Three-month colic in babies
and Martina Feichter, medical editor and biologistMartina Feichter studied biology with an elective subject pharmacy in Innsbruck and also immersed herself in the world of medicinal plants. From there it was not far to other medical topics that still captivate her to this day. She trained as a journalist at the Axel Springer Academy in Hamburg and has been working for since 2007 - first as an editor and since 2012 as a freelance writer.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.
Three-month colic is not a specific illness. The term rather describes a condition. Babies with three-month colic thrive but have frequent and sometimes excessive crying attacks. It used to be thought that stomach pain was the reason for this: the belly of such babies is often bloated. However, the air is a consequence, not the cause of the roar. Read more about what constitutes three-month colic here.
description
Three-month colic is when infants cry excessively and are restless. Typically, babies cry an average of about 30 minutes a day, such as when they are hungry or tired. On the other hand, one speaks of a "crying baby" when an infant cries for more than three hours a day for inexplicable reasons over a period of more than three weeks.
The screaming attacks usually begin around two weeks of age, have their maximum in the second month of life and generally last three months. This is where the name "three-month colic" comes from. The term colic points to the previously suspected cause of the crying attacks: abdominal pain and gas. This assumption also comes from the fact that affected babies often pull their legs up as if they were having painful cramps.
It is now known, however, that the air in the baby's stomach is more the result (swallowing of air!) And not the cause of the crying. In addition, baby cribs react more sensitively and are more sensitive than "normally screaming" peers. This is why medical professionals use the term regulatory disorder instead of "three-month colic". Incidentally, this also includes sleeping and feeding disorders in babies.
Some babies with three-month colic cry excessively until they are 3 months old. After that, the rate drops. After the age of 6 months, only a few babies cry unusually much.
root cause
The causes of three-month colic have not yet been clearly clarified. Only a few children actually have a gastrointestinal problem. However, swallowing air while screaming could build up excessive gas in the gastrointestinal tract and actually cause discomfort. Ultimately, paediatricians make sure that there are no serious illnesses behind excessive screaming attacks.
treatment
It is often difficult for parents to do something about the screaming attacks, especially when it is not clear where they are coming from. Until the spooks stop on their own after a few months, however, it can help to offer the baby a daily routine that is as regulated as possible and to make sure that it sleeps and drinks enough. When it roars, rock it gently, carry it around, and try a soothing baby massage as well.
If nothing works and you notice that it is getting too much for you, ask family members or friends for support in order to allow yourself short rest periods. You can also turn to a "crying clinic" - a special advice center for parents of crying babies. Such outpatient clinics are affiliated with many clinics, medical practices, educational counseling centers, etc.
Read our article "Help with three-month colic" to find out what else you can do if your baby has three-month colic.
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