Colic is a term normally used for a painful spasm of the bowels. However, infantile colic, which affects babies under three months of age, probably has nothing to do with the bowel at all. Research into colic has indicated that it may be a problem of a baby's immature nervous system rather than with digestion. Colicky babies are typically healthy in other respects.
Symptoms
A baby with colic refuses to settle, cries furiously, often sucks everything in sight but doesn't want to feed, and frequently draws the feet up to the stomach as if in pain. Sometimes excessive air may be taken in when the baby cries, which may cause discomfort, but medical research has failed to link colic to trapped wind. The baby often cries inconsolably for some hours at the same time each day. Colic occurs in all societies and cultures - in China it is known as 'the hundred days crying'.
Remedies
Gripe water used to contain alcohol, but this is now banned, so it just contains sugar and water. Fennel tea and other herbal remedies have been promoted but there is no scientific evidence that they work. In the 1970s, diazepam (Valium) and dicyclamine (Merbentyl) were prescribed, but the latter is not now available for babies under six months.
Colic has also been blamed on an intolerance to some milk formulas; in breast-feeding mothers, dairy foods in the diet have been held culpable. However, by the time the mother has tried several formulas or cut out dairy products for several weeks, the baby is likely to have grown out of the condition.
Swaddling and close contact with the carer seems to be the best way to help a colicky baby sleep. Rocking and movement, such as being pushed in a pram or driven in the car, also seems to help.
