How many days does infantile colic last?

Written by Huang Kun Mei

Pediatrics

Updated on May 15, 2025

00:00

00:00

Intestinal colic is a very common symptom in children, with most experiencing it at some point. Generally, it begins two weeks after birth and peaks around one month of age, although some babies may only gradually improve between four to six months. For the prevention of intestinal colic, it's important to burp the child for ten minutes after each feeding. Between feedings, massaging the abdomen clockwise helps prevent bloating. If a child experiences intestinal colic, timely abdominal massage or using the "airplane hold" can alleviate the symptoms.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Tong Peng

Pediatrics

58sec

home-news-image

Do babies with colic always want to breastfeed?

If a baby has colic, they will not continuously want to nurse. This is because colic often occurs due to intestinal gas or unexpelled intestinal secretions, causing irritable spasms of the stomach and intestines. In this case, nursing might actually worsen the symptoms of abdominal pain. Therefore, the baby often exhibits inexplicable crying and appears to be in severe pain, with symptoms including curled legs, occasional abdominal distension, and abdominal tympany upon percussion. At this time, the baby may refuse to eat. Therefore, when colic occurs, we can alleviate it through abdominal massage and by performing gas-relieving exercises. Since colic is a clinical manifestation of digestive dysfunction, it is advisable in daily life to supplement with probiotics, and to provide abdominal massages and dietary adjustments, including eating light, liquid, and easily digestible foods, to help relieve colic.

home-news-image

Written by Wu Ben Rong

Pediatrics

43sec

home-news-image

Will the baby still have intestinal colic if they fart a lot?

Children who fart frequently may also experience intestinal colic, which usually results from indigestion caused by various reasons. Some children may swallow a lot of air while feeding, which can also lead to colic. However, if a child farts a lot, it can indicate that the air in the abdomen has been expelled, and the likelihood of colic occurring under these circumstances is relatively small. But there are also some pathological factors that could lead to colic, so excessive farting does not necessarily mean that colic will not occur. It is suggested that when a child suffers from colic, parents can use heat application as a local treatment, which is very helpful in relieving the child's pain symptoms.

home-news-image

Written by Wu Ben Rong

Pediatrics

42sec

home-news-image

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.

home-news-image

Written by Chen Tian Jing

Colorectal Surgery

1min 1sec

home-news-image

Can you breastfeed during intestinal colic?

If an infant experiences colic, during an episode, the child will exhibit localized pain causing crying and irritability, generally making it difficult to feed. Firstly, it is necessary to alleviate the symptoms of colic. This can be done by choosing to massage the abdomen clockwise to promote intestinal gas expulsion. Additionally, it is appropriate to orally administer probiotics or simethicone to aid intestinal motility. Applying heat to the infant’s abdomen and ensuring it is kept warm are also beneficial. As colic episodes usually involve severe crying, using the "airplane hold" can help alleviate localized symptoms. Once the child's symptoms subside, feeding can then be resumed, ensuring the quality of feeding is not compromised by pain, which could otherwise lead to insufficient feeding and consequently cause the next hunger episode to occur sooner.

home-news-image

Written by Tong Peng

Pediatrics

48sec

home-news-image

What to do about infantile colic?

If a baby experiences colic, it can often be alleviated through the following methods. First, abdominal massage can be used; parents can hold the baby and massage around the navel with both hands to improve gastrointestinal function and reduce rapid intestinal movements. Additionally, applying heat to the abdomen, using a hot water bottle or a warm towel, can also be effective. If the baby has bloating, using a soap stick or enema to help the baby expel gas can also relieve symptoms of abdominal pain. If these measures do not alleviate the baby's pain and discomfort, then it is necessary to visit the hospital for a pediatrician to perform a physical examination and assist with related imaging studies for differential diagnosis.