How to relieve the symptoms of intestinal colic in infants

Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
Updated on September 14, 2024
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When infants experience colic, it is generally due to excessive gas accumulation in the intestines, as infants cannot expel gas on their own. Therefore, when colic occurs, you can let the child be in a prone position to facilitate gas expulsion. Parents can also assist the child in doing exercises like lying on their back, sitting up, or performing "bicycle kicks" in the air to promote intestinal peristalsis. Additionally, clockwise abdominal massages and appropriate application of heat can help in expelling gas. When there is a change in bowel habits, you can also advise the child to take probiotics to regulate intestinal flora, which aids in gas expulsion and bowel movement. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a physician, according to the actual situation.)

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Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
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The difference between infant lactose intolerance and colic

Baby lactose intolerance is due to a lack of lactase, causing a range of symptoms, which we diagnose as lactose intolerance. These symptoms may include diarrhea and bloating, among which colic can also occur. Colic is just one of the symptoms. In many cases, such as infant lactose intolerance, severe diarrhea, and bloating, colic may occur. Colic symptoms can also arise when a child’s abdomen is exposed to cold, or other causes of intestinal diseases, such as viral or bacterial infections resulting in enteritis, may also present colic symptoms in children. Moreover, in common surgical diseases such as appendicitis, colic might also occur. Therefore, colic is merely one of the symptoms, and infant lactose intolerance is a general term for a disease.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
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Full moon baby colic symptoms

Infant colic is the most common cause of abdominal pain in infants. It generally occurs most frequently in babies under three months old and is a common reason why babies cry and fuss, especially during the first month. Typically, babies suddenly start crying and becoming restless at night. This fussing is not directly related to hunger or illness and it's often difficult to soothe them. Sometimes, the baby's legs may contract, and the abdomen may also show contractions, along with symptoms of abdominal bloating. Gently massaging the baby's abdomen, particularly in a clockwise direction, can possibly alleviate the symptoms of abdominal pain.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
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What are the symptoms of infantile colic?

Infant colic mostly occurs between 2-4 weeks after birth, generally reaching a peak around one and a half months after birth. The symptoms of infant colic primarily include four aspects: firstly, the child will suddenly start crying loudly and inconsolably, which is clearly different from usual. Second, the crying episodes can last particularly long, even up to about three hours, and may occur more than three times a week. Thirdly, these episodes generally occur in the evening or late at night, hence the colloquial term "twilight crying." Fourthly, with colicky infants, conventional soothing methods are ineffective; for example, holding or comforting the baby does not help, and the child continues crying until completely exhausted before falling asleep. This is a typical symptom of infant colic.

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Written by Wu Ben Rong
Pediatrics
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Is the baby's rumbling stomach intestinal colic?

A child's stomach making gurgling noises doesn't necessarily mean they have intestinal colic; it could be due to indigestion. The main symptom of intestinal colic is severe abdominal pain, which usually isn't accompanied by gurgling sounds. If a child does have intestinal colic, they may exhibit symptoms such as incessant crying and abdominal spasms, whereas gurgling sounds are typically caused by the incomplete development of the digestive tract in children, leading to gas formation as food moves through the intestines. If the child does not display symptoms like abdominal distension, diarrhea, or abdominal pain, treatment may not be necessary. However, if such symptoms are present, it could be due to conditions like enteritis or dysentery, and it is advisable for parents to take their child to a reputable hospital for an examination.

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What should babies with colic not eat?

Infantile colic, and what not to eat, depends on the cause of the colic. First, it is necessary to understand that infant colic is due to the immature development of the gastrointestinal function in infants. If some foods are not fully digested and absorbed, it can lead to increased accumulation of gas in the gut, thereby stimulating the nerves of the intestinal mucosa and causing colic. For such infants, it is best to avoid spicy, stimulating, and indigestible foods in the diet, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, etc. These foods are not easily digested and tend to produce gas. Additionally, it is important to avoid overeating, which can overburden the stomach and intestines, leading to symptoms of indigestion. Therefore, for symptoms of colic, the main approach is to control the diet, eat smaller, more frequent meals, and avoid overeating, which can worsen the burden on the stomach and intestines and exacerbate the symptoms.