Colic & Irritable Baby Syndrome

Infantile colic affects up to 1/3rd of infants usually in the first few weeks of life and resolves itself before six months of age. It has no apparent known cause.

It represents as a constantly irritable baby that has a persistent and most often violent cry for no apparent reason in an otherwise healthy infant.

The babies may arch backwards in pain, or draw their knees up to their chest. They may kick, flail and tighten their fists and appear to be in distress. The crying is usually unaffected by parent’s attempts to comfort their baby.

While many babies exhibit fussy behaviour, the recognised criteria for colic is based on Wessel’s rule of threes:

• Crying lasting at least 3 hours a day
• For at least 3 days a week
• For at least 3 weeks in the first 3 or 4 months

Irritable Baby Syndrome presents as an irritable baby that does not meet the criteria of colic. The infant is generally difficult to calm, only content to be held, can be inconsolable even when physiological needs have been met, usually cries more often than a content baby and sleeps poorly for relatively short periods.

The irritability usually lasts longer than the duration of colic.

All the Chiropractors at Living Chiropractic have undergone further post graduate paediatric studies to best help our little patients.

Colic and Irritable babies are the most common reason for parents bringing their infants to see us.

Chiropractic restores normal alignment and movement to a misaligned vertebrae that may have occurred during the birth process.

*Klougart N, Nilsson N, Joacobsen J, Infantile colic treated by chiropractors: a prospective study of 316 cases. JMPT 1989;12(4):281-8

*Miller, J.E. and H.L. Phillips (2009). “Long -term effects of infant colic: a survey comparison of chiropractic treatment and nontreatment groups.” Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics 32(8):635-638.