do not, remains a mystery.
Gases are one of the main causes of colic, and usually manifest simultaneously
Traditionally, some hypothetical causes are cited as factors that could be determining factors. Intestinal movements, milk protein intolerance or baby's temperament could cause this type of uncontrolled crying in an otherwise healthy child. However, the most widespread and most supported theory by most pediatricians is that colic is caused by excessive presence of gases in the digestive system of the baby. In fact, the baby who suffers from infant colic usually has abdominal hardness.
Infant colic occurs for the first time before the child's three months of life and can last several months. Its main symptoms are crying episodes of more than three hours in a row, at least three days a week and for at least three weeks. It is not a disease and does not cause any harm in the long term the baby, but the continuous hours of desperate crying can be difficult to cope with - for babies and their parents.
False myths
Many of the comments that are most frequently pronounced before a child suffering from infant colic are false and completely unfounded.
Myth: the child is hungry.
Fact: The child with colic constantly demands food for the desire to suck, an act that comforts them.
Myth: he is a crying child.
Fact: there are children who cry more than others, but this is related to their resistance to pain. Babies cry to express their discomfort and not because crying gives them pleasure.
Caution should be taken when implementing solutions of doubtful efficacy and, in case of uncertainty, consult the pediatrician
Myth: colic ends with quarantine or when the child begins to eat cereals.
Fact: Colic usually comes to an end around four months of the baby's life, having its peak at about two and a half months. Pediatricians recommend the introduction of cereals as a starting point for the baby's solid diet around six months.
Myth: a teaspoon of orange juice helps if you are constipated.
Fact: The baby's digestive system is still very immature at this stage of its development and does not have the habit of consuming any food other than milk. Orange is extremely acidic and strong for a baby and can cause digestive disorders that would aggravate the problem.
Myth: is allergic to cow's milk. Fact: A small minority of children are allergic to lactose. Although it is important to rule it out, it is usual to suffer from infant colic.
Myth: once cured, colic can reappear.
Fact: infant colic is a condition directly related to the maturation of the digestive system, so they do not appear again after this stage. When they disappear, they definitely do it.
Effective solutions
Although there is no completely effective remedy that completely eliminates the colic of the infant, certain recommendations manage to relieve the discomfort of the children and help calm babies suffering from constant episodes of colic:
1.- Cradle and rock the baby in your arms. This is one of the most effective measures. Simple skin-to-skin contact reassures them. Baby backpacks can be very helpful for parents in these situations, in which the child's discomfort continues for hours. However, the most affective position is that in which the father or mother puts the baby upside down, resting his head on his forearm and running his hand under his knees avoiding compressing his little triplet. In this position, we should gently rock the baby, with rhythmic and gentle rocking movements.
2.- The music, song or voice of their parents. Babies love music and recognize the voice of their parents almost from the first days. Singing babysitters or speaking to them in a soft and pleasant tone of voice, while we walk them or cradle them in arms, it also comforts them. Some babies prefer the so-called "white noise", such as a vacuum cleaner or a washing machine, as it reminds them of the sounds they heard when they were inside the uterus.
3.- Slightly inclined position. It is convenient to slightly raise the baby's head when we lie in the stroller or in the cradle to help the movement of gases and decrease the acidity of the stomach. In this way, we will help you expel the gases that are bothering you so much.
4.- The massages The massage against colic is done by pressing with circular movements, clockwise, with the hands on your baby's abdomen. They are usually recommended by pediatricians to relieve children's discomfort. We can also sit and support you, face down, on our knees while massaging your back with slight circular movements.
5.- A warm bath, followed by a gut massage. Hydrotherapy with warm water helps calm the baby's nerves and relax their stomach muscles. We can perform a gentle massage around the navel with circular movements clockwise and exerting moderate pressure to help you feel better. Another option is to bring your knees together, take them gently to the belly and exercise with them circular movements repeating the sequence several times.
6.- Reduce air intake during feeding. In this way, you will help reduce their gases. If you give the bottle, do it in an almost completely vertical position so that the nipple is always full of milk, take a half-rest break to help you burp and use anti-colic valves. If you breastfeed, make sure that the entire nipple and also part of the areola are inside your mouth and avoid consuming soda or exciting drinks such as coffee, tea or caffeinated soda while you are a nursing mom.
7.- Ride by car. Many parents claim that a car ride around the block is a saint's hand to calm infant colic. A smooth ride with movement, noise and vibration soothes many babies, who even fall asleep in their car seat.
Apart from these commonly recommended "home remedies," probiotics such as Sanogermina AB-Kolicare can help reduce gas production and daily crying.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that, administered in adequate amounts, remain active in the intestine and exert important beneficial effects, such as contributing to the gastrointestinal health of the host and enhancing the immune system.
Sanogermina contains AB-Kolicare®, a combination of the Bifidobacterium longum and Pediococcus pentosaceus strains, which reduce intestinal inflammation and help to achieve optimal functioning of the digestive tract.
Regardless of the remedy to follow, it is important that Never lose your cool. Babies are very receptive to the moods of people around them and nerves will make the situation worse.
Arm yourself with patience And empathy is the best option. Time is the "remedy" that never fails for infant colic. If the baby does not respond to any strategy, always remember that by the age of four months, the crying will disappear almost as radically as it began, and you will all begin a quieter stage.
Images | iStock - Castenoid, Evgenyatamanenko, Vita-lina
