4 weeks fussy baby: 4 Week Old Baby – Newborn Baby Tracker

Опубликовано: July 3, 2023 в 4:46 pm

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Why It Happens and What You Can Do

Fussy Baby at Night: Why It Happens and What You Can Do

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Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R. N., CCRN, CPN — By Catherine Crider on April 30, 2020

“Waaahhhh! Waaaahhh!” Just the thought of a crying baby can make your blood pressure rise. Nonstop crying is especially stressful for new parents who might not know how to make it stop!

You may have been warned about the dreaded “witching hour” — those late afternoon and early evening hours when your baby just can’t seem to settle down.

For many parents, it seems like the hours stretch on forever. But rest assured, your baby is not the only one who seems unsettled in the evening. Nighttime fussiness is common for babies.

Still new parents want to know: Why is it happening? How long will it last? And perhaps most importantly, how do you get it to stop? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with the information you need to survive (and dare we say thrive?) during this challenging time.

The following might be causes your baby is suddenly fussy in the evening:

Growth spurt hunger. As your baby goes through phases of intense growth (common growth spurts occur around 2 to 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months), they may be hungry and want to cluster feed.
Slower milk letdown. While many moms assume a fussy baby isn’t getting enough to eat, that may not always be the case. Still, your milk composition changes at night, and you may experience a slower milk flow. The change in milk volume might make for a cranky baby.
Gas. If your baby is feeling gassy, and they can’t seem to pass it out of their tiny digestive system, they may feel very uncomfortable!
Overtired baby. It’s a common misconception that keeping a baby awake longer will make them sleep longer. By the end of the day, if your little one has gone too long without a good nap they’ll be very tired. An overtired baby will have a hard time settling down.
Overstimulated baby. A baby’s underdeveloped nervous system is more sensitive to bright lights, sounds, and changes in their environment. For instance, you may notice the light of the TV in a dark room, or maybe the volume alone, makes your baby cry.
Colic. While all babies cry, if you find that your baby is crying for three hours or more, for three days a week, for three or more weeks, it’s time to see the doctor! Your pediatrician should do a thorough exam to rule out other conditions.

You may first notice your baby getting a little fussier in the evening hours when they hit 2 to 3 weeks of age. This period will likely correspond with a growth spurt and some increased cluster feeding.

For many babies the peak of evening fussiness occurs around 6 weeks. If you’re reaching that point, hold onto hope that it’s about to get better!

While there is no guaranteed time when babies outgrow the “witching hour,” it often ends around 3 to 4 months of age.

Calming a fussy baby can seem like an intricate dance that you’ll never be able to master. You may find that a technique that works today won’t work tomorrow. Fear not, though. We’ve got you covered with plenty of suggestions to try calming your fussy baby.

Wear your baby. Not only does babywearing free up your hands to finish those end-of-day tasks, but being close to your heartbeat is extremely comforting for your little one.
Take a walk. Not only can a change of environment be good for your baby, but the rhythm of walking is often a game changer. Bonus: meeting up with another adult to chat as you walk will help you keep your sanity!
Reduce stimulation. Turn down the lights, reduce noises, and swaddle your baby to make it easier for their nervous system to calm. Doing so might even convince your baby to take a short cat nap.
Give baby a massage. Touch is a great way to relax and bond with your baby. While you could incorporate oils or specific types of touch, massage is still effective when it’s very basic.
Start bath time. Water can be extremely soothing for little ones and a great distraction. Even better, you’ll have a clean baby afterwards!
Soothe with sound. Ssshhhing, soft music, and white noise can all be effective ways to soothe your little one. Don’t be afraid to experiment playing different types of music and different types of vocalists. You may be surprised by what your baby likes, and it may change from day to day!
Vary breastfeeding positions. If your baby is hungry and keeps wanting to feed, try switching up positions. Even simple changes to your position can impact milk flow and your baby’s comfort.

