Congratulations on the arrival of your newborn! These first few weeks are filled with love, bonding, and precious moments as you get to know your little one. Alongside the joy, there can sometimes be challenges too. For instance, if your baby has started crying unconsolably a few weeks after birth, with prolonged episodes that have no apparent cause, coupled with a flushed face, clenched fists and drawn up knees to their chest – your baby may have colic.
As a parent, this can be heartbreaking, and with four in 10 parents and caregivers facing this exhausting challenge, it’s one of the most common concerns in early parenthood. But, while colic can feel overwhelming, the good news is that there are ways to ease the discomfort and help restore some calm to family life.
When Crying Becomes Colic…
Of course, newborns can cry, especially when they’re so new to the world and their tummy is getting used to being fed. But if your baby is crying for more than 3-hours a day, for longer than 3-days a week and for more than 3-weeks, it’s likely to be colic.
Colic is a blanket term used to describe prolonged bouts of intense crying or fussiness in an otherwise healthy baby. The exact cause can be hard to determine when a number of factors can contribute to the condition, but generally it is often associated with digestive discomfort, wind and gas or an immature nervous symptom.
Studies suggest that between 20% and 40% of babies – both breastfed and bottle-fed – are affected, making it one of the most common challenges of early parenthood.
Ways to Help Relieve Colic
Although colic can’t always be prevented, there are steps that may help reduce how often it happens or ease the intensity when it does. Simple things like keeping your baby upright during feeds, burping them well (and then trying again a few minutes later), and staying mindful of their overall comfort can make a real difference. It’s also worth checking in with a healthcare professional, as symptoms that look like colic can sometimes point to other issues, such as a milk allergy or gastric conditions like acid reflux.
Tips that may help reduce colic symptoms:
- Avoid overfeeding – feeding every time baby cries can add to trapped wind and discomfort. Try leaving intervals between feeds and watch closely for hunger cues.
- Ask for help! – Swap with your spouse, another family member or a friend.
- Baby wearing – Get a sling, wrap, or carrier and wear your baby as much as you can to help comfort them. Baby massages can help too!
- Noises and tricks – Noises can help settle baby and so can some of tricks people tell you about: taking baby for a drive, vacuuming, playing music or sitting with baby on the washing machine during the spin cycle. It’s worth a shot!
- Over the counter remedies – There’s plenty of colic remedies but speak to your GP or pharmacist about the best options for your baby.
- Vacuum free, ventilated bottles – For families who use bottles as part of their feeding routine, these can prevent your baby from gulping in air when drinking milk, which is a major cause of colic.
How Dr. Brown’s Can Help!
Due to its 100% vacuum free vent system, Dr. Brown’s Options+ Anti-Colic Baby Bottles are the number one choice of UK Healthcare Professionals. Available in narrow neck and wide neck designs, the clever internal system is clinically proven to reduce colic by channelling air away from baby’s feed. This creates a controlled flow that makes feeding easier and more convenient. To adjust your routine as baby’s needs change, the vent system can easily be removed when baby’s feeding problems subside. With Dr. Brown’s Options+ bottles, you can ensure a smoother, and comfortable feeding experience for both you and your little one as they grow.
Designed for a natural feeding experience, each bottle features a soft, contoured teat that mimics the breast, allowing for a proper latch and making the transition from breast to bottle smooth and stress-free. Plus, with a 93% acceptance rate and options in both narrow and wide-neck designs, Dr. Brown’s bottles make feeding more comfortable and enjoyable for both baby and parent, helping every feed feel a little calmer and easier.
While colic can be an exhausting and emotional challenge, it’s important to remember that it’s temporary and usually resolves on its own. In the meantime, small steps, from soothing strategies and support from loved ones, to choosing the right feeding tools, can make a big difference for both you and your baby. With the right support and a little patience, this challenging phase will pass, leaving space for more of those precious moments of bonding and joy with your newborn.
Paid Partnership with Dr. Brown’s
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