If you’re a parent or a parent-to-be, you may have heard of colic from friends but not know what it actually is.
This is not unusual because actually there are many questions about what causes it and why some babies get it but others don’t. What we do know is that colic is when an otherwise healthy baby cries excessively but for no obvious reason, like being tired, having a dirty nappy or being hungry. This is a different type of crying which might go on for hours at a time, usually in the evening.
The NHS says if your baby cries for more than three hours a day, for three days a week during the afternoons and evenings, then this is a sign of colic. The crying will sound different to your baby’s other cries, and may be more intense and continuous. Your baby may be difficult to soothe or they might clench their fists and go red, be very windy or bring their knees up to their tummy or arch their back.
Colic can start when your baby is a few weeks old and may last until they are around four months old. It usually goes away on its own but it can be very worrying and exhausting for parents.
What causes colic?
As mentioned, there is no definite cause of colic and it can be triggered by a number of different factors. Colic expert Becky Palmer, from Colic SOS, says these could include your baby having an immature digestive system, reflux or allergies.
Palmer says another common cause is a baby swallowing air. “The air bubbles sit in the stomach, causing the baby to become uncomfortable, irritable, bloated, (with) flatulence and colic is often associated with hours of crying,” she explains. Bottle-fed babies are more likely to experience colic because of the air retained inside the bottle. But breastfed babies can also suffer from colic too. This is why it’s important to wind an infant during and after a feed to dispel the gas they’ve swallowed.
What can I do to help my baby?
Your baby should not need medical attention if they have colic but there are some things you can do to help soothe them:
- Hold and cuddle your baby when they’re uncomfortable
- Wind them after feeds
- Try to hold your baby more upright when feeding to stop them swallowing air
- Rock your baby on your shoulder
- Give them a warm bath
- Try baby massage
Anti-colic bottles
Most well-known baby brands sell anti-colic bottles which have been designed to remove the excess air bubbles from inside the bottle and the teat. Features to look out for when choosing a bottle are a valve or vent system. A slow flow teat can stop a baby from drinking too fast and choking or gulping air during a feed. If a baby can feed at a steady pace then this can reduce the chance of them getting wind or tummy pain. But your baby will probably still need winding after a feed, even if fed from a bottle with a vent or valve.
Babies can be notoriously fussy when it comes to bottles, especially if you are making the switch from breastfeeding or are combi-feeding. This means it may take a bit of time before you find the right bottle for your child. Many baby brands sell bottle multi-packs but before you fork out for these, test out a few different ones to see if they make a difference when it comes to your baby’s colic or wind. It’s also worth looking for bottles that are dishwasher safe and have a wide-neck so they can be easily hand-washed.
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MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic Self-Sterilising Bottle
The MAM bottles are really popular with parents for many reasons. Their teats have a unique flat shape which mimics the shape of a mother’s breast during breastfeeding. The teat is made from the brand’s trademarked SkinSoft silicone which fits comfortably into a baby’s mouth and can make switching from breast to bottle less stressful if that’s something you’re trying.
The main anti-colic feature of these bottles is the valve in the base which stops air bubbles from forming and the liquid from foaming when you shake it up. This means your baby will have a smooth drinking experience and will hopefully not swallow much air.
Another reason why these bottles are a hit with parents is that they are self-sterilising. All you need to do is fill the base with 20ml of water, put the teat on top and then the bottle and lid over the teat. Microwave all components together for three minutes, abd the bottle is sterilised. This is a winner if you’re short on time or don’t want a large steriliser taking up space in your kitchen. Families will also love the cute animal designs on the sides of the bottles.
Buy now £20.64, John Lewis
Nanobébé Flexy Silicone Baby Bottle
Nanobébé is a newer baby brand than others we’ve included in this roundup, many of which have been around for decades, or more. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t know what they’re doing when it comes to bottle feeding. The Nanobébé Flexy Silicone bottles have had rave reviews from many parents.
The bottles are squeezably soft with a stable, not tipping base. The slow flow teats have three vents and a non-collapsible design so babies can achieve the perfect latch. These bottles are easy to clean and don’t come with the extra task of washing internal vents.
Parents have said the bottles, which come in grey, white, turquoise and pink are stylish and practical. They are available in 150ml and 270ml and are dishwasher and microwave safe. One thing adults should be aware of is that the brand recommends warming the milk before you put it in the bottle because silicone is a naturally heat-resistant material.