If your baby seems to have gas, you may want to:

Spend extra time burping baby. If your baby doesn’t burp after a few minutes of trying, it’s OK to move on and try something else!
Bicycle their legs in the air. This technique is also useful if your baby is constipated.
Try over-the-counter options. Before you consider gripe water or gas drops, discuss options with your baby’s doctor first.
Choose slow-flow bottle nipples. By adjusting the nipple flow, less air may enter your baby’s digestive system with their milk.
Change your baby’s formula. Before giving up on a beloved formula brand, you can also consider trying the same formula in a ready-made formula version, which might lead to less gas than the powdered kind.
Experiment with your diet. If your breastfed baby is showing signs of gas discomfort and you’ve tried other solutions to no avail, it may be time to consider eliminating certain foods from your diet. (Foods to consider avoiding include dairy products and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli.)

The late afternoon and early evening hours may seem very long if you have a fussy baby. Understanding the potential causes of your baby’s fussiness and trying different methods to soothe your little one will help you get through the witching hour. Remember that this, too, will pass.

Last medically reviewed on April 30, 2020

Parenthood
Baby
06 Months

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Foods – for mothers. (n.d.).
llli.org/breastfeeding-info/foods/
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2108) Colic.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/colic/symptoms-causes/syc-20371074
Pundir S, et al. (2017). Variation of human milk glucocorticoids over 24 hour period.
link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10911-017-9375-x
Sanchez CL, et al. (2013). The possible role of human milk nucleotides as sleep inducers. DOI:
10.1179/147683009X388922

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

Apr 30, 2020

Written By

Catherine Crider

Edited By

Saralyn Ward

Medically Reviewed By

Carissa Stephens, RN, CCRN, CPN

Copy Edited By

Kara Williams

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Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R. N., CCRN, CPN — By Catherine Crider on April 30, 2020

My baby fusses or cries when breastfeeding

By Kelly Bonyata, BS, IBCLC

Some babies will fuss, cry or pull off the breast during breastfeeding. There are a number of reasons why this might be happening. It’s pretty common to see this type of behavior at around 6-8 weeks, though it can occur at any time. If your baby is generally fussy (not just when nursing) see My baby is fussy! Is something wrong?

Determining the problem

Here are some of the problem-solving steps I go through when my baby is fussy at the breast or a mother asks me why her baby is fussing while breastfeeding:

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How old is baby? Most babies go through growth spurts during the first few days at home and around 7-10 days, 2-3 weeks, 4-6 weeks, 3 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, etc. Many babies are fussy during growth spurts.

Is baby working on anything new developmentally? Babies who are starting to notice the world around them can be notoriously distractible. Any kind of new developmental step that baby is working on can affect nursing temporarily, whether it be fussy nursing behavior or simply more frequent nursing.

When is baby fussing? To figure out the cause it’s helpful to pay attention to when the fussy behavior happens, both during the nursing session and during the day.

If baby is fussy right when your milk is letting down (or immediately after), there’s a good chance that the fussy nursing is related to a fast let-down. If baby is fussy before let-down, or a few minutes into nursing (and a while after let-down), then baby may be impatient for the fast flow of milk that comes with let-down. Fussing at the end of a nursing session (or what seems to be the end) may mean that baby needs to burp, or is ready to finish nursing, or just wants to suck (and doesn’t want to deal with a new let-down at this point), or wants to continue nursing on the other side or with a faster flow of milk.

If the fussy behavior is mainly in the mornings, it might be due to a faster than usual let-down if baby has just had a longer sleep period and mom’s breasts are fuller than usual. If baby is fussier during evening nursings, it may be due to the normal fussy time that most babies have during the evening. Although most babies don’t react to foods that mom eats, some do. If you eat a particular food at about the same time each day (or most days) and baby has a regular time where she fusses during nursing, try not eating that food for a week or two to see if things improve.

Does fussing occur on both sides equally or only on one side? Most moms have a faster let-down and/or a more abundant milk supply on one side than the other, so if your baby fusses more on one side, it may be due to these differences.

