Infant colic is a common ailment that affects nearly 25 percent of all infants around the world. Incessant and vigorous crying and wailing can be disconcerting for many parents, especially for first timers.
However, the fact that colic lasts as little as two weeks and at most disappear by the time the baby is four months of age should be a comforting thought. In some cases, loud and excessive crying may not even be caused by colic. Some babies tend to be louder and more forceful with their cries.
There is no consensus when it comes to cause of colic among pediatricians but it is widely believed that it is due to problems in gastrointestinal system. Colic is perceived as a painful and discomforting feeling in abdominal region. Because babies suffering from colic are less than 4 months of age, they can only communicate their pain by screaming and wailing.
Generally, if your baby cries for more than three hours a day, three days a week and three weeks a months, you can assume that he/she suffers from colic. Colic can appear on seemingly healthy babies with voracious appetite. Colic bouts in babies like these tend to occur with regular patterns, often after a meal and usually same time of the day.
Unfortunately no medical cure exists for colic and parents often are forced to resort to different home remedies and conventional techniques to soothe the colicky babies. Even though the instincts to do something for your crying baby seemingly in pain can be powerful, understand that colic is a phase many babies go through and completely benign to overall growth and health of your baby.
There are some preventive measures you can attempt that have shown success in limiting colic attacks. First and most important of all is to avoid overfeeding your baby. First thing many parents do when their babies cry is to feed them. It is important to stick to strict feeding schedule to prevent your baby from overeating.
Certain foods are known to cause digestive problems for babies and should be avoided. Foods rich in carbohydrates and grains should be avoided, as well as caffeine, onions, cabbages and beans that are known to cause flatulence. Lactose intolerance is also a supposed cause of infant colic so try to avoid dairy for babies less than four months olds and try and stick to breast feeding if at all possible.
Babies suffering colic attacks can be extremely stressful and unnerving for even the most experienced parents. Babies grow fast and if you can accept the fact that colic is a phase some babies go through, you should be better equipped to handle it emotionally and mentally.
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