In most babies, reflux causes no pain or problems with weight gain. Reflux and crying are very common in the early months but are not necessarily related. Colic is when babies cry a lot or are unsettled for long periods of time.
With a baby that vomits or spits up a lot, it's relatively easy to understand that the baby may have reflux, where as a baby that might just have excessive bouts of crying but is rarely sick and still gains weight would often be deemed to just have 'colic'.
Both of these conditions are extremely common in newborns and share some similar symptoms, hence why they are often confused with one another. A common thread amongst babies with colic and silent reflux is excessive crying with no clear cause.
The most commonly accepted definition of colic, which originated in 1954,4 describes using the “rule of three”: crying for more than three hours per day, for more than three days per week, and for more than three weeks in an infant that is well-fed and otherwise healthy.
The peak onset of colic occurs at age 6–8 weeks and it usually resolves by age 10–12 weeks. A comprehensive history and examination should be performed to rule out red flags such as abdominal distension, fever, poor feeding and lethargy.
One in five babies cry enough that people call them colicky. Colic usually starts when babies are about 3 weeks old. It gets worse when they are between 4 and 6 weeks old. Most of the time, colicky babies get better after they are 6 weeks old, and are completely fine by the time they are 12 weeks old.
Call NHS 111 or see a GP if:
your baby has colic and nothing seems to be working. you're finding it hard to cope. your baby is not growing or putting on weight as expected. your baby still has symptoms of colic after 4 months of age.
What time of day is colic the worst? Typically, colicky babies cry most frequently from 6 pm to midnight (a period of time often referred to as “witching hour”). Parents often describe these cries as louder, more high-pitched, and more urgent than normal wails.
Colicky crying is louder, more high-pitched, and more urgent sounding than regular crying. Colicky babies can be very hard to calm down. Babies who have colic may show symptoms such as: Burping often or passing a lot of gas.
Medication for Colic
This reduces the likelihood of the stomach contents flowing back into the food pipe (reflux) and being regurgitated. Gaviscon helps to reduce the pain from reflux although some parents have told me that it can thicken stools and reduce the frequency of passing them.
Infacol can make reflux worse, so if you have any suspision that your baby has reflux or silent reflux, coming off it may actually help. Dentinox!
Colic. Colic is when your baby's healthy but cries often and excessively and it's hard to soothe them. One of the possible reasons is bubbles of trapped wind causing stomach pain.
If GERD isn't treated, your baby may not eat well or gain weight. It can also cause symptoms like coughing, noisy breathing, and vomiting.
The only thing that can help with colic is to ride it out. Keep yourself and your baby as relaxed as possible. Hold your baby when they are crying, it will pass in time. For reflux, feed your baby in as upright a position as possible and keep them upright after feeding.
You do not need to stop nursing. 1 Breastfeeding is not a cause of colic, and babies who take infant formula get colic, too. Switching to formula may not help and may even make the situation worse.
Colic will go away. Most babies outgrow it by the time they are 3 to 4 months old. Just because your baby has colic doesn't mean they're unhealthy.
Let your baby cry—for a little while. If walking, rocking, singing, massaging, and the like don't seem to make a difference, put the baby in the crib for 10 to 15 minutes and see if he or she quiets alone. Sometimes a baby needs a little time alone—and you may need it, too.
Infacol works by helping the small trapped gas bubbles join into bigger bubbles, which your baby can easily bring up as wind – helping to relieve their pain and discomfort. Clinically proven Infacol is the UK's No. 1 selling treatment for wind, infant colic and griping pain.
Colic is a potentially very serious condition, and if untreated can lead to death within a matter of hours. It is imperative to call the vet at the first signs of any colicky behaviour. However, the majority of colic cases are not serious, and can be treated medically.
Because there's no clear cause of colic, there's no one treatment. Your child's doctor will recommend some things that might calm them down.
Colic can stop gradually or suddenly, or flare up and down until it eventually disappears. Symptoms will usually pass within a few weeks (or months, in some cases)!
What Causes Colic? Doctors aren't sure what causes colic. It may be due to digestion problems or a sensitivity to something in the baby's formula or that a nursing mom is eating. Or it might be from a baby trying to get used to the sights and sounds of being out in the world.