What is Colic?
Dr. Harvey Karp's Theory and the Ten Universal Truths of Colic
The word colic itself is derived from the Greek word kolikos, meaning large intestine or colon. Long ago, parents believed that intestinal pain caused their babies' distress.
However, some of the modern theories as to the cause of colic range from the aforementioned intestinal pain to more modern explanations, such as maternal anxiety, brain immaturity and challenging temperament. However, as Dr. Harvey Karp, a preeminent pediatrician and an expert on the condition asserts, none of these theories alone can account for all of the ten universal truths of colic.
The Universal Truths of Colic
According to Dr. Karp, the author of The Happiest Baby on the Block [Bantam, 2003] there are 10 universal facts new parents should know about colic:
- Colicky crying usually starts at two weeks, peaks at six weeks, and ends by three or four months of age.
- Premature babies are more likely to have colic than full-term babies.
- Colicky babies have twisted faces and piercing wails, like a person in pain. Often, their cries come in waves (like cramps), and stop abruptly.
- Their screams frequently begin during or just after a feeding.
- They often double up, grunt, strain, and seem relieved by gas or pooping.
- Colic is often much worse in the evening (the “witching hour”).
- Colic is as likely to occur with a couple's fifth baby as with their first.
- Colicky crying often improves with rocking, holding, shushing, and gentle abdominal pressure.
- Babies are healthy and happy between crying bouts.
- In many cultures around the world, babies never get colic.
Thanks to many years of research and hands on experience with infants, Dr. Karp puts forth his own fairly compelling theory for the dreaded colic. In a nutshell, it has to do with the fact that the gestation for humans was lessened from one year to nine months during the stage of human evolution when the brain became larger and the head bigger. In other words, it was get out or risk perishing. While all the details are discussed in the book, the important point to retain is Dr. Karp's assertion that all babies are born one trimester too early.
Why Some Newborns Can't Cope
And while many babies are able to cope with this premature evacuation without experiencing colic, a small minority are not equipped with the self-calming capabilities necessary to deal with the outside world. They are too easily over-stimulated and do not possess the self-calming instinct observed in docile babies. What they crave are the ideal living conditions that were so thoughtfully provided for in the womb: feeding on demand and being carried at all times.
Fortunately, Dr. Karp also provides the Cuddle Cure in the second half of Happiest Baby on the Block, a calming method that parents can use to recreate womb-like conditions to soothe their colicky baby.
While Dr. Karp's theory on colic is up for contention - as are all theories surrounding colic - the ten universal truths are proven and there is no denying that the condition exists. And for the unlucky parents who must deal with it, it is the ultimate test of patience.
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