What else is going on with baby? Is she sick or teething? Is something new or different going on in her environment? Has she started solids or is she trying a new food? Is she exhibiting other symptoms besides the fussy nursing?

Below are discussions of some of the different things that can lead to fussy nursing behavior. Keep in mind that the problem may also be a combination of several things.

Does baby need to burp?

Many babies will cry, fuss, pull off the breast, etc. if they need to burp. Try to burp between breasts and after a feeding, but don’t worry if baby does not burp and is content. Breastfed babies overall don’t take in as much air during a feeding as bottle-fed babies do, so usually don’t need to burp as often. If baby has been crying before she nurses, or is so hungry that she nurses “frantically” or if mom has a fast let-down, baby could be taking in more air and may need to be burped more often.

Burping is usually only necessary during the first few months, though it may extend longer. Once your baby is moving more freely, she will be able to relieve the gastric gas herself. This usually will occur between the 4th and 6th month, but may be shorter in some children and longer in others.

If baby has a hard time burping, try burping more often during a feeding. The best burping position is one that applies firm pressure to the baby’s tummy. Placing baby over the shoulder way up so that there is pressure on baby’s abdomen often works well. Walking around while doing this might distract her long enough to get a good burp. You may even want to lie baby down on her stomach and burp her that way.

Growth spurt

Babies often pull off and fuss during growth spurts. Most babies go through growth spurts, sometimes called frequency days, during the first few days at home and around 7-10 days, 2-3 weeks, 4-6 weeks, 3 months, 4 months, 6 months and 9 months (more or less). More growth spurt information in this link.

Distractible baby

If baby seems to be pulling off the breast at any distraction (real or imaginary), then see The Distractible Baby.

Forceful let-down

Some babies will pull off the breast soon after let-down if mom has a forceful let-down. Baby may be frustrated by the too-fast flow of milk with let-down. A too-forceful let-down can also cause excessive gas or spitting up/vomiting. There is more information here on symptoms of and how to deal with a fast let-down reflex.

Slow let-down

Some babies get very impatient if mom has a slow let-down. There is more information here on speeding up a slow let-down reflex.

Baby wants a faster milk flow

Even very young babies can be quick to notice that pulling off, kneading the breast, etc. can cause an additional let-down, and can facilitate a faster, easier milk flow. Some babies become impatient with the slower milk flow following the initial fast flow at let-down. This may or may not be related to a slow let-down.

When a feeding begins at the breast there are drops of milk. Then when the initial let-down occurs (several seconds to a minute into the feeding), the milk flow speeds up quite a bit. At that time it may drip very quickly, squirt, or even spray. Some minutes later it slows again and the baby must continue to suck vigorously in order to elicit further let-downs. This pattern can continue through successive, multiple let-downs as long as the baby is continuing to nurse vigorously. Eventually, baby will learn that the flow will pick back up again if she’ll only continue to vigorously suck/swallow.

With bottle feeding, the flow is instant and continuous. The baby is required to work very little. Once a baby has had a bottle, especially a lot of bottles, she may begin to prefer the ease of bottle-feeding over the work of breastfeeding. She may become frustrated at the breast after the first let-down occurs and the flow of milk begins to slow.

If baby is getting bottles you might consider putting them away, at least for a while. When you must use a bottle, only use a newborn nipple for as long as baby will tolerate it so that she never gets a really fast flow of milk from the bottle, but has to work a little more to get the milk.

Sometimes babies of moms with oversupply or fast let-down will also get very used to the fast flow and object when it normally slows somewhere between 3 weeks to 3 months.

It can be helpful to do some breast compression when this fussiness starts or right before you expect it to. This will help speed up the milk flow again. Once compression stops helping, try switching baby to the other side when she begins to fuss and back and forth again (after using compression) as you need to.

