It rips at the heart, ravages the nerves and takes new parents to the point of desperation. Jane Bartlett looks at coping with colic

If you are very unlucky, it happens every day, lasts up to three hours, and it can go on for several months. The neighbours don’t like it, you can’t stand it and, above all, your baby seems to be going through agony. Familiar? You are probably experiencing one of the greatest of infant mysteries: colic.

Amazing but true, after 40 years of research into this common torment, science still doesn’t know why some babies scream so much. Figures suggest that 10-40% of babies cry inconsolably on a regular basis, as if in pain. It usually occurs in the evening, starting in the first few weeks of your baby’s life, reaching a peak around six weeks, with the last sobs easing off by three months. Babies with colic typically clench their little fists, pull up their knees and turn tomato. No matter what you do, nothing seems to help. There are no miracle cures.

The good news is that colic is not medically harmful: babies develop and put on weight normally, despite the tears. However, it is acutely stressful for parents and can damage the relationship you have with your baby. Colic also puts a baby more at risk of abuse for obvious reasons.

What causes colic?

Gut reaction?

Most theories about colic focus on painful contractions in the gut. The tendency of the baby to curl up its legs, as if to relieve stomach cramp, would seem to support this view. There are a number of possible causes:

• A baby’s immature digestive tract might go into internal spasm as food is propelled through the digestive tract
• Theories about lactose intolerance are currently popular; it is suspected to result in undigested lactose building up in the baby’s intestines
• There are also theories that, some babies may have intolerance to cow’s milk protein (breast fed babies may be reacting to the cow’s milk protein in their mother’s diet). Switching to dairy-free formula milk has been shown to help some babies, although many are also found to be sensitive to soy protein as well
• Or it might be wind. Tiny bubbles of air are swallowed during the feed, which cause pain and spasm in the intestines.

A behavioural problem?

Colic has long been blamed on inexperienced parenting, family stress, or problems with the mum and baby relationship. The baby might have a difficult temperament: an active, awake, busy and tense baby is more likely, according to research, to have colic. Or mum might simply be burnt out at the end of the day, and baby is picking up on her frazzled vibes. Parents probably find this explanation for colic more worrying than any other, but be assured that there is no evidence to support such claims.

It’s normal

All babies cry, it’s the only way they can get their needs met. Colic is just at the extreme end of what is normal.

What to do

There is no definitive advice as to how to conquer colicky crying. In a recent British Medical Journal article, 27 controlled trials of treatments for colic were reviewed and the authors concluded that there is enough evidence to indicate that removing cow’s milk protein from baby’s diet was useful. They suggest, therefore, that breastfeeding mothers should eliminate cow’s milk from their diet, altogether. If your baby’s colic seems to be persistent it may be worth exploring this option with your doctor or health visitor.

There is currently no research to show that low lactose milks, fibre enriched milks or simethicone (wind medication) are helpful. Nor, surprisingly, that carrying and holding your baby eases their colic. There was also insufficient evidence to ascertain whether chiropractic, sounds or herbal teas are of any use. Basically, the research isn’t there to tell us what is going to help, so it comes down to personal trial and error.

Colic action check list:

• Eliminate other possible causes for crying
• Make sure your baby is clean, fed, not too hot, not too cold
• Could they be teething?
• Are they well?
• If crying is persistent you should visit your doctor to rule out other causes for the distress.
• With bottle fed babies - try using a smaller hole on the teat to slow down the flow of milk
• With breast fed babies try feeding with the baby lying on your tummy so that they have to suck milk upwards, slowing down the flow
• Always burp your baby after their feeds
• Offering the breast, a bottle or dummy might distract a colicky baby for a while.
• You might be able to calm them down with cuddles or rocking.
• Take them for a walk in the pram, carry them in a sling, drive around with them in the car
• Soothing sounds could do the trick. Play relaxation tapes, womb sounds, or sing. Some babies are comforted by noises like the washing machine or vacuum cleaner. If it works, go for it
• Offer baby the sensuous treat of a warm bath and gentle massage
• Or try wrapping a warm towel around their tummy
• Simply try lying with your baby - the warmth of your body combined with your heart beat may do the trick
• You could try pedalling baby’s legs in a cycling motion to help them get rid of wind.

Complementary therapies

Cranial massage therapies are currently very popular. Chiropractors and osteopaths believe that colic may be caused by a misalignment in the baby’s skeletal system and skull, common after a difficult birth. Practitioners use their hands to gently make adjustments to the bones of the baby’s body. It is a very subtle treatment suitable for the youngest babies.

Looking after yourself

The person who needs extra care and attention when dealing with colic is you. Having a colicky baby is stressful, and you must make sure you are getting plenty of support and breaks away from your baby. When you’re near the end of your tether, the best course of action may be to close the door and let your baby cry itself to sleep (as long as you know it is well and safe). Try to remind yourself that colic doesn’t last, and in a few weeks you will have a happy, smiling baby.

Further help

If you would like someone to talk to Cry-sis is an organisation which helps people who have constantly crying babies. They have a 24 hour our phone line: 0207 404 5011.