A Baby Story

Do you wonder if your baby might have colic? How to identify and minimize baby colic symptoms plus remedies. Learn why colic’s causes are so mysterious an d how to tell if your infant has colic.

Colic is a common problem found in six to 13 percent of all infants. Colicky infants cry for an average of four hours a day, enough to irritate even the most loving parent. And persistent, inconsolable crying, especially in the evening, is the hallmark of colic.

Does Your Baby Have Colic?

If your little one is often inconsolable, and cries for long stretches of time (often during the evening hours), be sure to make an appointment with your family pediatrician. You and your child’s doctor need to make sure that there is no medical cause for your baby’s colic. While medical causes for colic are rare, if they are present, they should be treated as soon as possible.

To determine if there is an underlying cause for your baby’s crying, discuss the following questions with your pediatrician:

• Is there a hernia or evidence of some other medical problem?
• Is your child stooling too much or too little?
• Is there any blood or mucous in the stool?
• Is your child eating too much or too little?
• Are the stools abnormally colored (clay-colored, frothy or very green, tar black)?
• Is weight gain below what would be expected?

If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” further investigation by your doctor should be pursued.

Minimizing Colic’s Symptoms

There is no agreement about whether breastfed babies have more or less colic than bottlefed babies. And there is also controversy about whether foods eaten by the mother or infant contribute to colic. In addition, there is little scientific evidence that any treatment reduces the symptoms.

So, what is a parent to do? The answer for baby colic symptoms and remedies are different for different babies. Unfortunately, treating colic involves a certain amount of trial and error. Some common suggestions gleaned from my own experience, and the advice of other doctors and parents, include a variety of options.

Here are some of the more popular ways to try and soothe your colicky baby:

• If you are breastfeeding, consider eliminating cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables, milk products, caffeine, onions, chocolate, and garlic from your diet. Some studies have suggested that these foods increase the risk of colic. (If this makes a difference, mom should add those foods back into her diet one at a time to identify the offending food or foods.)
• If you are formula feeding your baby, ask your pediatrician about changing to a non cow-milk–based formula. Although there is no data to support changing formulas, it occasionally does help.
• Motion is often helpful in soothing fussy babies. Rock your baby or place her in a body carrier.
• If breastfeeding is well established, consider a pacifier.
• Burp your baby often—including after sucking on a pacifier and especially after feeding. Babies can swallow a significant amount of air that causes gas.
• Reduce stimulation in your baby’s environment and offer her a relaxing, fuss-free space to unwind.
• For little ones who don’t seem to find solace in a completely quiet room, try employing the use of “static” sound, such as a hairdryer, vacuum cleaner, or white noise machine. Some parents find that nondescript background noise can be quite soothing for their fussy baby.
• If you don’t already swaddle your baby, try wrapping her up in a cozy blanket.
• Increase the amount of nighttime feedings.
• Ask your pediatrician if a prescription medication may be a good option for you and your baby. (NOTE: The only drug shown to be effective, dicyclomine, does carry about a five-percent risk of significant side effects.)
• Ask your pediatrician about over-the-counter Simethicone products or “grip water” products; these may help in some cases.

Since colic is almost always a self-limited problem, treatment should not involve risk. Be sure to check with your pediatrician for treatment suggestions, and always get your doctor involved if the problem worsens or there is a complication from a potential remedy.

And remember, most babies outgrow colic. Although it may appear that the end is nowhere in sight, don’t forget the popular adage used by so many pediatricians: “This too shall pass!”

• It satisfies a baby’s normal sucking reflex.
• Sucking creates a soothing effect, which helps lull a child to sleep, or calms her when she’s upset.
• Using their mouths is the primary way infants learn about the world.

Gayle Flynn, a New York City mother of three, notes that while her two-month-old, Logan, puts his fist in his mouth when he’s hungry or cranky, her oldest son Ryan never used anything, whereas daughter Hilary liked a pacifier. “It became a nightly ritual which helped her sleep,” says Flynn.

Pacifier vs. Thumb
When it comes to a pacifier versus a thumb, it seems pediatricians are divided on which is better for your child. Some say pacifiers are less likely to lead to dental problems since pacifiers are more flexible, exerting less pressure on the mouth, and their use can often be stopped earlier. Meanwhile, some studies suggest that babies who use pacifiers are more likely to get ear infections, but that association appears to be negligible if the pacifier is restricted to bedtime. Other research links pacifier use in the first few months to decreased long-term breastfeeding. Also, some babies may develop nipple confusion if a pacifier is introduced before breastfeeding is established.

As for thumbs, experts say babies who use thumb or fingers may be more independent because digits won’t ever get lost or fall out of the crib.

When to End?

Whichever your infant prefers, if he’s still sucking at age 2 you might want to begin to break him of the habit, or at least limit how often he does it. For years doctors have touted thumb or pacifier habits as fine until around age 5, but a new study in the December issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association suggests that if the practice continues beyond age 2, a child’s bite may be affected, causing misalignment of the teeth. Dr. Mary J. Hayes, a pediatric dentist  in Chicago points out that nonnutritive sucking can also lead to speech problems like lisping.

Whether or not your child is affected depends largely on the frequency or intensity of her habit. “Some kids just occasionally place the thumb or pacifier in their mouth, but others suck more often or more intensely,” she says, and those are the ones to watch. A pediatric dentist can help you determine if your child’s sucking is causing problems.

Being that March is National Nutrition Month, we’ve been looking at various healthy eating tips. Although it is important to focus on healthy foods and beverages, another nutritional area to be aware of during pregnancy includes vitamins.

There are some important key nutrients your body needs for a healthy pregnancy and baby…

Folic acid: Folic acid is one of the most important pregnancy nutrients you need. Folic acid can greatly reduce the risk of birth defects that affect the spinal cord. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that all pregnant women get 600 micrograms of folic acid daily.

Iron: Iron deficiency anemia is a very real pregnancy risk. If you’re pregnant you need at least 27 milligrams of iron a day. High-iron foods include spinach, kale, leafy greens, beans, fortified cereals, red meat, chicken and fish.

Calcium: During pregnancy you need plenty of calcium for the healthy development of a baby’s teeth, bones, heart, nerves and muscles. If you don’t consume enough calcium, your baby will take the calcium he needs from your bones, leaving you vulnerable to osteoporosis. You need at least 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day before, during and after pregnancy.

Most pregnant women do need to take a prenatal vitamin and sometimes additional mineral supplements because it’s very hard to get all the key nutrients you need from simply eating food. Discuss vitamin and mineral options with your midwife or doctor.