Baby is done nursing for the moment

If baby is fussing after she’s been nursing for a while, and you’ve ruled out other causes, she may be in the process of changing her nursing pattern. Babies become very efficient at the breast with growth and maturity. They can milk the breast in a lot less time per feeding session than they required before. Baby’s frustration may just be a sign that she’s finished and wants to move on.

On a similar note, an occasional baby will just want to suck at the end of a nursing session and the flow of milk with let-down frustrates her. You might see if offering her a finger or pacifier (if baby is older than 4-6 weeks) to suck on during these times seems to help.

Baby prefers one side

Sometimes babies will refuse or fuss at a breast when the let-down is slower or too forceful, or the supply a bit lower. They in turn will prefer the side which lets down more/less quickly and in which the supply is more bountiful. See also: Lopsided! What can I do?

Fussy in the evening

Many young babies tend to pull off and fuss at the breast in the evening. See the article Cluster Feeding and Fussy Evenings.

Teething

Teething can cause fussy nursing behavior, as some babies experience gum discomfort with sucking. Baby might start to nurse, but then pull off and cry or fuss and not want to nurse anymore. See Teething for more information and tips.

Thrush

Frequent pulling off the breast can be a symptom of thrush.

Stuffy nose

A stuffy nose can cause fussy nursing behavior. If your baby has a stuffy nose and is having a hard time breathing and nursing at the same time, see colds & congestion.

Allergy or food sensitivity

Some babies with allergies or food sensitivities exhibit fussy nursing behavior. Often when there is a sensitivity to something in mom’s diet, baby will come to the breast hungry but when she tastes/smells something in the milk that will cause her GI distress, she pulls off, bats her head back and forth, etc. Sensitivities to foods in mom’s diet are rare. If this is the problem, you will most likely notice other symptoms, such as excessive spitting up or vomiting, colic, diarrhea, rash, persistent congestion or runny nose, or excessive gas. More information on food sensitivities in babies and links to more allergy information can be found in my article Dairy and other Food Sensitivities in Breastfed Babies.

Low milk supply

Low milk supply can cause baby to be fussy at the breast. If you feel that your milk supply may be low, see this page for more info: Increasing low milk supply.

Reflux

Reflux can result in baby being fussy at the breast. See Reflux and Breastfeeding for more information.

Tongue-Tie

Tongue-Tie can result in baby being fussy at the breast. See Breastfeeding a Baby with Tongue-Tie (Resources) for more information.

Restless baby – how to improve sleep and feeding

Restless baby does not go to bed at the “right” time, often wakes up at night and is naughty when feeding, which has a bad effect on his development. What explains poor sleep and restless behavior during meals and how to help the baby, we will find out from the pediatrician, medical consultant of the SMART-MAMA project Polina Aleksandrovna Kizino.

— Polina Alexandrovna, many young parents have a restless newborn child. What are the reasons for this?

– Restless feeding and restless sleep may or may not occur separately.

Restless sleep in infants

— It is important to understand that during the first month the baby sleeps restlessly due to physiology. It adapts to new living conditions, including the mother’s ability to establish lactation. In most cases, the baby will ask for food and fall asleep after feeding. Over time, the baby will move to longer intervals between feedings and will wake up less often.

When there are frequent awakenings

Periods of lactation crisis during breastfeeding	Nutrition is calculated based on the baby’s body weight. And the higher the weight of the baby, the more energy he needs, and therefore more nutrition. But during periods of growth spurts, the mother’s body does not have time to adapt to the increased needs of the child, and at some time the baby begins to ask for the breast more often both day and night.
Breast or bottle sucking has become an association with sleep	At three to four months, babies become very sensitive to the way they lie down. And if the baby falls asleep with the help of a breast or a bottle, then the mother will have to feed him and help him calm down.

– Such stories of restless sleep and frequent feedings are not uncommon not only at four months, but also at a year and a half, and even closer to two years, if the parents do not take any action.

