Children’s Health

How Do I Know if My Baby Has Colic or Is Just Crying?

How can you tell the difference, and what can you do to help you and your baby feel better?

Medically Inspected by: Loreta D. Dayco, MD, Edilberto B. Garcia, Jr., MD, and Maria Christina H. Ventura, MD

Babies cry as a way to tell you that something is wrong. It can be difficult, however, to decipher what the problem is exactly. Crying can allude to many different conditions—from hunger to discomfort, and even pain.

One common condition among babies is colic, more commonly referred to in the Philippines as kabag. How then will you know if your infant’s crying is caused by colic? How can you tell the difference, and what can you do to help you and your baby feel better?

What are the signs of colic?

Crying from colic differs from normal or hunger cries through the following signs:

Loud, severe crying for no evident reason and often at around the same period during the day, usually in the evening
The rule of three, or crying that lasts for more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, and for more than three weeks in a baby that is otherwise healthy and regularly fed
Skin discoloration, such as a having a flushed face or skin
Tense body parts, like clenched fists, stiff arms or legs, or an arched back

Aside from these signs, it is also possible for your baby to swallow a lot of air because of nonstop crying, and may therefore become gassy.

What is the cause of colic?

There is no known cause for colic, but some factors that may contribute to it include:

Digestion problems
Allergy or intolerance to certain foods
Irregular practice of burping, especially for babies who are bottle-fed
Too much stimulation from light or noise

What can you do for your baby’s colic?

Colic often goes away on its own when your baby reaches a certain age, often around three or four months old. But you don’t have to wait that long to give your baby some comfort. There are several ways to soothe your colicky baby, such as:

Burping your baby after feeding, especially if they are bottle-fed. This may help eliminate some of the excess air they gulp when feeding.
Switching up their position, like holding them on the belly such that they are facing downwards.
Rocking your baby gently or putting them in an infant swing.
Snuggling with your baby. Some studies show that skin-to-skin contact or kangaroo care help with colicky infants.
Trying a pacifier to help them calm down.
Using oral drops containing simeticone to alleviate gassiness in your baby, as maybe prescribed by your pediatrician.

Colic can be a stressful occurrence not just for the baby but also for the parents. If you feel distressed because of your baby’s persistent crying, here are a few things you can do for yourself:

Acknowledge that your feelings are valid. It is okay to feel tired and exhausted over your baby’s cries. The experience of colic among babies does not mean that you are a bad parent.
Take a break. You may ask your partner or another trusted household member to assume the caretaking duties while you step out to catch your breath.
Take care of yourself. To make sure you give your baby the love and care he or she needs to grow, do not forget to allot proper attention to your own health. Stick to getting proper diet and exercise and make sure to regularly take your vitamins.

General disclaimer

Your doctor will always be in the best position to give the appropriate medical advice for your condition. For suspected undesirable drug reaction, seek medical attention immediately and report to the FDA at www.fda.gov.ph and UNILAB, Inc. at 8-UNILAB-1 or productsafety@unilab.com.ph. Always buy your medicine from your trusted drugstores and retailers.

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