Symptoms timing of infantile colic

Written by Huang Kun Mei
Pediatrics
Updated on December 23, 2024
00:00
00:00

The symptoms of infantile colic are sudden bouts of crying, during which the child's face turns very red, their hands clenched into fists, and their stomach distended. The child may also be difficult to console. To alleviate these symptoms, it is recommended to apply warm compresses to the child's abdomen and massage the abdomen to relieve intestinal gas and colic. Colic is generally more common at night and usually occurs in babies between one and three months old. To prevent colic, it is important to burp the child for ten minutes after each feeding and to massage the child’s abdomen in a clockwise direction between feedings. When colic occurs, applying a warm compress to the abdomen and massaging in a clockwise direction can help, as well as holding the child in an "airplane" hold.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
43sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Ben Rong
Pediatrics
47sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Lin Zhong
Pediatrics
1min 4sec home-news-image

How long does infant colic last?

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.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
1min home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
1min 2sec home-news-image

How many months will it take for intestinal colic to get better?

Colic is one of the most common clinical complications in infants. The principle of its onset mainly lies in the incomplete development of intestinal function in infants within three or six months, which leads to the inability of gas to be expelled from the body normally, thus causing symptoms of localized abdominal pain due to the gas. Generally, as the child grows older and the gastrointestinal function repairs, the situation will gradually improve after three or five months. During this period, oral probiotics can be chosen to alleviate local symptoms, and parents can assist the child in performing clockwise abdominal massage to facilitate gas expulsion. Additionally, exercising by mimicking bicycle pedaling can also be helpful.