Symptoms timing of infantile colic

Written by Huang Kun Mei
Pediatrics
Updated on February 18, 2025
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Infant colic is generally more common at night.

Most children are prone to this condition at around one to two months or two to three months of age. Sometimes, they suddenly cry out loud while sleeping at night. In such cases, feeding the child often does not help. Some babies may exhibit severe bloating and a very red face, continuing to cry inconsolably.

When colic occurs, parents can use warm compresses to relieve the child's discomfort. You can apply a warm towel to the child's abdomen, hold the baby in an "airplane" hold, or massage the child around the navel, clockwise for ten minutes at a time, to provide relief. If the child still experiences intestinal pain and cries excessively without passing gas, it is necessary to seek medical attention promptly.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
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How to treat infantile colic?

If an infant suffers from colic, it is mostly considered to be physiological colic caused by intestinal gas accumulation. The treatment methods include holding the child upright or in an airplane hold, which can alleviate the symptoms of colic to varying degrees. Regularly massaging the child's abdomen in a clockwise direction and performing gas-relief exercises can also help ease the colic. For more severe cases of colic, if the aforementioned methods do not have a noticeable effect, simethicone can be administered to the child, generally achieving satisfactory results. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor)

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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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Does not crying after an airplane hug mean intestinal colic?

Infant colic, commonly occurring in about 20% of babies, is defined as a condition in healthy infants under three months old who cry for at least three hours per day, at least three days per week. The symptoms of infant colic usually start between two to four weeks of age and improve by three to six months. To alleviate the symptoms, one can gently rub the baby's belly clockwise and use a holding position known as the "airplane hold." This involves holding the baby in a prone position, lying face down on the parent's hand, resembling the posture of flying in an airplane. The "airplane hold" mainly helps to relieve gastrointestinal gas and colic in babies, and it generally lasts for about 30 minutes.

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How to relieve the symptoms of intestinal colic in infants

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 Yan Xin Liang
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What to do about infantile colic?

Infantile colic is generally spasm-induced pain in the intestines. During acute episodes, a hot water bottle can be applied to the abdomen to alleviate symptoms. Additionally, massaging the abdomen in a clockwise direction can promote intestinal peristalsis, thus facilitating the expulsion of gas and bowel movements, which helps relieve symptoms of intestinal colic. Furthermore, dietary considerations are crucial for infants experiencing colic. Consumption of foods high in animal proteins such as milk, eggs, and fish may trigger colic episodes. Therefore, it is advisable to consume more vegetables and fruits which are rich in rough fibers, as they promote bowel movements and can reduce the frequency of colic episodes.