Formula fed babies and colic: What to do about it, why it happens and how to hope

Colic isn’t a diagnosable illness. It’s officially defined when a baby cries (for no obvious reason like being hungry or cold) for long periods. They’ll often cry for hours at a time, and usually at the same time of day. They might also look or sound like they’re in pain, clench their fists or arch their back.


When a baby with colic cries, it’s very hard to console them. You might find yourself rocking, walking or jiggling your baby to try and soothe them – but without much success.


It goes without saying that if you have a baby with colic, you’ll be pretty desperate to figure out why they’re so upset, and how you can help them. 


Because apart from being exhausting and frustrating to deal with – you’re probably worried too. It’s not easy to see your tiny baby in discomfort, and not know why or how to help them. 


Is colic more common in formula fed babies?


No. Some people claim that it is, but others claim it’s more common in breastfed babies. 


And there might actually be some truth in both these claims. It could be that both formula and breastfed babies have colic at about the same rates, but with different peak ages. As this study suggests. 


But what actually is colic?


The most frustrating thing about colic is that no-one really knows what it is or why it happens. Though of course, when you and your baby are dealing with it – you’re certainly in no doubt that it’s very real. 


Some of the things doctors think could cause colic include:

 

  • A reaction to milk or an ingredient in their formula
  • Not enough healthy gut bacteria (or the wrong balance of gut bacteria)
  • An immature digestive system that struggles to digest milk 
  • Overstimulation – such as too much light or noise
  • Feeding too fast, especially if this causes excess gas
  • Muscle or joint pain and tension, perhaps caused by a difficult birth 

 

It’s pretty difficult to figure out what might be causing your baby’s colic. It’s not unusual for parents to spend months trying different formulas, or testing out different routines without anything much changing.

The good news is that babies do grow out of colic. It tends to peak around 6 weeks, and normally eases off by around 3 or 4 months. Though if your baby is older than 4 months, and still colicky, don’t worry. Some babies do take longer to grow out of it –anything up to 9 months is considered normal. 

The other good news is that, while you can’t cure colic, you can do a lot to make it far easier to manage.

1.   Remember that this will pass

This may sound difficult to do – as not many of us can stay calm through hours of crying and distress. And there’s no escaping the fact that caring for a colicky baby is tough. 

But every baby grows out of colic in the end. And when you’re teaching your toddler how to ride a bike, or waiting up for them to get home from their first teenage party – this will be a distant memory.

2.   Provide as much comfort as you can

Colicky babies are hard to comfort – this is part of what makes it colic. But some things may help.

Keep rooms dark, cool and quiet to avoid overstimulation – some babies love background noise and chatter, but others hate it. 

You could also try safely swaddling your baby. It’s not always helpful, but some babies find it very comforting. 

And if your baby just wants to be held, try and make that happen. This might mean dropping your housework standards for a while, or taking turns with your partner to make meals and look after older children. It could mean using a sling. 

These things aren’t overnight cures – but they can make a difference.

3.   Try a different formula 

Every formula has a different balance of ingredients – and not every formula suits every baby. So even if you’re using the same formula your friend is using without a hitch – your baby could still be reacting to something in their milk.

Starch is often included even in formula, as it can be a great source of carbs and energy. But some babies – especially younger babies – just don’t have a developed enough digestive system to cope with it. For babies under 3 months, try a starch-free, gentle stage pre formula, designed for the youngest babies.

It could also be that your baby struggles to digest cow’s milk protein. This doesn’t mean they’re allergic to cow’s milk – again, it’s simply a sign of a developing digestive system. Goat’s milk formulas contain a different type of protein (called A2, the same as in breastmilk) that many babies find much easier to digest. There’s also Holle A2 – a cow’s milk formula, but with the same easy-to-digest protein. 

Another option is a speciality formula. HiPP Comfort is designed especially for babies with colic, and has reduced lactose (in case they have a lactose intolerance). And hydrolyzed milk proteins – which is where the milk proteins are broken down, so your baby’s digestive system has less work to do.

4.   Look at prebiotics and probiotics

Breastfed babies usually get a good dose of natural prebiotics and probiotics in their milk, which helps them develop a healthy balance of gut bacteria, which in turn helps with their digestion.

Most standard, store-bought formulas don’t include pre or probiotics. Look for premium, organic formulas – which often do. Most HiPP formulas even contain prebiotics that were originally cultured from breastmilk. 

This could be particularly important if your baby was born by c-section. It’s thought that healthy gut bacteria is passed to babies during a vaginal birth, so some c-section babies don’t have enough healthy bacteria. They’re also more likely to have picked up ‘bad’ hospital bacteria. 

5.   Tweak your feeding technique


One big potential cause of colic in formula fed babies is feeding too fast, swallowing lots of air and getting too gassy as a result. 

Specialized anti-colic bottles are designed to minimize the presence of air bubbles in your baby's milk and regulate their feeding pace. You can also use smaller, slower-flow nipples. Even if your baby is in theory old enough for a medium or higher flow nipple, there’s no reason you can’t keep them on a slow flow newborn nipple. 


Paced bottle feeding is also really helpful for many babies. This means deliberately slowing your baby down when feeding, by holding them semi-upright and getting them to take breaks through each feed. This way, they don’t feed too fast and they’re less likely to take more than they need.

Want help choosing a formula to help manage colic?

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