There are few things more distressing for a new parent than trying to comfort a baby who cries inconsolably for hours on end. You’ve fed them, changed their nappy, cuddled them, and yet the intense crying persists. This experience, often labelled as colic, can leave parents feeling exhausted, helpless, frustrated, and even inadequate. If you are going through this, I want to start by saying: you are not alone, and it is not your fault.
I’m Dr. Santosh Madrewar, Senior Paediatrician and Founder of Borneo Hospital. With our dedicated paediatric teams across Thane, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, and Raipur City, we have supported countless families through the challenging phase of Colic in Newborns. We understand the immense stress it places on the entire family.
This article aims to be your practical guide. We will define what colic is, stress the vital importance of a proper medical evaluation first, offer a range of soothing techniques to try, and provide crucial coping strategies for you, the parents. Our goal is to provide clarity and support during this temporary but very trying time.
A Crucial Disclaimer: This guide provides general information about colic. However, it is absolutely essential to consult your paediatrician to rule out any underlying medical conditions before assuming your baby’s crying is colic. If you are ever worried, please contact us at Borneo Hospital immediately.
What is Colic? (Understanding the “Rule of Threes”)
Colic is not a disease or a diagnosis in the traditional sense; it’s a term used to describe a set of behaviours. The classic medical definition for Colic in Newborns follows the “Rule of Threes”:
An otherwise healthy and well-fed baby who cries for:
- More than 3 hours a day
- On more than 3 days a week
- For more than 3 consecutive weeks
Typical Characteristics of Colicky Crying:
- Intensity: The cry is often a high-pitched, intense scream that sounds like the baby is in pain.
- Predictability: It frequently occurs around the same time each day, very often in the late afternoon or evening, sometimes called the ‘witching hours’.
- Physical Signs: The baby may appear very uncomfortable. They might clench their fists, arch their back, pull their legs up towards their tummy, and have a hard, distended abdomen from swallowing air while crying.
- Inconsolable: It can be extremely difficult to soothe the baby, and nothing seems to help for long.
The Most Important First Step: Rule Out Medical Causes
Before we can say a baby has colic, we must ensure nothing else is wrong. Colic is a diagnosis of exclusion, which means your paediatrician must first rule out any other medical reason for the excessive crying.
Some potential medical causes for intense crying that can mimic colic include:
- Gastroesophageal Reflux (GERD): A condition where stomach acid comes back up into the oesophagus, causing pain and discomfort.
- Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy or Intolerance (CMPA): A reaction to proteins, either from formula or passed through the mother’s breast milk.
- Infections: A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) or an ear infection can cause significant pain and fussiness.
- Inguinal Hernia: A bulge in the groin area that may become painful.
A visit to your paediatrician at Borneo Hospital will involve taking a detailed history of the crying patterns and feeding, and performing a complete physical examination to make sure your baby is otherwise healthy and thriving.
Understanding the “Why” of Colic (Theories & Reassurance)
The honest answer from the medical community is that we don’t know the exact cause of true colic. However, there are several leading theories:
- An immature digestive system still learning to function, leading to gas or indigestion.
- An underdeveloped nervous system that makes the baby highly sensitive to stimulation (sensory overload) and unable to self-soothe effectively.
What we know for certain is this: Colic is NOT your fault. It is not caused by your parenting style, your anxiety, or something you did or didn’t do. It is a temporary developmental phase that your baby will outgrow.
A Toolkit of Soothing Strategies for Colic in Newborns
There is no single ‘cure’ for colic, so management involves trying different techniques to find what provides comfort for your baby. What works one day might not work the next, so patience and experimentation are key.
1. The Power of Motion:
- Rhythmic, gentle movement is often very calming as it mimics the environment of the womb. Try rocking your baby in a rocking chair, swaying while holding them, a gentle bounce on an exercise ball, or placing them in a baby swing or bouncer (for short, supervised periods). A drive in the car or a walk in the pram can also work wonders.
2. The Magic of Sound:
- The womb was not a silent place! Consistent, low-level white noise can be incredibly soothing and help block out other startling sounds. You can try a fan, a white noise machine or app on your phone, or simply make a loud, continuous “Shhhhhhhhh” sound near your baby’s ear.
