Some babies will begin to show signs of colic after their second week. If your baby has started crying, pulling his legs up towards his chest, for at least one hour, but often for 3 hours or more, he may have colic. Usually, a similar pattern repeats itself every day at about the same time, and is not seen at any other time of the day. Typically, colic occurs between the six O’clock and ten O’clock evening feeds. Colic occurs in about 20% of babies -- the cause is unknown, however most pediatricians say that it is a result of an immature digestive system. Colic usually goes away by the 3rd month.

How do you know if your child has Colic?

Several signs and symptoms are:

• colic can start within two to four weeks after birth and the child suffers from it for up to three months.
• the baby cries loudly, often for two to three hours and can't be comforted.
• the baby often cries at roughly the same time and usually once or twice a day.
• the baby has bowel pains.
• the baby pulls their feet up under their body and clenches their fists.
• some babies' stomachs rumble severely and they produce a lot of wind.

Remember, colic might not be the only cause of your child's discomfort. If a baby cries loudly all the time and cannot be comforted, a doctor should always be consulted before the parent decides their baby has colic.

What can I do to help my child with colic?

As nobody knows what exactly colic is, there is no foolproof advice. But there are several useful things that parents could try:

• many children with colic calm down if they are rocked either in a cradle, a rocking chair, gently bounced on a birth ball or on a parent's lap.
• the baby can sometimes be soothed with music or monotonous sounds. It may help to sing to the child, which has the additional effect of helping to calm the parents too!
• some children feel better if they are carried in a sling on their parent's stomach. The body heat and movement may help.
• infant gas remedies (this was worked like a miracle with our son) can be very helpful.
• some children feel comforted when wrapped in a blanket or held tightly.
• gently massaging the baby's tummy has been discovered to help in some cases. Massage in a circle moving your hand from left to right. This is where the large intestine lies in the child's stomach and massaging in this direction will ease the pain by helping the child pass wind.
• some parents find their baby is comforted by a car ride.

It may also help to:

• make the child drink milk slowly.
• make the child burp more often.
• sit the child straight while eating (if they are old enough).
• if your child drinks powdered milk, try a different product or brand.

Feel your way, and if in doubt, ask your health visitor.

Can what the mother eats make the child’s colic worse?

Some doctors think that if the baby is breastfed and the mother eats food that can cause gas, this may cause colic or make it worse. Food and drinks that produce lots of gas include:

• orange juice
• vegetables, especially onions and cabbage
• fruit such as apples and plums
• spicy food
• products containing caffeine, such as chocolate, coffee and tea.

Experiment to find out what makes a difference to your child’s colic. The best thing is to leave two days between each change of diet so that you know exactly what makes your baby feel better or worse.

How to cope when your child has colic?

When a baby has colic, the life of the family is turned upside down. The parents find it extremely stressful and upsetting when their baby is crying for hours and cannot be comforted.

For first-time parents in particular, it can be a shock and a disappointment to discover that your newborn baby is not the bundle of joy you were expecting. Parents may also feel guilty even though they are not the cause of their child's colic.

Always remember that the child is healthy and will outgrow the colic in a few months' time. Colic does not harm the development of the child. Children with colic are actually very stimulated!

Parents should look after themselves, too, during the difficult periods. It may be necessary for parents to take turns, so that one can rest while the other is awake. It may also be necessary to call on friends or family as reinforcement. It is better to ask for help than to wear yourself out completely because of the challenge.

It may also help to talk to other parents who have experienced the same thing. If you do not know any yourself, ask your health visitor to put you in touch with someone to chat to.

Always remember: colic is only temporary!