How to Care for Your infant with Infantile Colic

This leaflet will provide you with information about infantile colic.

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Colic

What is Infantile Colic?

Colic is a condition where infants up to 6 months of age who are not sick or hungry show repeated episodes of crying or fussiness.

What are the signs and symptoms of Infantile Colic?

Your child may cry a lot or be fussy, this could happen:

  • At least 3 hours a day
  • For three days a week
  • For over three weeks

During the crying episodes, your infant will:

  • Be difficult to control
  • move his legs up
  • turn red in the face

How is Infantile Colic diagnosed?

The doctor will ask a few questions about your child's health and examine your child.

Typically, infants with colic have the following criteria:

  • Are up to 6 months of age
  • Healthy and well
  • They feed well
  • Cry a lot, mainly in the evening and late afternoon
  • Do not show any problems with growth
  • Do not show any weight gain issues
  • don't have abnormal vomiting
  • do not have difficulty passing stools
  • seem fine between the crying episodes                

How is Infantile Colic treated?

  • This is a condition that is not harmful to your baby and will go away with time
  • Most babies grow out of it by six months of age    
  • There is no medicine for the condition. However, some drops may help a little bit

Home care advice  

Caring for a baby with infantile colic can be tiring and stressful. It is important as a mother to get support from family members or friends.

Some care steps may help, such as:

  • making sure the baby:
    • Is not hungry, feeling cold or hot
    • Has no fever.
  • Changing the baby's position,
  • Swaddling,
  • Massage the back gently
  • Put in a vibrating baby seat
  • Trying some drops if suggested and prescribed by your doctor

When should I seek medical advice?

Seek advice immediately if your baby shows:

  • Abnormal breathing
  • Abnormal color or tone or energy levels
  • Fever
  • Abdominal distention(Swelling of the abdomen)
  • Abnormal vomiting
  • Unable to pass stools
  • Blood in the stool
  • Poor feeding and poor weight gain
  • Abnormal movements