3. Positioning & Tummy Pressure:
- The “Colic Hold”: Lay your baby tummy-down along your forearm, with their head resting in the crook of your elbow and your hand supporting their nappy area. The gentle pressure on their abdomen can be very comforting.
- Baby Wearing: Using a soft sling or a baby carrier keeps your baby upright and close to your body, providing both comforting pressure and gentle motion as you walk.
- Tummy Time (When Awake): Supervised tummy time can help strengthen muscles and may assist in passing gas.
4. Feeding Adjustments (with Medical Guidance):
- Proper Burping: Ensure you are burping your baby well during and after each feed to release trapped air.
- For Breastfeeding Mothers: Rarely, certain foods in a mother’s diet (like dairy, soy, caffeine, or very gassy vegetables like cabbage) may cause sensitivity. Before you make any major dietary changes, it is essential to discuss this with your paediatrician at Borneo Hospital.
- For Formula-Fed Babies: In some specific cases, your paediatrician might suggest trying a different type of formula, such as a partially hydrolysed or ‘comfort’ formula. Never switch your baby’s formula without first consulting your doctor.
5. The Comfort of Warmth:
- A warm (not hot) bath can be very relaxing for a fussy baby.
- Placing a warm towel or a covered warm water bottle on your baby’s tummy while you hold them might also provide relief.
6. The Sucking Reflex:
- Sucking is a powerful self-soothing mechanism for all infants. Offer a clean finger (knuckle-side up) or a pacifier/soother.
A Note on Anti-Colic Products & Home Remedies
The Indian market is full of over-the-counter products like gripe water and traditional home remedies (saunf or ajwain water, hing paste).
- A Cautious, Evidence-Based Perspective: While many of these have been used for generations, it’s important to know that there is often little to no scientific evidence to prove their effectiveness for true colic. Furthermore, the ingredients, purity, and sugar content of some unregulated products can be a concern for a newborn’s delicate digestive system.
- The Golden Rule: You must ALWAYS consult your paediatrician at Borneo Hospital before giving ANY medication, supplement, or herbal preparation to your baby. Their safety is the absolute priority.
Coping Strategies for Parents: Your Well-being Matters Too!
Caring for a colicky baby is one of the most stressful experiences a new parent can face. Your well-being is not a luxury; it’s a necessity.
- Take a Safe Break: This is the most important advice I can give. If you feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or at your wit’s end, it is 100% okay to put your baby down safely in their cot or crib, make sure they are not in any danger, and walk into another room for 5-10 minutes. Close the door, take deep breaths, listen to a song, call a friend. Your baby will be safe, and taking a moment to calm yourself is the best thing for both of you.
- Share the Load: Colic management must be a team sport. Partners need to take turns walking, rocking, and soothing the baby to give each other breaks. Divide the difficult evening hours.
- Accept All Offers of Help: When a trusted family member or friend offers to hold the baby for an hour so you can sleep, take a shower, or just have quiet time, say YES!
- Talk About It: Don’t keep the stress bottled up. Talk to your partner, a supportive friend, or other new parents. Sharing the experience makes you feel less isolated.
- Get Out of the House: A change of scenery, even a short walk around your building compound with the baby in a pram or carrier, can help break the cycle of stress and sometimes calm the baby too.
- Remember: This Phase WILL End: Keep reminding yourself and your partner that colic is temporary. It feels like it will last forever, but it is a phase that babies grow out of, usually by the time they are 3-4 months old. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
When to Call Your Paediatrician Again
Even if your baby has been diagnosed with colic, call your paediatrician at Borneo Hospital immediately if the crying is accompanied by any new or concerning symptoms, such as:
- A fever
- Vomiting (especially if forceful or greenish)
- Diarrhoea or any blood in the stool
- A change in feeding habits (refusing feeds)
- If your baby becomes lethargic or floppy.
Dealing with Colic in Newborns is an incredibly challenging, exhausting, and often emotionally draining experience for parents. Please remember the key takeaways: First, always see your paediatrician to rule out any underlying medical causes for the crying. Second, patiently try a variety of soothing techniques, as different things work for different babies. And third, and most importantly, prioritise your own well-being and accept all the support you can get to cope with the stress.
You are not doing anything wrong, and you are not alone in this experience. This is a temporary phase that will pass. The dedicated paediatric teams at our Borneo Hospital branches are here to support you and your baby through every stage, including the challenging ones.