The only downside parents mention with these bottles is that the volume numbers on the side can be hard to read, especially at night.
Buy now £18.99, Nanobébé
Lansinoh Baby Bottle with NaturalWave Teat
Lansinoh are an expert when it comes to feeding a newborn. Breastfeeding mothers swear by its lanolin nipple cream which soothes sore nipples in the early weeks of feeding your baby.
The brand’s bottles come with trademarked NaturalWave teats which they say reduce nipple confusion and allow your baby to control milk flow. These bottles are available in glass or BPA-free plastic and 160ml and 240ml capacity. The reason we’re recommending them for babies with colic is because they come with an Anti-Colic Air Ventilation System which is designed to reduce the baby’s intake of air.
Lansinoh also has a range of teats for different flows as your baby grows.
Buy now £6.00, Amazon
Dr Browns Options+ Anti-Colic Glass Bottle
Dr Browns is a brand which comes up frequently when speaking to parents and carers about the best bottles to use with babies with colic. Its bottles feature a unique design which includes a removable internal vent. The vent is designed to create 100 per cent vacuum-free feeding which the brands says is clinically proven to help reduce wind-related colic.
Another feature of these bottles is that its teats are contoured to be similar to a real breast to reduce nipple confusion and there is a range of teats suitable from birth upwards. The fact that the vent system can be easily removed means these bottles can continue to be used once your baby has outgrown colic.
Buy now £23.68, Amazon
Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic Baby Bottle
The Tommee Tippee anti-colic bottles boast its own technology for reducing wind, reflux and discomfort from colic. The brand has a breast-like shaped teat which it says will help babies get a good latch and reduce their air intake while feeding. Similar to the Dr Browns bottles, their anti-colic bottles have a ‘triple-vented wand’ which is designed to draw the air out of the milk.
The difference from the other bottles is that the wand also has a built-in heat sensing strip to reassure parents that the milk is a safe temperature to give to their baby. The wand will turn from blue to pink when the milk is too hot. The bottles are also compatible with the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep machine which can produce a formula feed at body temperature in two minutes.
Tommee Tippee bottles are marketed as being leak proof when the screw ring, teat and lid are on properly. They are also 100 per cent BPA free and suitable from birth.
Buy now £18.99, Boots
Philips Avent Anti-colic bottle
These bottles are some of the more expensive on this list but parents have said that using them significantly reduced their baby’s colic symptoms. The AirFree vent will help a baby swallow less air. An added feature is that the teat stays full of milk, even when horizontal, which also reduces a baby’s intake of air.
The design is easy to assemble and clean and the ribbed effect on the teat prevents it from collapsing which makes for more comfortable feeding.
Buy now £15.23, Amazon
NUK First Choice+ Anti-Colic Bottle with Temperature Control
NUK is a baby brand which has been trusted by families for decades. Their products are designed to make life easier for babies and parents and this includes their Choice+ Anti-Colic bottles. NUK bottles have a uniquely shaped teat which has been made to simulate the shape of a mother’s nipple when breastfeeding.
The anti-colic features on this bottle include a tube which separates the air and milk which means less air will go into babies’ tummies. The teat for these bottles has an air valve which stops it from contracting when your baby feeds and should mean they don’t swallow air and have to release the teat.
The temperature control is a great extra feature which will give parents added reassurance when feeding their child. The normally blue indicator turns white when the contents are hotter than the optimum temperature of 37C. These bottles are also BPA free and are easy to assemble and wash.
Buy now £19.99, Asda
Nuby Decorated Combat Colic Bottles
Nuby is another brand which has mimicked the shape and feel of a mother’s breast when creating their anti-colic bottles. Their teats are soft and have a slow flow which means your baby will be able to feed at a natural pace and shouldn’t swallow too much air. The teats also have three anti-colic valves which will further reduce the intake of air.
These bottles have cute designs on them and come with leak-proof sealing rings and have been developed to be easy to hold, with textured side grips. They come in multipacks or can be bought individually. They have a wide neck so they can be easily hand-washed and are 100 per cent BPA free and dishwasher safe.
Buy now £17.50, Nuby
Colic support
Soothing a baby who is crying inconsolably can be very tiring and stressful. If you are finding it overwhelming, make sure you ask for some support from family and friends. It is important that you also look after yourself, as well as your baby.
Speak to your health visitor or GP and you can also get support from the Cry-sis helpline on 0800 448 0737.
