Dads' guide to Colic

Colic may be extremely common, affecting up to 20 per cent of newborn babies, but that doesn’t make it any less distressing for them – or you, as they howl with discomfort and nothing seems to help. We ask an expert what dads can do to help keep colic at bay.

Colic affects around one in five newborn babies and continues for the first three or four months after birth. It doesn’t discriminate between breast-fed and bottle-fed babies or between boys and girls. The fact that it always passes eventually is little comfort for the red-faced, screaming babies, or for their beleaguered parents, who are often stressed and anxious because of the constant crying.

What is colic?

The medical definition of colic is crying for at least three hours a day, at least three days a week, for at least three weeks’ duration. ‘Colic is very common and often presents as long periods of sudden loud crying for no apparent reason. There are no other signs of illness,’ says Dr Jamie Houston, consultant paediatrician at the Lorn & Islands Hospital, Oban.

The most common symptom is high-pitched, inconsolable crying, which typically occurs in the late afternoon or evening, often at a similar time each day. Other symptoms include:

• A flushed appearance.
• Drawing their legs up to their chest and clenching their fists as if in pain.
• Passing wind frequently.
• Passing stools with difficulty.
• Disrupted feeding and sleep routines due to bouts of crying.

What causes it?

‘No-one is exactly sure,’ says Dr Houston. ‘It may be due to a build-up of wind, because the baby is swallowing too much air when feeding. Or perhaps it’s related to the baby’s gut being immature during the first two to three months of life.’

Doctors believe that the latter problem is down to an immature digestive system, which causes pain as milk passes through it. This is backed up by the fact that colic usually disappears before weaning on to solid food begins.

A stressful environment may also be a factor. ‘Babies do pick up on stress very readily,’ confirms Dr Houston. ‘So anything that reduces stress in the environment and for your baby is very useful.’

The final theory is that lactose intolerance may be the culprit. Lactose is a sugar found in breast milk, cow’s milk and most formula milks, which some babies may be sensitive to.

What you can do

If you think your son or daughter is stressed, for whatever reason, try singing to them – often tricky for dads, but babies love it – or playing soothing music as they lie in their cot. Massage is also a brilliant de-stressing technique. ‘One thing dads can do is massage their baby’s stomach in a clockwise direction, if the baby’s on their back,’ says Dr Houston. ‘You can use massage oil or just regular baby oil.’

The other focus should be your baby’s diet – or your partner’s, if she is breastfeeding. ‘The babies I see sometimes have intolerance to cow’s milk,’ says Dr Houston. ‘If that’s the case and the mum’s breastfeeding, she can try excluding dairy from her diet. If your baby’s bottle-fed, ask your paediatrician or health visitor for advice on a non milk-based formula.’

One of the most important things dads can do is to give their partners a break – howling babies can be stressful, to say the least. ‘If mum’s at the end of her tether, put your baby in their buggy and take them for a walk, or go for a drive. Movement usually soothes babies,’ says Dr Houston.

However frayed your nerves may get, never shake your baby, because this can be fatal. If it’s proving too much for both of you, ask a friend or family member to babysit while you and your partner get out of the house for a few hours. And, however tough things get, remember that colic is not harmful to your baby and will pass in a few months.

For more info: NHS Choices

Author

Dan Roberts is a feature-writer and columnist with over ten years’ experience of working for The Guardian, The Observer, The Independent, Daily Express and Mail on Sunday, as well as numerous national magazines. His areas of expertise include health, wellbeing, relationships, psychology and parenting. Dan also writes two monthly columns, including Diary of a Single Dad, a humorous but affectionate account of raising his ten-year-old son, Ben. The best of Dan’s work can be found on his website at www.dan-roberts.net