How to recognize a colicky baby?
Frequent crying can be triggered after a vaccination
or milk that didn't suit. It is important to note here
that very ill babies do not cry as much because crying
takes up a great deal of energy, which a sick baby won't
have. Many baby experts follow the 'rule of threes'
to determine if babies have colic: the baby is less
than 3 months old, cries for three days or more in a
week and cries for 3 hours or more at a time. Still
for sanity sake, it is best to get your baby reviewed
by her doctor to rule out other medical issues such
as short-term virus.
Colicky babies cry in a specific manner or pattern.
The cries continue for long stretches and no amount
of pacifying – swaying, hushing, singing or rocking-
seems to work. Acoustically, the cry is high-pitched,
more jittery and intense compared to other forms of
infant crying. The baby's face scrunches in pain and
turns scarlet and he mostly will arch his back and draw
up his legs as if in great deal of pain. Alternatively,
he may simply fret and fuss for hours at end. Either
way it is a very challenging and draining episode for
the carer and baby.
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