Col·ic /ˈkälik/ noun
Severe, often fluctuating pain in the abdomen caused by intestinal gas or obstruction in the intestines and suffered especially by babies.

Infants with colic are typically otherwise healthy babies, which makes prolonged crying that much more difficult for parents to deal with. Colic usually presents as periods of inconsolable crying, often at night (sometimes called the “witching hour”), in newborns and infants under 4 months old. According to the Mayo Clinic, “episodes of colic usually peak when an infant is about 6 weeks old and decline significantly after 3 to 4 months of age.” 

Colic is not a disorder. Colic is a symptom.

Meaning that there is typically a cause—often excessive gas—that is causing pain. The digestive tract of an infant is brand new and is still going through major developmental changes, especially in the first year of life. 

However, that doesn’t mean that you have to just grin and bear it as a parent or just wait for them to grow out of it. There are other options that can help console baby (and you!). Chiropractic care is a safe and effective alternative option to help infants with colic symptoms.^1,2 A pediatric chiropractor will perform a thorough newborn screen and may find a cause for colic symptoms. 

Potential causes of colic that a trained chiropractor can help deduce:

• Subluxation: The birth process, though beautiful, can be traumatic for some infants and can cause spinal or cranial subluxations (meaning the spine is misaligned). Subluxation in the cervical spine and cranium can cause postural preferences or even difficulty with latching. Subluxation of the thoracic or lumbosacral spine can cause slower digestion and constipation concerns.
• Ties: Another game-changer can be the presence of a tongue tie or a lip tie. This is when the attaching skin (frenulum) underneath the tongue or between the lip and the gumline is too short. If baby has a tie, it can restrict ability for proper lip flare and tongue suction while baby is creating a latch. Latch is so important! A poor latch creates a poor seal around the nipple which causes baby to suck in air with every feed. Gas and discomfort ensues. Your pediatric chiropractor may be able to help with latch concerns, or otherwise connect you with the appropriate professional—in this case, a lactation consultant or IBCLC. Read more about signs of a good latch here. 
• Food Sensitivity: Colic can present with a food sensitivity—most commonly dairy (either mom is consuming dairy and passing to baby via breastmilk or baby is consuming cow’s milk formula). This doesn’t necessarily mean that baby is allergic to the food, but that baby has had too much and needs a break or needs limited exposure. Some breastfeeding mothers have reported a noticed improvement in baby’s temperament in as little as 3 days after removing dairy from their own diet, though it can take upwards of 2-3 weeks for food sensitivities to leave the system. Read more about dairy and other food sensitivities in breastfed babies here. This isn’t the answer for every child with colic, but worth a try before interceding with medication.

Chiropractic adjustments of infants are extremely gentle and very safe. If you have questions about chiropractic care for infants or you want to find a pediatric chiropractor near you, search for them through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. 

Resources:

1. Alcantara J, Alcantara JD, Alcantara J. The chiropractic care of infants with colic: a systematic review of the literature. Explore (NY). 2011;7(3):168-74.
2. Wiberg JM, Nordsteen J, Nilsson N. The short-term effect of spinal manipulation in the treatment of infantile colic: a randomized controlled clinical trial with a blinded observer. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1999;22(8):517-22