How do you distinguish between colic and growth spurt?

LunaBug924 · June 2014

I'm piggy-backing on my post from the other day about DD going really long periods of time being awake and fussy. The consensus was that she was probably having her 3 week growth spurt and she was over tired.

Yesterday and all last night I just fed on demand and never let her get to the point of really crying before offering the boob and it was a much better day. Today we did the same routine ( trying to start EASY) but all morning she only took cat naps and by 3pm she was so tired and fussy again. It took another 3 hours to console her. She wasn't even eating during that time and what she did eat she spit up.

Sorry that got long. Basically my question is does this still sound like a growth spurt,or could it be colic? FTR these behaviors have been going on for 4 days. I figured a growth spurt wouldn't last as long, but I have no clue. I just want a happy baby. Any insight?

Junebug060609 · June 2014

Spurts can last up to a week.

No colic experience here.

haylo33 · June 2014

I think colic is defined as crying for more than 3 hours a day, happens at least 3 times a week and has been going on at least 3 weeks. I don't think you are there. My baby went through a growth spurt for 3 long days where all he wanted was my boob and during the day, he never really slept. He would just take quick cat naps like you described

kalette · June 2014

For DS when he is growth spurting he just wants to eat more often. So if he's cranky and other things aren't working to soothe him, I feed him and he's better.
I don't have much colic experience other than my friends baby that I watched during the day last year. He wuukd cry all day long. If he wasn't actively eating or sleeping,he was crying. And it seemed there was nothing that worked to calm him down.

whimsy515 · June 2014

No experience on colic here, but I have read a lot and was recently told by the pedi that most people and doctors can get colic and reflux confused. The spitting up after every meal sounds like reflux. If you lay LO on their back after a meal, and they arch their back and seem to be in pain or just really fussy, that is also reflux problems. I'm no expert, but it's worth looking into.

Jlokuta0308 · June 2014

I'd also suggest it may be reflux. We were having the same issues and pedi suggested it's reflux. Something to try would be keeping LO upright after eating for at least 30 minutes. Also 1 ml of maalox when baby is fussing if she settles you've put the "fire" out and it's probably reflux. We are also using rice cereal in our bottles and prescription Zantac. But elevation and maalox are a decent start.

danagmauro · June 2014

At exactly 3 weeks my Brooke cried (screamed) from 3-30-630 for 4 days straight. Nothing would stop her! The 5th day I stayed on top of her sleep schedule and made sure she napped every 2 hours at least and she hasn't had a spell since(5 weeks now) for her, over tiredness was causing the incessant crying

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How do you distinguish between colic and growth spurt?

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