How long does infant colic last?

Written by Wang Lin Zhong
Pediatrics
Updated on December 24, 2024
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The duration of colic in each baby varies. It is brief, lasting only a few seconds in mild cases, and can extend to several minutes or even longer in severe instances. Symptoms of colic include paroxysmal crying, decreased appetite, and restless sleep at night. Colic generally occurs in babies around six months old. At this stage, a baby's gastrointestinal function is not yet fully developed, and the introduction of solid foods can make digestion difficult, leading to gas and bloating.

If a baby experiences intestinal gas, this can lead to colic. To help relieve this, you can perform gas relief exercises with your baby, such as clockwise abdominal massage, which helps release the gas inside the intestines and alleviate colic. Additionally, administering probiotics to the baby can help regulate intestinal flora. If the gas is prominent, simethicone can be orally administered to absorb excess gas in the intestines and relieve pain.

(Use of medications should be under the guidance of a physician.)

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Will a baby's stomach make noises if they have colic?

When a child experiences intestinal colic, they often experience severe abdominal pain, and may exhibit behaviors like crying or discomfort. They might also kick around, but usually, there will not be noises of rumbling in the stomach. The rumbling sounds in a child's stomach are usually due to reasons like indigestion which cause the sounds of gastrointestinal motility. When a child eats too quickly and a large amount of air enters the stomach, it can lead to this phenomenon. If the child has started on solid foods, consuming foods that produce a lot of gas can also cause these symptoms. If the child does not show other symptoms such as diarrhea, special treatment is generally not necessary.

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How to determine if a baby has colic or is just gassy

It is very easy to distinguish whether a child has intestinal colic or bloating, although both are gastrointestinal diseases. With intestinal colic, children usually experience high levels of abdominal pain, while bloating generally does not involve pain, with children typically only showing signs of abdominal distension. Additionally, children with bloating often burp, and these burps can have a sour smell; they may also experience decreased appetite, and possibly symptoms like nausea and vomiting, making it easy to differentiate the two conditions. When a child has intestinal colic, it can be alleviated by applying heat to the abdomen or gently massaging the child's stomach. For bloating, relief can be found through taking medication that promotes digestion.

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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 Huang Gang
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Can a pacifier be used for intestinal colic?

First, we need to understand the causes of colic. It commonly occurs in infants when breastfeeding or formula feeding, due to ingesting large amounts of air. The air bubbles move within the intestines and cause abdominal pain. Furthermore, overfeeding can lead to excessive stomach expansion, which can also cause discomfort. Therefore, when feeding, it is important to ensure that the child does not inhale a large amount of air. Additionally, using a pacifier can lead to the intake of more air, thereby exacerbating colic. Thus, prevention is more important than treatment. Mothers should be careful not to let the baby inhale air while breastfeeding, as this is the most common cause of the condition.

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Written by Huang Kun Mei
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Symptoms of infantile colic

The symptoms of infant colic mainly occur at night as paroxysmal crying, commonly seen in babies from two weeks to three months old. A warm compress can be applied to the baby's belly centered around the navel, and clockwise abdominal massage can be performed for ten minutes, three times a day. If the baby is under six months old, the mother needs to pay attention to a light and easily digestible diet. If the baby is over six months old, their complementary foods should be given in small, frequent meals, and avoid overfeeding to prevent binge eating. It is important to focus on prevention usually, and after each feeding, make sure to pat the baby gently for about ten minutes and perform clockwise abdominal massages between feedings to prevent issues.