In most babies, reflux causes no pain or problems with weight gain. Reflux and crying are very common in the early months but are not necessarily related. Colic is when babies cry a lot or are unsettled for long periods of time.
With a baby that vomits or spits up a lot, it's relatively easy to understand that the baby may have reflux, where as a baby that might just have excessive bouts of crying but is rarely sick and still gains weight would often be deemed to just have 'colic'.
Both of these conditions are extremely common in newborns and share some similar symptoms, hence why they are often confused with one another. A common thread amongst babies with colic and silent reflux is excessive crying with no clear cause.
Infant colic is regular, unexplained crying fits that usually last for at least three hours. The cause is unknown, but theories include immaturity of the bowel, food allergies and 'gas' or 'wind'. Colic tends to go away without treatment after a few weeks.
But when your infant has painful gas, especially if it's frequent, it can cause your baby to cry or become fussy—until it's passed; unlike colic, which causes crying and fussiness that lasts for hours across days and weeks. Gas can have distinctive symptoms, too, such as a swollen-looking belly.
The peak onset of colic occurs at age 6–8 weeks and it usually resolves by age 10–12 weeks. A comprehensive history and examination should be performed to rule out red flags such as abdominal distension, fever, poor feeding and lethargy.
The most commonly accepted definition of colic, which originated in 1954,4 describes using the “rule of three”: crying for more than three hours per day, for more than three days per week, and for more than three weeks in an infant that is well-fed and otherwise healthy.
One in five babies cry enough that people call them colicky. Colic usually starts when babies are about 3 weeks old. It gets worse when they are between 4 and 6 weeks old. Most of the time, colicky babies get better after they are 6 weeks old, and are completely fine by the time they are 12 weeks old.
Medication for Colic
This reduces the likelihood of the stomach contents flowing back into the food pipe (reflux) and being regurgitated. Gaviscon helps to reduce the pain from reflux although some parents have told me that it can thicken stools and reduce the frequency of passing them.
Tears are your baby's way of communicating that they're in pain. However, many babies with reflux won't cry; instead, they'll be difficult to calm or get to sleep. But first, it's important to remember that just because your baby is crying a lot doesn't mean they have silent reflux.
Colic and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are common causes of crying and fussiness in babies. Babies usually grow out of colic and reflux by their first birthdays. Always check with your child's healthcare provider to make sure there isn't another, more serious explanation for crying and fussiness.
An aggravation of reflux symptoms
This is perhaps explains why many families find that their reflux baby seems worse after using this remedy. It is for this reason why I recommend families to stop using Infacol, if their baby presents with reflux symptoms.
Baby Reflux FAQs
Pacifiers may stimulate saliva and the downward push of the esophagus, both of which may help to get fluids back into the stomach sooner rather than later. However, doctors are still not recommending pacifiers as a treatment.
Call NHS 111 or see a GP if:
your baby has colic and nothing seems to be working. you're finding it hard to cope. your baby is not growing or putting on weight as expected. your baby still has symptoms of colic after 4 months of age.
What time of day is colic the worst? Typically, colicky babies cry most frequently from 6 pm to midnight (a period of time often referred to as “witching hour”). Parents often describe these cries as louder, more high-pitched, and more urgent than normal wails.
Symptoms of colic in babies
The crying spells can occur around the clock, although they often become worse in the early evening.
Possible Causes of Colic
Hunger. Overfeeding. Baby cannot tolerate certain foods or certain proteins in breast milk or formula. Sensitivity to certain stimuli.
Colic episodes are more intense, louder, and higher pitched than "normal" crying. Infants with colic may sound as if they are in pain or are screaming.
One reason colicky babies can fuss more at night, he explains, is that serotonin levels peak in the evening. This imbalance, the theory goes, naturally resolves when babies start making melatonin, which relaxes intestinal muscles.
Gas may contribute to colic. Gas is produced by bacteria in the intestines and can also be swallowed into the intestines (aerophagia). Symptoms of gas include fussiness, enlarged abdomen, and passage of excessive gas through burping or flatulence.
Infant Gas and Colic
Gas does not cause colic, but if your baby is colicky, they may swallow more air, which gives them more gas.
Change your baby's position: Sit them up if they have been lying down, or hold them face-out if they have been facing your chest. Hold your baby near low, rhythmic noises, like the sound of the washing machine or a recording of a heartbeat. The steady hum of a fan or a white noise machine can also be soothing.