Colic cry in baby, is an excruciating cry. As if it is calling out for help. It is so intense that, it keeps parents awake for nights together. And new parents often are curious to know, when colic goes away on its own?
Introduction
Colic’ is essentially a kind of discomfort in tummy of a baby. Due to which a baby cries out incessantly, and can not be calmed down.
What is colic and why colic happens in a baby is discussed in an independent blog
“WHAT IS COLIC PAIN – A COMPLETE GUIDE; Know why it happens”
In this blog we will look into timeline of colic. At what age colic pain starts in a baby and when it goes away ? Furthermore we will draw some insight into how to prevent colic in a baby.
At what age newborn colic pain starts ?
Colic pain typically starts at 2 to 3 weeks of life in a term* baby ( 40 weeks ). Whereas in case of a preterm* baby, colic emerges at corrected 2 to 3 weeks age.
*A term baby is a baby delivered on time ( born between 37 weeks to 42 weeks )
*A preterm baby is a baby birthed before time ( born before 37 weeks )
How to calculate corrected age of a preterm baby ?
The date of EDD ( Expected Date of Delivery ) suggested by your obstetrician, is considered as 40 weeks. Let’s say it is ‘day zero’. So for a baby delivered at 40 weeks of gestation, the date of birth ( D.O.B.) coincides with ‘day zero’ ( EDD )
If a baby is delivered 4 weeks prior to EDD. Then baby will be of 36 weeks gestation ( 40 weeks - 4 weeks ). For this 36 weeker, will colicky pain begin at 2 weeks of life ?
No, it won’t. This 36 weeks old baby, after 4 weeks of life will attain ‘day zero’. From this day zero we have to add another 2 weeks. This is the time when colic will kick in for him/her.
So in simple words for a 36 weeker colicky pain will start at 6 weeks of life ( or corrected 2 weeks of age )
At what age colic pain peaks ?
Fussiest babies are around age of 6 weeks ( or 1.5 months ). Thus a term baby (40 weeks baby) cries the most out of colic, at 6 weeks age or 1.5 month of age.
Similarly for a preterm, it is corrected 6 weeks of age when colic pain maxes out.
For instance, a 36 weeker preterm will cry the most at 10 weeks of life or 2.5 months of age ( this is corrected 6 week for him/her ).
When colic goes away ?
Colic keeps parents burnt-out and sleep deprived. Thus major concern for parents is when colic goes away ?
As per data most of colic pain goes away by 3 months ( 12 weeks ) of life in a term baby ( 40 weeker baby ). Beyond 3 months only 5% babies continue to have colic. Thereby this age of 3 months should bring some relief in new parents.
Likewise, for a preterm ( let’s say 36 weeks baby ) colic will mostly go away by 4 months of life or 16 weeks of life ( i.e. corrected 12 weeks of age )
Caution
In all term babies colic disappears by the time s/he reaches 4-5 months. Suppose for a baby excessive colic like cry sustains continuously beyond 5 months, then it could be an early sign of behavioural problem or breast feeding is insufficient or there is some other underlying cause.
NOTE :
- To put in simple 2 lines, colic in a 40 weeker term baby starts at 2 weeks of life, peaks at 6 weeks ( 1.5 months )of life and subsides mostly by 12 weeks ( 3 months ) of life.
- Colicky pain in a 36 weeker preterm starts at 6 weeks ( 1.5 months ) of life, peaks at 10 weeks ( 2.5 months ) of life and subsides by 16 weeks ( 4 months of life )
How to prevent infantile colic ?
Below are simple tips and tricks that you can apply to your newborn. Do these to evade colic pain in baby –
- Timely feeding
- Avoid underfeeding or over feeding
- Give feeding in head up position
- Burping after each feed
- Knee bending excerise / cycling exercise
- Tummy Massage ( clock wise direction )
Conclusion
I hope this blog posts gives some idea to new parents on colic and its timeline. Moreover colic is not damaging for a baby or it is not something to worry about unless you have warning signs of colic.
“Patience is something parenting teaches every single day”
Share this article maximum with your friends and family members and let them be aware too.
Caution
All the information provided here are for educational and awareness purpose only. Kindly do not use these as alternative to medical consultation.
