What to do about baby colic?

Written by Huang Kun Mei
Pediatrics
Updated on January 17, 2025
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When a baby experiences colic, it is important to massage their abdomen in a clockwise direction. Start by applying a warm compress to the baby's belly, followed by a clockwise abdominal massage for ten minutes each time, three times a day. You can also hold the child in an "airplane hold." Regularly ensure enhanced care to avoid the baby's abdomen getting cold. For babies under six months, the mother's diet should be light and easy to digest. Avoid overly greasy, spicy, or cold foods. Consume more fresh vegetables and fruits, such as broccoli, kiwi, and apples. If the baby is over six months old, it's essential to manage their diet with smaller, more frequent meals.

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Written by Wu Ben Rong
Pediatrics
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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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Written by Wang Lin Zhong
Pediatrics
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How to determine if a baby has colic

Intestinal colic is a very common symptom in babies. It can be caused by both physiological and pathological reasons. Physiological reasons generally include improper feeding, a cold stomach, or excessive hunger. Pathological reasons typically involve acute gastroenteritis, indigestion, and so on. Intestinal colic usually occurs in the evening or at night and has a sudden onset. Mild cases may present with loss of appetite, incessant crying, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Severe cases can exhibit symptoms such as high fever, bloody stools, and even confusion. Therefore, when diagnosing intestinal colic, it is necessary to go to the hospital for relevant examinations to rule out surgical conditions. Intestinal colic is generally manageable and can be relieved with appropriate treatment. It is important to keep the baby's stomach warm, avoid overeating and binge eating, and maintain cleanliness and hygiene in their diet.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Can infant colic cause intestinal colic?

Infant constipation does not cause colic. The so-called constipation refers to the condition where babies aged 1 to 3 months do not defecate for several days or even more than ten days. However, these babies do not exhibit vomiting, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, or diarrhea. Once they do defecate, the stool is not dry and appears normal in shape. Constipation occurs because the baby's gastrointestinal tract is gradually developing, and their ability to digest and absorb is progressively increasing. Consequently, there is less food residue formed, which does not stimulate the bowel movement reaction. It is a normal physiological phenomenon and does not cause colic.

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Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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What are the symptoms of infantile colic?

Infantile colic is more common and mostly occurs in infants under three months of age. It is characterized by paroxysmal crying, with the infant crying loudly for several hours. During an attack, the face often turns flush, the area around the mouth is pale, and the abdomen is bloated and tense. This is usually accompanied by tightly clenched hands, and symptoms may slightly relieve after passing gas or having a bowel movement. There are many causes of colic, often related to the infant's own constitution, especially food allergies which can exacerbate symptoms. Additionally, respiratory infections, abdominal chilling, overeating, or accumulation of intestinal gas can also trigger symptoms of colic.

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Written by Tong Peng
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Can infants with colic drink probiotics?

Infants with colic can consume probiotics because colic is largely due to the immature digestive system of the infant. If the abdomen is exposed to temperature changes, overfeeding occurs, or certain nutrients in the food are improperly combined, it can lead to intestinal gas and indigestion, triggering symptoms of colic. Oral probiotics can alleviate these symptoms and reduce the incidence of colic. Additionally, it is important to strengthen abdominal care for the baby to prevent exposure to cold, and abdominal massages can also help. Massage around the navel in a clockwise direction for 5-10 minutes to promote intestinal gas expulsion, which can also help relieve colic. To gradually alleviate infant colic, the above methods should be used. As for the choice of probiotics, it is still necessary to first identify the cause and then provide targeted quality treatment.