Why do babies have colic?

There are actually many cases of babies suffering from colic, but many parents do not understand why their children suffer from colic. There are several common reasons for colic in babies, such as weak immunity, it takes time for the baby to get familiar with the outside world, allergies, etc. These reasons can all cause colic in babies.

Causes of colic in babies

Although colic is not a disease, it can cause temporary physical discomfort and mothers are worried. The pain caused by strong contraction of the baby's intestinal smooth muscle or bloating is the most common type of acute abdominal pain in children. It often occurs at night, mostly occurs in babies within 3 months, and is more common in irritable, excited and restless babies. So, what are the causes of infant colic? Let’s take a look.

1) When babies are pumping milk, they swallow a lot of air, or they cry and inhale more air, which forms bubbles in the intestines and causes abdominal pain.

2) Overfeeding can cause an upset tummy due to excessive distension, or when the baby has tears, indicating hunger.

3) Colic caused by milk allergy is also very common.

4) Excitement causes irritation to the baby and can also cause colic.

What are the symptoms of baby colic?

Sometimes the baby cries very loudly and the mother is very worried, but she doesn’t know why the baby is crying. Many mothers don’t know that it is colic. What are the symptoms of baby colic? Here are some symptoms of baby colic.

1. Constant crying

Babies usually cry at a fixed time of the day, mostly at night or midnight, sometimes for several hours, and the crying is louder and lower than usual.

2. Abdominal bulge

If your baby is lying with his abdomen higher than his chest and is hard to the touch and painful to press on, this may be due to colic causing flatulence.

3. Inability to sleep

The pain caused by colic can make your baby restless and unable to sleep. Your baby may also wake up from sleep in the middle of the night due to pain and be unable to fall asleep again. For example, mothers should try to comfort their babies, gently rock them, or tap them to eliminate their anxiety.

4. Facial flushing or whiteness

Severe colic can cause the baby to become pale and have their hands and feet curled up toward their abdomen, as if the baby is in pain. From time to time, the hands and feet would be stretched straight and then retracted into the body again.

5. Fist Kick

In addition to expressing pain through crying, babies also show physical discomfort through movements such as clenching their fists and kicking their legs. Parents should pay close attention to their baby's body language to determine how their baby is responding to colic.

6. Continuous exhaust

Intestinal gas can cause cramps. If you find that your baby cries for a long time at midnight, it may be colic. Parents can try methods such as massage or applying heat to the abdomen to help relieve the baby's discomfort.