Infant Colic

In medical terms "colic" is defined as "persistent inconsolable paroxysmal crying in otherwise healthy infants aged two to sixteen weeks old." It is presumed to be as a result of abdominal pain. There is an associated "rule of three" which gives the following criteria;-

1. Spasms of crying lasting up to three hours.
2. Occurring up to 3 days every week.
3. For Three weeks

Excessive crying is the main feature although some infants cry "excessively" in the evening hours as a non specific reaction to any number of stimuli. This does not necessarily signify colic. It may peak at 6 weeks of age and may simply be a normal phase for the infant to go through.

Infantile colic is considered to be a self limiting condition which resolves in 90% of children within the first four months. 95% of cases resolve by six months. There are many theories about the cause of colic. The most commonly held beliefs are that colic is caused by;-

1. Excessive wind or gas
2. Lactose intolerance
3. Reflux
4. That it is behavioural and  a result of inadequate parent infant interaction which may be due to a difficult maternal experience or a temperamental infant.

When diagnosing Colic there are other things which should be excluded. Parents know their baby best and if they are concerned, then it is important that they are taken seriously. There are a variety of treatments for colic and these vary from changing the infants feeds, to drug treatments which must be prescribed by a doctor.

If you think your child has colic take breaks by using a baby sitter or extended family. Respond quickly to your child's  cry as infants take in large amounts of air when left to cry. Sooth your infant, offer a comforter or dummy as a soothing mechanism. Skin to skin contact can also be soothing and reassuring. Some infants benefit from rocking. There are over the counter solutions which work well for some infants.

Allergy and Intolerance

Food allergy is when the body reacts to certain foods by an abnormal immune system reaction. Some reactions such as "hives" or a red skin rash, swelling of the tongue or lips, happens very quickly.

Other reactions include eczema, vomiting or constipation may be delayed. Reactions can range from mild to severe and there may be overlap between fast and delayed reactions.

Food intolerance happens in a more delayed way, often occurring hours or even days after eating certain foods.The immune system is not involved in this reaction, therefore it is not life threatening and cannot cause anaphylactic shock. Typical symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting.

Avoiding or reducing the intake of allergenic foods during pregnancy and breast feeding is not proven to prevent an infant from developing food allergies.

The ideal time for starting to introduce solid foods to an infant is after 17 weeks,(4 months) and before 26 weeks (6 months) based on the needs of the mother and child.

Less hypersensitivity has been demonstrated in infants who are weaned before 6 months but there is no ideal time on which all "experts" are agreed.

The Importance of play

Play is the way children learn. In the past many generations lived together, either under one roof or close together in the community and there were many opportunities for play. Now parents want their children to play at home so playing opportunities with others are fewer.

Children with access to a wide variety of toys are more likely to be intellectually stimulated and challenged. They reach higher levels of intellectual development regardless of age, sex, racial or social class.

Toys that stimulate mental development are appropriate to the child's abilities, responsive to the child's movements and give feedback when manipulated.Whether playing alone or with others, quietly or with enthusiasm play is the way that children explore their world and use their imaginations.

A baby's first toys are important in teaching about size, shape, colour and texture. The availability of toys in infancy is strongly related to the child's IQ at 3 years of age. In the first year babies respond to bright colours and gentle sounds.

Musical toys and mobiles are ideal. At first babies cannot co-ordinate their hand and eye movements so all shape and feel is learned about through mouthing the object.

As they gain co-ordination an activity mat is good for exploring textures and shapes.

Half the waking hours of a toddler are devoted to play so toys that move, and stimulate the imagination, such as play sets, toy vehicles, soft toys and puppets are popular.

An active toddler needs toys for physical play, toys they can sit on, push or pull. Toys that are responsive to movements hold the child's attention. Increasing the attention span is important for reading.

Pretend play is important for 3-5 year olds. This is how new skills are developed, language being one of these. As children gain confidence and social skills they enjoy play with other children.

This is when role playing and fantasy games help because these are the things which help social and emotional development.

Realistic toys such as dolls, action figures, household items, things which resemble everyday people and objects help children to understand the world.

Active play on swings, slides and climbing frames encourages physical development, co-ordination and balance. As they develop logic and are able to concentrate for longer games with rules like "lotto" matching games and memory games become more interesting.

One of the joys of being a parent or grandparent is the opportunity to play with children. It is the ideal setting for getting to know each other while providing a foundation for the child's future, raising the child's self esteem and happiness. While playing adults are both teachers and learners. At all times they are role models. Shared playtime is an opportunity for mutual enjoyment and discovery.

Have you played with your child today?