Research has found that many new mums are not prepared for one of the most common medical conditions affecting newborns.

Infant colic is a common problem that affects up to 1 in 5 babies, and usually begins when the infant is just a few weeks old.¹ Signs and symptoms include:

• Intense crying bouts
• Crying in the late afternoon or evening that lasts several hours
• The baby’s face is red and flushed when they cry
• The baby clenches their fists, draws their knees up or arches their back while crying

And while infant colic is not harmful to the affected baby, the effects of sleepless nights with a colicky baby on both mum and dad can be huge. Our research² shows that more than half (56%) of British mums say a lack of sleep has affected their relationship with their partner, and a further third (38%) say it has affected their relationship with their children. Sleep deprivation is also well-known for negatively impacting on concentration and mood.⁴

This is why we teamed up with Cry-Sis, the only parenting charity dedicated to supporting parents through excessive infant crying, to launch the first Infant Colic Awareness Month in September 2017. Colic Awareness Month strives to educate and support parents to ensure they can experience the joys of parenthood to the full. To get advice on excessive crying, including one-on-one phone support, visit www.cry-sis.org.uk.

References

. ¹NHS Choices, Infant Colic

. ²According to a survey of 947 British mums to children aged 0 – 5 years old, performed by Vital Research and Statistics for Infacol.

. ³NHS Tiredness and Fatigue