What is colic?
What is colic?
Colic is the description of an unsettled baby rather than a diagnosis.
A baby is described as having colic if they cry for:
- More than 3 hours a day
- More than 3 days a week
- More than 3 weeks
The symptoms usually starts about 2 weeks of age and often settle by 4 months old but can go on until 6 months.
Signs and symptoms
- Drawing legs up
- Back arching
- Episodic crying coming in waves
- Fist clenching with the episodes of pain
What is reflux?
Reflux is where the acidic fluid from the stomach comes up into the oesopahgus (food pipe) and causes irritation and pain. This is usually associated with vomiting of feeds. Some babies have the irritation without the vomiting and this is ususally called ‘silent reflux’.
Signs and symptoms
- Back arching
- Dislikes lying on their back
- Dislikes the car seat
- Vomiting
- Refusing to feed
- Gagging or choking on feeds
- Poor weight gain
- Hiccups