Colic

Causes Of Crying In The Newborn

Most babies cry in one or more of the following situations :

• Discomfort arising from :
  • Hunger. This is the most common cause
  • Wet or soiled diapers
  • Nappy rash
  • Excessive heat or cold
• Sudden stimulation of noise or light
• Unpleasant smell or taste e.g. vomitus
• Loneliness. Most babies cry for company. They need to be loved and carried. A baby will not be spoiled if he is picked up when crying
• Fatigue. Such babies should be left to sleep quietly and not be carried
• Abdominal pain/discomfort due to wind, constipation or bacterial infection of the urinary tract or the bowels, like diarrhoea.

Causes Of Colic

Colic is a poorly understood condition without clear known causes.

Some possible causes that have been suggested by doctors include :

• Psychological. The baby's mother may be too anxious or distressed and is unable to cope with looking after the baby.
• Allergy. The baby may be allergic to certain proteins in the cow's milk formula.
• Lactose malabsorption. The baby's inability to digest certain sugars may lead to poor absorption of these sugars from milk.
• Abnormal gut hormones or excessive secretion of gut hormones such as gastrin, which are normally secreted in the intestines.
• Temperament of the baby.

All these causes listed above are speculative and the actual cause of colic is not known.