| It can sometimes be difficult for a parent to understand | | | | even aware it is happening. In babies it generally |
| whether the baby has colic or reflux (and even GERD) | | | | occurs from immaturity of the LES (Lower |
| since some of the symptoms (eg. poor sleep, constant | | | | Esophageal Sphincter) which is the muscle between |
| crying) can be similiar. It's also extremely important to | | | | the stomach and esophagus. |
| rule out reflux as a cause of this crying, as it's | | | | Some common symptoms of uncomplicated reflux |
| becoming widely acknowledged that many cases of | | | | can include: |
| colic are actually undiagnosed and untreated cases of | | | | *constant or sudden crying or colic like symptoms |
| reflux. In these cases, simply treating the reflux may | | | | *irritability and pain |
| eliminate the colicky behavior. | | | | *poor sleep habits typically with frequent waking |
| The easiest way to determine whether a baby has | | | | *arching their necks and back during or after eating |
| colic or reflux is to look at the definitions and | | | | spitting-up or vomiting |
| symptoms of each. Then compare them to your child's | | | | *wet burp or frequent hiccups |
| symptoms. | | | | *frequent ear infections or sinus congestion |
| COLIC | | | | Your child does not need to exhibit all of these |
| Colic can be defined as uncontrollable, extended crying | | | | symptoms, in fact, only having one of the above could |
| in babies who are otherwise healthy and well-fed. All | | | | mean they have reflux. It does not; however, mean |
| babies cry, but when they cry for more than three | | | | they need treatment. If your child is showing one or |
| hours a day, three to four days a week, they are said | | | | more of the above symptoms but is otherwise happy |
| to have colic. | | | | and healthy then some simple lifestyle modifications will |
| Symptoms of Colic | | | | likely make life better until they outgrow it. Visit for |
| The main symptom is continuous crying for long | | | | more info on treatments. |
| periods of time. This crying can occur at any time of | | | | GERD |
| day but it usually gets worse at night. It's not believed | | | | In contrast, GER (Gastro Esophageal Reflux) is |
| that colic is caused by pain although a colicky baby | | | | referred to as GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux |
| may look uncomfortable or appear to be in pain. They | | | | Disease) when complications arise. GERD is a |
| may lift their head, draw their legs up to their abdomen, | | | | pathological process and the complications can be |
| pass gas and become red-faced. Poor sleep habits is | | | | typical (failure to thrive, feeding and oral aversions, |
| also common. | | | | esophagitis, etc) or atypical (wheezing, pneumonia, |
| REFLUX | | | | chronic sinusitis, etc). Patients with GERD have |
| The term reflux is a shorter way of referring to GER | | | | complications arising from their GER that necessitate |
| (Gastro Esophageal Reflux) and is simply defined as | | | | medical intervention. GERD is also referred to as |
| the backward flow of stomach contents up the | | | | "Pathogenic GER". It is estimated that approximately |
| esophagus. GER is a physiological process that | | | | one in three hundred children will present symptoms of |
| happens to everyone-young and old-from time to time, | | | | GERD and is more common in children with |
| particularly after meals and many times we are not | | | | neurological impairments. |