Symptoms timing of infantile colic

Written by Huang Kun Mei
Pediatrics
Updated on February 18, 2025
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Infant colic is generally more common at night.

Most children are prone to this condition at around one to two months or two to three months of age. Sometimes, they suddenly cry out loud while sleeping at night. In such cases, feeding the child often does not help. Some babies may exhibit severe bloating and a very red face, continuing to cry inconsolably.

When colic occurs, parents can use warm compresses to relieve the child's discomfort. You can apply a warm towel to the child's abdomen, hold the baby in an "airplane" hold, or massage the child around the navel, clockwise for ten minutes at a time, to provide relief. If the child still experiences intestinal pain and cries excessively without passing gas, it is necessary to seek medical attention promptly.

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Written by Liu Li
Pediatrics
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Intestinal colic, airplane embrace several times a day

Intestinal colic is generally caused by intestinal function or obstruction, causing extremely severe pain during attacks, and the timing of the pain is irregular, making it very tough for children. Children are usually very weak after an episode of intestinal colic, so it is recommended for parents to adopt comfortable holding methods for the baby. The airplane hold is a commonly used method, but the frequency of using the airplane hold should also be controlled. For children with intestinal colic, decisions should be made based on the frequency of the child's episodes, and adjustments can be made accordingly based on these episodes.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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What to do about infantile colic?

Infantile colic is generally spasm-induced pain in the intestines. During acute episodes, a hot water bottle can be applied to the abdomen to alleviate symptoms. Additionally, massaging the abdomen in a clockwise direction can promote intestinal peristalsis, thus facilitating the expulsion of gas and bowel movements, which helps relieve symptoms of intestinal colic. Furthermore, dietary considerations are crucial for infants experiencing colic. Consumption of foods high in animal proteins such as milk, eggs, and fish may trigger colic episodes. Therefore, it is advisable to consume more vegetables and fruits which are rich in rough fibers, as they promote bowel movements and can reduce the frequency of colic episodes.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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What are the symptoms of infantile colic?

Infant colic mostly occurs between 2-4 weeks after birth, generally reaching a peak around one and a half months after birth. The symptoms of infant colic primarily include four aspects: firstly, the child will suddenly start crying loudly and inconsolably, which is clearly different from usual. Second, the crying episodes can last particularly long, even up to about three hours, and may occur more than three times a week. Thirdly, these episodes generally occur in the evening or late at night, hence the colloquial term "twilight crying." Fourthly, with colicky infants, conventional soothing methods are ineffective; for example, holding or comforting the baby does not help, and the child continues crying until completely exhausted before falling asleep. This is a typical symptom of infant colic.

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Written by Wu Ben Rong
Pediatrics
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Will a baby's stomach make noises if they have colic?

When a child experiences intestinal colic, they often experience severe abdominal pain, and may exhibit behaviors like crying or discomfort. They might also kick around, but usually, there will not be noises of rumbling in the stomach. The rumbling sounds in a child's stomach are usually due to reasons like indigestion which cause the sounds of gastrointestinal motility. When a child eats too quickly and a large amount of air enters the stomach, it can lead to this phenomenon. If the child has started on solid foods, consuming foods that produce a lot of gas can also cause these symptoms. If the child does not show other symptoms such as diarrhea, special treatment is generally not necessary.

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Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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What are the symptoms of infantile colic?

Infantile colic is more common and mostly occurs in infants under three months of age. It is characterized by paroxysmal crying, with the infant crying loudly for several hours. During an attack, the face often turns flush, the area around the mouth is pale, and the abdomen is bloated and tense. This is usually accompanied by tightly clenched hands, and symptoms may slightly relieve after passing gas or having a bowel movement. There are many causes of colic, often related to the infant's own constitution, especially food allergies which can exacerbate symptoms. Additionally, respiratory infections, abdominal chilling, overeating, or accumulation of intestinal gas can also trigger symptoms of colic.