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PEDIATRICS SERVICES

Diagnosis & Treatment

Colic

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How is Colic Diagnosed?

How is Colic Diagnosed?

To diagnose colic, your pediatrician will inquire about your baby’s symptoms and health history. They may also perform a physical examination and listen to the heart, lungs, and abdominal sounds to rule out another reason for the prolonged crying such as an allergy, esophageal reflux, or infection.

Your physician may try to rule out possible causes of colic, including:

  • Esophageal reflux
  • An infection
  • A food allergy

How is Colic treated?

How is Colic treated?

There is no “cure” for colic. The goal is to comfort and soothe the child and to practice self-care to avoid frustration and fatigue.

Some proactive suggestions that could help with soothing a colic baby may include:

  • Watch your diet if nursing. Try eliminating caffeine, dairy products, onions, and other potentially irritating foods.
  • Talk to your pediatrician about a possible food allergy as an underlying cause, or about switching your baby’s formula if other soothing techniques have not worked.

FAQs

FAQs

Colic will go away on its own, usually by the time a baby reaches 3 months of age, in some cases by 6 months.

Colic can start when a baby is around 2 to 5 weeks old.

Your baby may have colic if they are fussy and crying for no apparent reason for several hours a day, multiple days in a row. Colicky babies typically cry from 6 pm to midnight.

Any baby can develop colic. Since colic could be due to swallowing too much air, hold your baby upright when feeding. If bottle feeding, try a fast-flow teat to reduce the amount of air being swallowed.

Get Care

Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Colic treatment

Having a baby with colic can be exhausting. At NewYork-Presbyterian, our pediatricians can help identify the signs of colic, and offer compassionate expertise on how to manage symptoms while keeping your sanity.

Contact our caring pediatric team at NewYork-Presbyterian for an appointment or consultation.