Baby suckling restlessly at the breast

— If the baby behaves restlessly during feeding, the reasons are also varied:

wrong breast latch;
breast overflowing with milk;
lack of milk during lactation crisis;
abundance of gas in the intestines, etc.

Due to the variety of reasons for a child’s anxiety, it is very important for a mother to see a doctor in order to accurately determine the problem.

— At what age are children most likely to be restless?

– Everything is very individual, but several critical periods can be distinguished.

1. The first weeks of microflora formation

— After childbirth, the intestines are gradually populated first by some microorganisms, then by others. And at a time when its own microflora is not yet balanced, a newborn may have transient intestinal catarrh – loose stools, increased gas formation, anxiety.

2. Up to 4-6 months due to the inability to poop

– At this age, children still cannot coordinate all the muscles that are involved in the process of defecation, and when they urge, they cannot do anything, no matter how hard they try. You can help them, but sometimes it is better to let them learn how to empty themselves.

3. 1 month and about 4 or 6 months against the background of a lactation crisis

— Lactation crises for each woman proceed individually, so there is no need to wait for a problem at a specific time.

4. 1 month, 2, 5, 4 months, and so on, when there are growth spurts

— Anxiety is especially acute at four months, when the sleep structure is restructured: the child begins to wake up quite often. Sleep is a priority in the first year of life, and the baby needs help.

5. Mastering New Skills

– Each new skill you master brings a huge amount of experience. For example, when a child confidently begins to hold his head, he begins to see the world from a completely different angle, and, of course, this cannot but excite him. The processes of excitation in infants prevail over the processes of inhibition, therefore, during the first year of life, there are a lot of stages when the baby is restless.

Each new skill leads to the fact that for about two weeks the child practices it in sleep, while awake and at any time of eating. This, of course, can leave an imprint on the behavior of the baby.

Symptoms and signs of anxiety that parents should look out for first

Feeding anxiety

Assess for changes in stool consistency and color.
When measuring weight and height, they are not guided by exact age gains – they look at the dynamics of the weight and height indicator for a particular child.

Anxiety during sleep

It is important whether the child sleeps enough according to age. If he does not get his daily allowance, then severe anxiety can accumulate. This will affect feeding, games, and development: the child will only hang in the arms of his mother.

— How to understand that poor sleep and appetite are associated with anxiety, and not with colic or other problems?

– If the child does not sleep or eat well because of his discomfort, then there will be obvious symptoms – fever, a full tummy or other signs that need to be addressed. After that, the child will be able to sleep better and eat better.

It often happens that the baby’s stomach is all right, there is no temperature, runny nose, rash on the body, but mothers are looking for “wrong” reasons and go to a neurologist. However, at the same time, they simply forget to evaluate the diet and sleep regimen – to see if something hurts the child, whether he can withstand the feeding and sleeping regimen, whether he is gaining weight and growth well.

If the weight and height are unsatisfactory, the child may be undernourished or, more rarely, the absorption of food due to lactase deficiency or an allergy to cow’s milk proteins. Naturally, because of hunger, sleep will also be restless; there may even be a lag in development – if the situation drags on.

– Anxiety in a baby does not appear without a reason, and this is not a whim, right?

— There are reasons for any whims. It is also important to remember about the emotional and psychological background: have you played and talked enough with the child today, is it interesting for him to lie in the crib. The child is completely dependent on adults and is not even able to change the position of the body without their help.

— Does the emotional state of the parents affect the anxiety of the child?

— The emotional state of parents is a very important component in children’s well-being. The baby communicates non-verbally: he does not yet know the meanings of words, he perceives mainly emotions, catching the tone of speech, reading the facial expressions of his parents. Therefore, he knows when mom and dad are in a good mood and when they are anxious, uncomfortable, sad.

In addition, a small child sees himself through the eyes of adults who care for him and are nearby. And if the child observes that the mother is in a state of anxiety and sadness, then he adopts her mood and projects it onto himself. The baby does not yet have any markers of his own: he does not see himself in the mirror, does not realize what facial expressions he has, but fixes exactly parental emotions and begins to live them.

