Abbott Global

Does your baby experience colic or gas after feeding? We Asked. You Told Us

Colic and gas. In the past, many physicians and experienced baby caregivers brushed away parental concerns about baby's discomfort after feeding. This is probably what they said - "Just normal baby complaints." "Not serious." "Will soon pass." Parents walked away from the counsel deeply distressed, the cries of their little one's daily discomfort unaddressed.

Today, parents have had their say. In a recent Abbott poll, our readers weighed in and, we found that almost 8 out of every 10 respondents reported that their little one suffered from colic or gas after feeding.

Based on a poll of 205 Abbott parents | Start Date: 25 July 2011 | End Date: 11 November 2011

So, do you want to continue to grit your teeth and bear with the cries of your young child? Or, do you want to seek out good care advice and gentle feeding options for the delicate and maturing tummy?

Why do some young ones experience colic?

Babies cry. But, when the crying is excessive, you know. Get help. Physicians say that colicky babies cry for three or more hours a day at least three days a week for three weeks or more. Colic may begin at two to three weeks and usually resolves in the first three months. Nobody knows what causes colic. While it is not a serious medical problem, it is worrisome to every parent. Sometimes baby's excessive crying may be due to his sensitivity to the protein in some milk formula.

Practical tips to deal with colic

Soothe your baby. Carry him, rock him gently. Create some 'white noise' – like the whirring of a fan, gentle music – to comfort your little one.
If you are worn out caring for baby, ask for help from family and friends. Get enough sleep and rest.
Even if you are very distressed with the crying, never shake the baby.
Talk to your baby's physician about baby's colic.

Why do some young children develop gas?

Babies suffering from gas seem fussy before or after feeding. Some hurt so much that they pull up their legs towards their chest, others have bloated abdomens. Physicians suggest that the gas could be trapped in the tummy if baby swallows too much air while feeding or because baby's immature digestive tract may not be able to digest 'lactose' – the natural sugar in milk. The lactose escapes to baby's large intestine and gets fermented producing gas and other substance, making baby feel uncomfortable.

Practical tips to deal with gas

Burp your baby more frequently during feeding.
If baby is uncomfortable, massage his tummy or gently bounce him as if he were on a car ride or in a bouncy seat.
Talk to your physician about the problem and ask for advice.

Fussiness, gas and colic. Be alert. Seek help.
When baby hurts, Mum (and Dad) hurts too. So, here is what you can do.

Be observant. After feeding, look out for any signs of discomfort in your baby.
Use the Tummy decoder to check if your observations may be a cause for concern.
Use the Comfort Diary to keep a record of baby feeding tolerance.
Print the diary and discuss it with your baby's paediatrician. Ask for a review of your baby's feed intake as well as feeding tolerance.
Follow the formula and feeding recommendation of your baby's physician.

Can a special formula help?

Breast milk is the ideal source of nutrition for young toddlers. When breastfeeding is not possible, parents may choose a formula to meet their child's nutritional needs, as may be specified by the physician.

While formulas are carefully designed for your baby's nutrition, having a digestive system that is still growing and maturing, may mean that baby may not able to digest certain ingredients well. Some ingredients in a formula – such as lactose, the type of protein, or the fat blend may be difficult for your baby to tolerate.

Similac Total Comfort^™ Follow-on and Gain Intestinal Quality Total Comfort^™ range of formulas, made up of 100% partially hydrolyzed gentle whey proteins and are lactose free. In addition, with the TummyCare EZ Digest^™ System they are scientifically formulated to help children with fussy tummies and to prevent atopic dermatitis in children with family history.

Now Available: