Colic in Babies - Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

The first symptoms can appear as early as the 5th or 6th week of a child's life. Loud crying may indicate colic in an infant. What are the causes, symptoms, and treatments? In addition to crying, children often have a very hard and bloated abdomen, nervously tuck their legs, and red spots may appear on the face. The cause of colic is not known, but it may be caused by an immature digestive system or sensitivity to certain foods. What are the ways to stop colic in a child and help the infant?

Where does colic in children come from?

Where does this ailment come from? Colic in a child starts in the first weeks of life. Colic is not a disease, but rather a symptom of other problems. Colic in an infant can stem from abdominal bloating. Furthermore, colic also affects children who were born with a low birth weight, as well as those suffering from gastrointestinal disorders. Colic can also appear during breastfeeding or bottle-feeding; swallowing too much air by the child can cause infantile colic.

What are the symptoms of colic in a child?

Colic is a type of abdominal pain in infants that usually occurs in the evening or at night. What are the symptoms of colic in a child? These include abdominal bloating and crying. These are usually very easily noticeable symptoms in a newborn. At the end of a colic attack, the child may also pass gas and stool. Some children may also vomit. During an attack, the child is very restless, and also tenses all their abdominal muscles, tucks their legs, and arches their whole body. Symptoms of colic include: crying, fussiness, and abdominal pain. When a child continues to cry and remains nervous even after being held, it is likely infantile colic.

Colic in a child - how to cope with it?

There are many ways to deal with colic in a child. How to manage it in an infant? The most common way to treat colic is to give the child a pacifier or to breastfeed. When this doesn't work, it's worth performing a gentle tummy massage. Another massage can be a gentle massage of the child's back, which is intended to help expel gas and improve bowel function. Another home remedy is also preparing warm compresses for the child's abdomen. Additionally, you can use monotonous and humming sounds to calm the baby. An important element is also the constant closeness of the parent, as well as a lack of irritation. If the parent is nervous, the child will be able to sense it and will not behave any calmer. Fennel and chamomile tea should also have a beneficial effect on the child.

Prevention - colic in a child

It is also a good idea to ward off the danger of colic before it occurs. For this purpose, preventive measures are used. Colic in a child can be nipped in the bud if the infant is breastfed and the mother consumes an appropriate amount of nutrients. The mother should not consume excessive amounts of dairy and vegetables before feeding. These can cause bloating. Another good method is to place the child on their tummy immediately before a meal so that accumulated gases can pass. During feeding, it is also recommended to take short breaks. It is also worth visiting a pediatrician when the problem begins to appear.