A very restless baby: how to help

Folk remedies	Their effectiveness has not been scientifically proven. But when a mother strongly believes in folk remedies, she begins to calm down and relax herself when using them, and her level of anxiety is removed, this has a good effect on the child.
Special preparations	If the child’s complaints have been discussed with the pediatrician and are medically proven by him after taking an anamnesis and medical tests, appropriate therapy can be prescribed. But if the child just does not sleep well, you need to build a regimen, and not take any medicine unreasonably.
Massage	Professional massage helps to get rid of, for example, excess gas in the intestines. Mom’s massage provides prolonged contact and attention, which helps the baby to relax and feel more comfortable.
Sleep and wakefulness	Normalization of sleep and wakefulness, feeding and games, if there is no pathology, helps to calm down. With a clear daily routine for the baby, everything becomes extremely predictable, which means it is calm and safe. And it’s convenient for mom: she has a certain plan of action, and she doesn’t worry about the fact that something can go wrong.
Environment	A change of location can work as a distraction if the child is in pain: he will begin to look at everything new around him and get a little distracted from pain. But sometimes, for example, against the background of severe overwork of the child, such changes can become a negative factor.

— When should parents contact a pediatrician?

— Everything is individual: some mothers cope with difficult cases on their own, and some are very worried and run to the doctor for any reason. In fact, it is very important that the mother is comfortable and calm. I always say: even if the cause of concern seems insignificant, but you are still worried, consult a doctor. Perhaps the doctor will see something that you did not notice. Of course, if the baby cries for fifteen to twenty minutes, you do not need to contact the doctors.

When to call an ambulance for a face-to-face examination of a child by a doctor:

the child is very capricious, constantly worried;
the child cries for several hours and does not calm down;
the general condition of the child differs from the daily.

— Is it possible to teach a baby to sleep peacefully all night?

– This is absolutely real and happens sooner than parents think. But you need to understand that sleeping peacefully does not mean not asking for food. Up to a year, the baby has the right to eat once or twice a night – and then sleep peacefully.

To teach a child to sleep peacefully, parents need a certain scheme and willpower. Unfortunately, often children suffer from the inconstancy of adults and do not understand what is required of them. A lot depends on parental behavior: after all, the child somehow adapts to the rules that exist in the family.

Theoretically, by the age of three, a child can “outgrow” anxiety. But even before this age, neither the baby nor the parents need constant sleepless nights. Therefore, it is easier to find the strength in yourself, build a regimen and, in a relatively short period of time, come to a good sleep.

— Why do doctors not recommend forcibly forcing a child to eat and sleep?

— Getting to sleep is difficult: the child will only be more worried. You can guess the time for laying, and then the baby will learn this skill pretty quickly.

Refusal to eat happens for a reason: the baby does not eat because of illness, high temperature, when his body is not ready to absorb food. But older children may refuse food in protest or to make their parents worried.

Therefore, instead of feeding and putting the baby to sleep by force, it is better to analyze the possible causes of poor appetite and poor sleep, to understand how to do it in such a way as to normalize the situation. You can offer your child food at a different time, in different quantities, at a different temperature, put him to bed with new rituals – you need to find an approach to him.

— What is the risk of anxiety if it does not go away with age?

– Poor night sleep, constant lack of sleep will affect the development of the nervous system. During sleep, the nervous system is more active than during wakefulness. In a state of activity, the child works on the world around him, and when falling asleep, his brain focuses its attention on the functioning of internal organs, certain nerve connections are a very fragile system that must be in balance, which is important for the health of the baby and optimal child development.

Preventive measures to help prevent anxiety in the child:

maintaining an adequate diet and sleep;
walks and water procedures;
child supervision;
the ability to quickly assess his condition and respond to his needs;
organization of a healthy life.

Usually, by the end of the first month, a mother learns to distinguish between types of crying, begins to understand what is bothering the child at a particular moment.

