| These signs could also
be indicative of more serious conditions and therefore it's
important to contact your pediatrician if any of these signs
occur in your baby.
Colicky babies generally have long episodes of intense, loud
crying, especially during the evening hours, beginning at
two weeks of age and continuing to the fourth month. It is
not unusual for colicky babies to cry for three hours a day,
several days a week.
Once colic is diagnosed by your pediatrician, it generally
does not require professional treatment unless it’s
accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, or other signs of more
serious illness. Call your healthcare provider if your baby’s
crying is unusually long or loud.
- How can parents cope with a colicky baby?
Colic can be exhausting and emotionally draining for parents.
In spite of the fact that colic is quite common, many parents
feel certain that their baby has a serious disease or that they
have failed to provide for some obvious need. What's more, mothers
often suspect that their breast milk is to blame in some way.
The most important thing parents can do is to stay calm. If
you feel yourself losing control, take a minute to calm down.
The ultimate fear is that a parent or caregiver will shake the
baby out of frustration, which can cause permanent brain damage
and even death.
Fortunately, colic goes away as the baby matures — almost
always by the end of the third month, and sooner for many babies.
Although no single method always works to relieve colicky babies,
there are a number of things parents can do to soothe their
crying baby. Check out Tips
for Calming Your Baby. |
