Colic in Babies in Winter: Myths Busted

Colic is a new parent’s worst nightmare. Helplessly watching your baby cry for hours is not something that you would like to do every evening. Winters can be harsh if your baby has colic. In winter, the cry of your colicky baby will get louder and more high-pitched. There are many myths regarding colic. As a new parent, you should not fall prey to those myths. Here some colic-related myths are busted.

It is not colic but hunger

Infants do not always cry out of hunger. Feeding them when they cry may soothe them for a while but they will start crying soon. Some babies may even refuse a feed during the colic episode. Feeding them frequently may worsen the situation and the baby may vomit the feed. Schedule their feed and stop feeding them the moment they start crying.

Colic in winter can’t be controlled

Winters may aggravate the colic condition in your baby. However, there are ways to comfort your baby during the colic episodes in winter. Swaddle them in a warm and soft blanket. Take them in your arms and gently rock them. You can also swing or cradle them to reduce overstimulation. These methods will soothe your baby and make them fall asleep.

Avoid medications

Often parents are advised not to use medication for colicky babies. It is better to avoid over-the-counter medicines. However, there is no harm in consulting with your doctor and giving the baby some medication to ease their discomfort. Traditionally, gripe water is used. Consult with your doctor and decide on a medicine.

Change the formula

Although breastfed babies do get colicky, bottle-fed babies may get colicky more frequently. Do not change the formula without consulting your doctor. Unless your infant has lactose intolerance there is no need to change the formula. Drinking milk can make the infant gassy and that often causes colic. Infants also inhale a lot of excess air while feeding and that could be the primary cause of colic.

Ideally, after 12 weeks of age, infants settle down and episodes of colic become less frequent. If the episodes of colic continue beyond three months of age, you should discuss the possible causes with your paediatrician. While it is true that managing colic is difficult, there are ways to soothe your infant.