Babies mostly communicate through crying, as they cannot speak. Hunger would easily keep them up at night, crying uncontrollably. Sometimes, the crying is caused by a wet diaper, colic, feeling uncomfortable because of extreme temperatures, or finding it hard to sleep.
Colic is frequent, prolonged and intense crying or fussiness in a healthy infant. These episodes often occur in the evening, when parents themselves are often tired. It can be particularly frustrating for parents because the baby’s distress occurs for no apparent reason, and no amount of consoling seems to bring any relief.
The infant will nurse frequently, then scream and pull away from the breast as if in pain, only to cry a few minutes later. Sometimes the infant can be comforted by another adult, such as the father or grandmother.
The infant will respond to gentle rocking when held against a warm shoulder. If the infant is put down, the screaming starts again. If the nursing mother holds the infant, he or she is frantic unless nursed and yet does not need to be fed.
Episodes of colic usually peak when an infant is about six weeks old and decline significantly after 3 to 4 months of age.
Few studies in Nigeria have reported on the incidence of excessive, inconsolable crying in children. In Ibadan North local government, a cross-sectional study to explore maternal experiences of colic among infants aged one to six months puts this at 22.9 per cent.
The study, ‘Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Maternal Experiences of Infantile Colic in Ibadan North Local Government Area,’ was presented at the 11th annual general and scientific conference of the Nigerian Association of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.
From the study, significant independent predictors of colic included maternal stress and non-exclusive breastfeeding. Also, exposure to second-hand smoke was associated with a higher prevalence of colic.
Mothers whose babies have colic commonly experience frustration, exhaustion, sleep deprivation, strained bonding with their infants, and reliance on traditional remedies. However, a substantial proportion did not seek professional medical assistance.
Dr Joyce Akinseinde, a co-author of the work at the Institute of Child Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, stated, ‘By the time the infant is getting to about two or three months, they begin to develop these symptoms of restlessness, abdominal discomfort, excessive crying, and irritability, and you really can’t tell what exactly is happening.”
Colic is self-limiting; it resolves on its own, even without any significant management. However, ‘mothers who do not exclusively breastfeed their infants have a higher risk of having infants with colic, meaning that exclusive breastfeeding does protect against colic in infants,’ she added.
Stressed mothers also end up with more babies with colic. Mothers who themselves are already stressed, maybe from postpartum depression or anxiety disorders, are likely to have more infants with colic.
According to her, ‘the stress that they are going through makes them agitated. So, for every little cry, they label the child as having colic.’
However, most parents would do many things to resolve the issues. At the end of the day, some of these things that they do are actually detrimental to the health of the children.
‘Some use all kinds of herbal concoctions, which can actually worsen the condition of the infant,’ said Dr Akinseinde.
Colicky babies can be very difficult to calm down. But the recommendation for colic is basically psychotherapy because it will resolve on its own.
She stated, ‘Most of the time, all that needs to be done is to place the baby’s head on one’s shoulder while patting the baby’s back. Patting the baby on the back on your lap can also bring some relief.’
Since the precise cause of colic is unknown, developed nations use techniques like applying blue light or calming music to help children relax.
Many theories have been propounded, but none has been put forward as the main reason why these things happen. These include ‘babies are sensitive and have trouble adjusting to the world’, ‘gas may be to blame for colic’, and ‘colic is due to milk allergy or intolerance’.
What works for one baby may not work for another. Other ideas to consider include checking to see whether the baby is hungry, shifting the baby’s position, rocking the baby, reducing the amount of stimulus, chatting or singing to the baby quietly, and providing the baby with fascinating objects to look at, such as various sizes, shapes, colours, and textures.
Dealing with a colicky baby is stressful. It may help to let someone care for the baby from time to time. Ask an adult family member, friend, or a responsible babysitter. Asking for help does not mean you’re having trouble being a good parent. It means you are taking the best possible care of the baby. It’s important to take a break.
If no one else is available, make sure the baby is safe and go into another room. Distract yourself from your baby’s cries. Crying will not hurt the baby. The mother taking care of herself and reducing her stress level may help the baby as well.
It’s important to know that colic is a common condition in young babies. It will go away on its own, often by the age of three months. In most cases, it is gone by age six months.