Signs Your Baby May Have Colic
- Jun 11, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: May 26
Common Signs Your Baby May Have Colic
Many exhausted parents ask themselves the same question: “Does my baby have colic, or is something else causing the crying?” While all babies cry, persistent crying, trapped wind, cramping, reflux-like symptoms and difficulty settling can sometimes point toward colic or digestive discomfort.
crying for long periods
knees pulled toward tummy
trapped wind
difficult burping
reflux or spitting up
arching backwards
evening distress
difficulty settling after feeds
The 3 phases of colic
Phase 1
If your baby does have colic, early signs of discomfort often appear at 0-3 weeks:
my baby just seems unhappy
some cramping, moaning and groaning
fussy feeding, frequent or comfort feeding
short crying spells
Phase 2
Symptoms worsen at 3-6 weeks:
cramping is worse
crying can last over an hour
everyone's sleep is broken
reflux (vomiting) often starts in this phase
parents often trying various medicines and remedies by now
Phase 3
Pain and discomfort are overwhelming:
usually anytime between 6-12 weeks
crying can continues for hours
baby is in pain, exhausted and probably not eating well
mom and dad are frazzled
can last a few months
Understanding the symptoms of colic
Moaning and groaning
An early sign that things could go wrong, is lots of moaning and groaning, pushing and straining, even during their sleep. If this early symptom is present, it's likely that there's excessive gas in their digestive tract. This is the best time to really learn good burping and abdominal massage techniques. They are often not the easiest babies to burp, which is why gas is building up.
Cramping
As gas builds up and takes up more space, the baby starts to cramp, knees to chest and hands in little fists. A cramping baby that continues to show symptoms for more than a week is almost certainly experiencing colic.
Reflux and silent reflux
Reflux is spitting up or vomiting up milk. This can happen if the baby has too much milk or when there is a bubble of gas in the digestive tract. The milk stays in one place too long and digestive acids starts to irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines. The body protects itself by throwing this up. If the milk that comes up is still fairly milky and clear, and there's no real discomfort, then it's likely that they simply drank too much. If the milk that comes up is thick and partially digested (a bit like cottage cheese) it suggests that the blockage is a little lower down in the digestive tract. In the case of formula fed babies, it may also mean that their digestive system is having difficulty processing this particular brand in which case you may need to change formula.
Inconsolable crying
If baby has colic, prolonged crying spells are the hallmark of late stage colic. The other symptoms would not bother us nearly as much if it weren't for a screaming and inconsolable child!
The goal must always be to try and prevent the situation getting to this point! This is our mission!
Why does the gas build up?
incomplete burping technique - not getting all the winds out
immature digestive tract - 'kinks' in the intestinal 'hosepipes'
baby still learning how to 'push' gas out but not quite getting it right
baby swallowing too much air when feeding
What Can Parents Do?
Many parents feel overwhelmed and unsure whether what they are seeing is “normal.” This uncertainty can be incredibly stressful, especially when nobody seems able to explain why your baby is distressed. The first step is to identify the likely cause. Dr Gregory La Cock has spent more than 30 years helping babies with colic, trapped wind and feeding-related discomfort. If you would like personalised guidance for your baby, online consultations are available internationally.
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