Colic in babies is defined by excessive crying and fussing, usually in the first few months of their life. What separates colic from other crying is that babies experiencing colic will seemingly be crying for no medical reason at all. On top of excess crying, babies experiencing colic may also squirm uncontrollably, draw up their legs or hold their breath in a way that their face turns red. When they are in this state, it can be very hard to comfort them. So, it’s always best to try and prevent colic altogether.
To do so, you first need to understand the symptoms and how they interplay into causing colic.
What causes colic in babies?
The cause of colic is not 100% proven. Though studies have shown that there are numerous contributing factors to colic in babies. The reason it is so hard to determine the root cause is that colic is different in all babies, so no two infants experience it the same. What is known is that colic arises due to issues in the digestive system.
Potential causes of colic in babies include:
A digestive system that isn’t fully developed
An imbalance of gut bacteria
Food allergies
Overfeeding and underfeeding
Infrequent burping
Despite these causes, researchers have not been able to determine risk factors that make babies more susceptible to colic. For example, males are more prone to colour blindness. This same trend is not prevalent across colic, which is what makes it so hard to prevent. Most parents need to wait until their baby first experiences colic before they can take action to stop it from happening again. This can be quite stressful and taxing on family life.
Can you prevent colic in babies?
Though there is no solid proof of colic risk factors, there are several preventative measures you can take to avoid colic altogether.
Avoid stress during pregnancy - Stress during pregnancy can prevent your baby from developing properly. This may include the development of their digestive systems.
Choose a bottle that reduces colic - At MAMBaby, we supply Australian anti-colic baby bottles. These aim to reduce gas intake into your baby’s stomach, which is understood to be a leading cause of colic. You can view our range here.
Hold your baby in an upright position when feeding them to avoid them inhaling too much gas.
Complete allergy tests as early as possible to determine what may be causing colic. You should conduct this under the supervision of a doctor.
We’re here to help
As mentioned, at MAMBaby, we supply a range of Australian anti-colic bottles to help avoid colic in babies. If you want to know more, feel free to reach out to us at any time.