Colic and Periodically Irritable Crying

If there are mothers out there, who are dealing with colicky babies, here’s something to help you out. I got this from Dr. Benjamin Spock’s Baby & Childcare. The man’s a god sent. Who says babies doesn’t come with a manual? Lol.

Three month colic and ‘periodically irritable crying.’ In this section I am describing 2 somewhat similar conditions that may be related to each other. The first is colic (sharp pains in the intestines.) The baby’s abdomens becomes distended with gas, they pull or stiffen their legs, scream piercingly, and may pass gas by rectum. The second I call “periodic irritable crying.” These babies, even though they have plenty to eat, cry miserably for several hours at one regular time of the day without definite signs of pain or gas. They may be pacified as long as you hold them and carry them about. One baby has colic, another has irritable crying, a third seems to have a mixture. The 2 conditions may be related to each other, because both commonly starts around 2 to 4 weeks of age and are usually over by the time the baby is about 3 month old. Both conditions cause trouble most often during the evenings or late afternoon.

The commonest story is this: The baby was said to be well behaved and quiet in the hospital, but a few days after going home she suddenly has a crying spell that lasts for 1 to 4 hours straight. The parents change her, turn her over, give her a drink of water, but nothing works for long. After a couple of hours, the parents wonder if she is hungry ahead of time, because she is trying to get everything into her mouth. The parents warms up a bottle and she takes it eagerly at first, but before it’s finished she lets go and cries again. The screaming often continues for the full 4 hour interval between feedings. After she has finished her next regular bottle, she may be miraculously relieved.

Lots of babies have just a few attacks scattered through the early month. At the other extreme is the infant who has trouble every night until 3 month old. In a rare case severe colic can last up to 6 month.


Some babies are very regular about their colic or irritable crying. They sleep like angels after every feeding but one. Other babies spread their unhappiness through a longer period. The crying of colic most often begin after feeding, sometimes right after, sometimes half an hour later. In this way it is different from the crying of a hungry baby, which usually occur before the feeding.


Parents are distressed to have their baby so unhappy and think that something is terribly wrong. They wonder how long the child can keep this up and not become exhausted. They wonder how long they can it. The strange thing is that colicky and irritable babies usually proper from the physical point of view. In spite of hours of crying, they continue to gain weight, not just average-well but better than average. They are hungry babies. They gulp down their whole feeding and always seem to demand for an increased amount.

When a baby turns colicky, a mother’s first thought is apt to be that the feeding is wrong. If he is on breast, she thinks its her milk to blame. If he is on formula, she wonders if it needs a fundamental change. It is plain to see that the quality of the feeding is not the main cause of colic. Otherwise why should the baby be able to digest it perfectly 4 out of 5 feedings a day, and get into trouble only in the evenings? Colic occurs with breast milk, with cow’s milk and with all kinds of formulas.

We don’t know the basic cause of colic or irritable crying. One guess is that both conditions are due to a periodic tension in the babies immature nervous system. Some of these babies are hypertonic all the time. The fact the trouble is commonest in the evening or late afternoon suggest that fatigue plays a part. Many babies up to the age of 3 month are on edge just before they fall asleep. Instead of being able to slip peacefully off, they must at least let out a few piercing cries.



The Treatment of Colic
The most important thing is for both parents to recognize the condition is fairly common, that, on the contrary, it occurs most often in babies that are developing and growing well, and that it’s probably be gone by the time the baby is 3 month old, if not before, leaving the child none the worse for wear. If the parent can accept the condition in a fairly calmed and resigned way, the battle is half won.


Some colicky baby (the hypertonic ones) seems to be definitely better when they lead quiet, calm lives – sleeping in a quiet room, being handled slowly & gently, being talked to softly, not seeing any visitors (at least closely), not being tickled and roughhoused in any way, avoiding noisy places outdoors and perhaps in some rare cases, not going outdoors at all until the condition improves. The colicky baby, like others, must have company and cuddling and be smiled at, but it can be done gently. It is important to get the air bubble up after feedings.

Colicky babies are usually more comfortable on their stomach. They may get more relief still by being laid across the mother’s or father’s knees or a hot water bottle, and rubbed on the back.

Hot water bottle. You should be able to rest the inside of your wrist against the hot water bottle without discomfort. Then, as an extra precaution, wrap it in a diaper or towel before laying the baby against it or half on it.

Should you pick babies up, or rock them gently or carry them around while they have their colic? Even if it makes them stop crying, won’t it spoil them? We aren’t scared nowadays of the danger of spoiling babies as we used to be. If babies are comforted when they are miserable, they usually don’t go on demanding that comfort when they are not miserable.

It’s hard on the parents of a fretful, hypertonic, colicky or irritable babies. She may be soothed when you first pick her up. But after a few minutes, she’s apt to be screaming harder than ever. She thrashes with her arms and legs. She not only refuses to be comforted-she acts as if she is angry at you for trying. You feel increasingly in adequate because you are not able to do anything to relieve her.

But many parents get worn out and frantic listening to a baby cry. It is particularly difficult for mothers if she is with the baby constantly. She should make a great effort to get away from home and the baby for a few hours once or twice a week. It’s best if both parent can go out together. If you’re like most parents, you’ll hesitate to do this. “Why should we inflict the baby on somebody else? Besides we’re nervous being away from the baby for so long.” But you shouldn’t think as a vacation like this as a treat for you. It’s very important for you, for the baby, and for your spouse that you do not get exhausted and depressed. If you can’t get anyone to come take care of the baby, the parents can take turn once a week to go out and see a movie. The baby doesn’t need 2 worried parents to listen to her.


Try also to get friends to come in and visit you. Remember that everything that helps you keep a sense of balance, everything that keeps you from getting too preoccupied with the baby, helps the baby and the rest of the family in the long run.