Will a baby's stomach make noises if they have colic?

Written by Wu Ben Rong
Pediatrics
Updated on January 19, 2025
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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 should babies with colic not eat?

Infantile colic, and what not to eat, depends on the cause of the colic. First, it is necessary to understand that infant colic is due to the immature development of the gastrointestinal function in infants. If some foods are not fully digested and absorbed, it can lead to increased accumulation of gas in the gut, thereby stimulating the nerves of the intestinal mucosa and causing colic. For such infants, it is best to avoid spicy, stimulating, and indigestible foods in the diet, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, etc. These foods are not easily digested and tend to produce gas. Additionally, it is important to avoid overeating, which can overburden the stomach and intestines, leading to symptoms of indigestion. Therefore, for symptoms of colic, the main approach is to control the diet, eat smaller, more frequent meals, and avoid overeating, which can worsen the burden on the stomach and intestines and exacerbate the symptoms.

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Written by Huang Kun Mei
Pediatrics
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Symptoms timing of infantile colic

The symptoms of infantile colic are sudden bouts of crying, during which the child's face turns very red, their hands clenched into fists, and their stomach distended. The child may also be difficult to console. To alleviate these symptoms, it is recommended to apply warm compresses to the child's abdomen and massage the abdomen to relieve intestinal gas and colic. Colic is generally more common at night and usually occurs in babies between one and three months old. To prevent colic, it is important to burp the child for ten minutes after each feeding and to massage the child’s abdomen in a clockwise direction between feedings. When colic occurs, applying a warm compress to the abdomen and massaging in a clockwise direction can help, as well as holding the child in an "airplane" hold.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
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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.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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How to relieve the symptoms of intestinal colic in infants

When infants experience colic, it is generally due to excessive gas accumulation in the intestines, as infants cannot expel gas on their own. Therefore, when colic occurs, you can let the child be in a prone position to facilitate gas expulsion. Parents can also assist the child in doing exercises like lying on their back, sitting up, or performing "bicycle kicks" in the air to promote intestinal peristalsis. Additionally, clockwise abdominal massages and appropriate application of heat can help in expelling gas. When there is a change in bowel habits, you can also advise the child to take probiotics to regulate intestinal flora, which aids in gas expulsion and bowel movement. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a physician, according to the actual situation.)

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Written by Quan Xiang Mei
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The difference between infant lactose intolerance and colic

Baby lactose intolerance is due to a lack of lactase, causing a range of symptoms, which we diagnose as lactose intolerance. These symptoms may include diarrhea and bloating, among which colic can also occur. Colic is just one of the symptoms. In many cases, such as infant lactose intolerance, severe diarrhea, and bloating, colic may occur. Colic symptoms can also arise when a child’s abdomen is exposed to cold, or other causes of intestinal diseases, such as viral or bacterial infections resulting in enteritis, may also present colic symptoms in children. Moreover, in common surgical diseases such as appendicitis, colic might also occur. Therefore, colic is merely one of the symptoms, and infant lactose intolerance is a general term for a disease.