Parents of newborns know there’s no shortage of challenges when caring for an infant. Colic is one potential challenge that can be particularly daunting. The Cleveland Clinic characterizes colic as intense crying that lasts for more than three hours per day, at least three days a week and for more than three weeks. When a baby experiences colic, parents may feel hopeless and frustrated. But it’s important that parents recognize colic is not a permanent problem. The Cleveland Clinic notes colic can appear within weeks of a child’s birth and peak between four and six weeks of age. Though it can last until a child is between three and four months old, colic tends to end abruptly.
The exact cause colic remains something of a mystery, but the Cleveland Clinic notes causes may include abdominal pain, discomfort from gas after air is swallowed while nursing or crying, reflux, food allergies, milk-protein intolerance, underfeeding or overfeeding, or sensory overload, among other factors.
Though there’s no guaranteed way to soothe a colicky baby, the Cleveland Clinic recommends mothers who are nursing maintain a food and drinks journal, as it’s possible the foods and beverages Mom consumes are affecting the child. Milk products, caffeine, chocolate, nuts, and onions are some of the foods moms may need to avoid until they stop breastfeeding or until the colic has subsided, whichever comes first.
Colic is a significant challenge parents may face in the months after a child is born. Parents having a particularly difficult time with a colicky child can consult their pediatricians for advice and strategies on how to respond.