There can be many causes for concern in the infant, which must be differentiated together with the pediatrician during the examination in order to rule out any disease in the first place. But the restless state of the baby in the daytime or at night largely depends on the psychological state of the mother and the relationship of the parents. The child does not know how to regulate his condition. It is a big mistake to think that he will eat, sleep and calm down himself. The task of parents is to organize an adequate regimen of feeding, walking and sleeping so that the child has a comfortable state. Warm emotional contact with the baby is also important.

*The ideal food for an infant is mother’s milk. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months. MAMAKO® supports this recommendation. Before introducing new foods into your baby’s diet, consult with a specialist.

Why the child does not sleep well | Why does the child often wake up

Often, newborn babies do not sleep well at night. The fact is that at a very early age, superficial sleep prevails over deep phases, so children often wake up. The physiological need for feeding may also be the reason for nocturnal awakenings.

Indeed, a child’s good sleep indicates his health. And if a newborn does not sleep well, often wakes up, cries, this alarms the parents, and they seek help from a doctor. Parents of young children are especially often worried, because not being doctors, they cannot be sure of the health of the little man, whom you cannot ask: “What happened? Does anything hurt?”

Intestinal colic in a baby is not a pathology, but a natural reaction of the child’s body to new living conditions.

How can I help my baby cope with colic?

It is necessary to use a probiotic for children, containing a complex of beneficial bacteria that help reduce the risk of dysbiosis in infants and normalize the intestinal microflora from birth.

In the first months after the birth of a baby, parents face many difficulties, and abdominal colic in a child is a common problem, the consequences of which are restless sleep. Severe abdominal pain in infants is considered by many as an unpleasant, but natural phenomenon. In fact, there are ways to help the child in such a situation and even prevent colic. What to do?

Symptoms and signs of colic in newborns

Colic is severe pain in the abdomen due to a buildup of gas. Their cause is an imbalance in the intestinal microflora. It can be difficult for young mothers to understand what is happening with the child: the baby is worried and crying for an unknown reason. However, there are some signs that make it possible to recognize colic. Their signs include:

a characteristic posture – the fists are tightly compressed, the legs are pulled up to the stomach;
redness of the face;
restless sleep and frequent crying;
bloating – it becomes hard;
watery mucus stools;
frequent regurgitation and flatulence.

Causes of colic in children

Most often, abdominal colic in a child does not appear immediately after birth, but at the age of three to four weeks. By one and a half to two months, the attacks become especially acute. What are the reasons for their appearance?

The fact is that during the first days of life, the baby encounters bacteria that are completely unfamiliar to his immune system.

Such bacteria enter the child’s body from the environment, and it is impossible to avoid this, and it is not necessary. Among hundreds of these microorganisms, opportunistic bacteria are necessarily present – those that normally do not harm us, but under certain conditions can actively multiply and cause malaise. The baby’s body is an ideal environment for such bacteria. Babies do not yet have beneficial intestinal microflora, their defense system is just being formed, too few enzymes are produced for proper digestion.

Therefore, dysbiosis occurs – an imbalance in the intestinal microflora. The baby experiences discomfort, the stool becomes watery or mucous, the baby does not sleep well.

Colic is a common problem in babies under the age of four months.

Fortunately, often these symptoms go away on their own after about two weeks, without causing any particular trouble to either the child or the mother.

The baby’s digestive system gradually adapts, the number of lacto- and bifidobacteria grows, these “little defenders” restrain the growth of pathogenic microorganisms.

However, sometimes everything does not go according to plan: the formation of the correct microflora is late, and the child develops colic.

Why is this happening?

Doctors identify several risk factors, including prematurity, infectious diseases, taking antibiotics, artificial feeding, and prolonged stay of the child separately from the mother. The more the baby is in contact with the mother, the faster his immune system “learns” to interact with the outside world. Allergies can also affect the occurrence of colic. Air entering the stomach also plays a role – this happens during feeding if the baby does not grasp the breast correctly. However, even more often air enters the gastrointestinal tract with artificial feeding.

