Medical App & Medical Advice with Hello Doctor

Help for a colicky baby

The minute your little one starts crying you immediately respond by checking whether he’s hot, cold, hungry or in need of a nappy change. But what if it’s none of the above?! A baby that doesn’t respond to soothing, can be very stressful! But thanks to Dr. Morris Wessel, we now have a name for it: colic.

Why is your baby screaming?

If your baby’s cry sounds different to normal, is sharper and more piercing – it may be colic-related. We often think the crying is coming from pain like an upset tummy, but colic pain is from the colon. Colicky crying often happens in an on-and-off way. It’s a common condition and usually lasts up to four months of age.

Signs and symptoms of colic include:

  • Intense crying.
  • Crying in the late afternoon or evening that lasts for several hours.
  • Your baby’s face turns red and flushes when he cries.
  • Your baby clenches his fists, draws his knees up to his tummy, or arches his back while crying.

What are the causes?

Colic isn’t a disease and won’t cause any harm, but it can be frustrating. Don’t despair; it’s short-lived. It usually peaks around six weeks and gradually goes away after a few months. An imbalance of healthy bacteria in your baby’s intestines could be the cause. Other causes include:

  • An immature digestive system. Food may pass through too quickly and not break down completely, resulting in pain from gas build-up in the intestines.
  • Infant acid reflux. Infant GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) may be a colic trigger. This happens when the muscle that keeps stomach acid from flowing back up the throat and mouth, is not yet fully developed. The stomach acid then irritates oesophagus (swallowing tube). Luckily, most babies outgrow GERD by the time they turn one; and colic may have gone away long before then.
  • Food allergies or sensitivity. Breastfed babies may react to specific foods in a mother’s diet. Allergies or sensitivity can cause pain in the stomach that may trigger colicky behaviour.

How to soothe a colicky baby

  • Change your baby’s position. Lay him on his tummy, across your stomach or lap. Rub his back; this can be soothing and may help gas to pass.
  • Hold your baby for longer periods early in the day to help reduce colic in the evening. This can reduce acid reflux symptoms. When your baby lies on his back or in a reclining position in a car seat after eating, it can make symptoms worse and cause crankiness.
  • Milk protein intolerance or an allergy may be the cause for your baby’s colic. See which types of feeds make the colic worse or better, and always make sure to burp your baby.

Take your baby to the doctor if:

He starts to vomit, has a fever, mucus and blood in his stools. If you’ve tried to comfort him repeatedly with no success, it’s time to see a doctor.

References:

Communicate with your baby without talking

Wouldn’t life be so much simpler if your baby could just tell you what was wrong?  Hearing your baby cry and not knowing why can be distressing. Most often, it can leave you feeling completely helpless. Figuring out what your baby wants, often comes down to a process of elimination: Is their nappy full, is it nap time, are they too hot, or could they be hungry?

Well, now you can learn to communicate with your baby.

Replacing crying with communication

Sign language has been used for years to assist those with hearing difficulties to communicate. In the late 1980’s, a doctor who also happened to be a sign language interpreter, noticed that the children of his deaf friends were communicating with their parents at 6 months old using sign language. These same children, by the age of 9 months had many different words they could sign. Most importantly, he also realised that these children were less demanding, as their needs were met much faster.

Can babies really sign?

A baby’s understanding of language and movement develop much faster than their ability to speak, so that’s why sign language makes so much sense. What’s more, a baby finds it easy to copy signs and signals. In other words, your baby will be waving long before they can say “good bye!” Teaching your baby to sign, could give them the “edge”, and make your job as a parent much easier between ages 8 months and 2 years, when children begin to know what they want, need and feel but don’t necessarily have the words yet to express themselves.

How to get started

Teaching your baby sign language takes a bit of patience, so just keep these things in mind:

  • Most babies won’t be able to sign until they’re 8 months old, but you can start teaching them signs as early as 6 months
  • Get to know a few basic signs that you would use the most often: nappy, drink, more, done, hot, cold, mommy and daddy (see examples below)
  • Practise these signs often with your baby at the same time as saying the word. Signing shouldn’t replace language for you or your baby!
  • Make sure your partner and your baby’s caregivers also know the signs and practise them with your baby too
  • Use this as a special bonding time with your child. Try holding your baby on your lap, with his or her back to your stomach. Hold your baby’s hands and arms and show them how to make signs
  • Be patient. Don’t be discouraged if your baby doesn’t start using signs right away! The goal is to make things easier for both you and them, not the opposite!

Some signs for you to try

  • “food” – put your finger tips to your lips
  • “all gone” – move your hand, palm up, backward and forward
  • “scared” – tap your chest again and again
  • “hot” – put out your hand and withdraw it quickly
  • “where?” – shrug your shoulders, with your palms held out
  • “rabbit” – wrinkle up your nose or hold up two fingers
  • “car” – steer an imaginary wheel
  • “book” – hold hands flat with palms up

References

https://www.babycenter.com/0_signing-with-your-baby-or-toddler-how-to-communicate-with-yo_1449533.bc?showAll=true
https://www.babysignlanguage.com/basics/history/#garcia

https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/baby-sign-language-does-it-work
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/expert-answers/baby-sign-language/faq-20057980