Normal intestinal microflora in a child is very important: it not only participates in metabolism and promotes proper development, but also performs a protective function, forming immunity.

What is the treatment for colic?

Can you help a child with colic? Of course, however, the approach should be comprehensive and systematic:

№ Proper nutrition of mother. If rash, constipation, or too frequent stools are added to colic, there are reasons to suspect an allergy. Everything that the mother eats indirectly enters the child’s body. The main “suspects” are eggs, soy, fiber-rich vegetables, some dairy products, hot spices, nuts. At the same time, everything is very individual, so it is necessary to consult a doctor, identify the foods that cause problems, and temporarily exclude them from the mother’s diet. In addition, it is advisable for lactating women to take probiotic preparations, since the maternal microflora has a significant effect on the baby’s body. Probiotics promote the growth of beneficial microflora, which suppresses pathogenic microorganisms.

Proper feeding technique. It is important to ensure that the baby tightly grips the breast during feeding (not only the nipple, but also the halo of the breast). And if the baby is bottle-fed, you need to select a nipple of a suitable size and shape with a hole that will “give” a comfortable portion of the mixture at a time, and hold the bottle at an angle of 45 0.

Change of posture. The more time a child spends lying down, almost without movement, the higher the risk of developing colic. After feeding the baby, it should be worn on the shoulder in an upright position for some time – so the swallowed air will come out without entering the intestines.

Gymnastics and massage. Simple exercises, such as alternately bending the legs to the stomach, and a gentle circular massage of the tummy will help you quickly get rid of gases.

Heat. A heating pad or warm bath can greatly relieve the painful condition. The heat relieves tension and relaxes the muscles.

Probiotics. Preparations containing live bifidobacteria and lactobacilli are a quick and radical solution to the problem of colic. They normalize the intestinal microflora and help the baby and mother to overcome the difficult period of adaptation of the gastrointestinal tract without difficulty.

Probiotics for intestinal dysbiosis

Colic in babies is very often the result of dysbiosis – a lack of beneficial bacteria in the body that help digestion. The intestinal microflora of a child reaches maturity at about two and a half years: by this age it is already similar to the intestinal flora of an adult.

Infancy is the most important period when the formation of flora can be influenced and, therefore, to optimize the development of the baby. You can help the growth of the “correct” microflora by taking probiotics – preparations containing beneficial bacteria. In the early period, it is important to select children’s forms of funds – drops with a complex composition containing both bifidus and lactobacilli. Both types of bacteria are present in our intestines, their ratio in the body is individual, however, both are necessary for the formation of intestinal microflora and proper digestion.

Moreover, bifidobacteria and lactobacilli have different functions. Lactobacilli help protect the baby from food allergies and atopic reactions, normalize stools and relieve diarrhea, strengthen the defense system of the child’s body. Bifidobacteria are essential for proper absorption of nutrients, healthy intestinal motility, the synthesis of many vital vitamins and the formation of the natural microflora of the gastrointestinal tract.

Both types of bacteria affect not only digestion, but also the formation of the child’s immunity and the rate of weight gain. They prevent the appearance of colic, which means that the baby will be able to develop and rest calmly.

The use of probiotics from the very first days of a baby’s life allows you to completely avoid colic, bloating, indigestion and allergic reactions. Of course, this is not a guarantee, but the risk of all these troubles will be many times less, because you will form a healthy intestinal microflora in a child in advance.

What to give the baby to normalize the intestinal microflora?

If you need to choose the right treatment for your baby, you should pay attention to probiotics. The products are designed to combat colic in babies, improve digestion and form a healthy microflora. Lactobacillus (Lactobacillus rhamnosus) reduces the risk of dysbiosis and allergies, helps to cope with colic, works as a prevention of diarrhea in babies who are treated with antibiotics, and strengthens the body’s defense system.