CHILD HEALTH

Promoting Health, Growth and Development in Children and Young People

Promoting Health, Growth and Development in Children and Young People

Part A

Although the crying baby gets colic at any time, the first thing parents need to do is to maintain peace within themselves and strive to create a quiet home. A baby with colic tends to be sensitive to any stimulation. If people around the baby are worried, or anxious then the baby can perceive and mourn even more than before. Each child works differently. Some find comfort in being involved in a blanket and warmth, while others prefer to be free and have light clothing. Helping a baby with colic is a matter of experimentation and observation (Lester 2006, pp. 131-192). It is significant to test different resources, and see their reaction, and thereafter, adopt or dismiss the action taken. In case parents are not able to deal with the issue immediately, then they need to use some general tips that can distract the baby to calm down, especially during the acute phase of colic (Stoppard 2006, pp. 55-96).

When a child is born, all its systems and organs begin to work in new ways. However, the little body of a child takes time to adapt to changing conditions. The child in the present study shows an immaturity of the gastrointestinal digestion of food, which can cause intestinal cramps in a child. These are the cramps, which often occur in newborns (Bee & Boyd 2007, pp. 93-117). Parents, when faced with the situation and manifestation of colic, get scared and think that something is wrong with their child. In fact, colic in infants is not pathology, but it is a physiological phenomenon. When the work of the gastrointestinal tract becomes more advanced (3-4 months), colic comes to an end, and parents will only remember the initial few months of the infant's life (Campbell 2007, pp. 455-459).

How to recognize

The infant in the current case may have colic as the symptoms indicate. The infant appears to be in good health, which is a female, gaining weight, and remains active. In addition, the baby feeds well along with regular wet nappies and opening bowels regularly. However, the baby appears to cry excessively especially in the evenings and draws her legs up (Cleaver & Walker 2004, pp. 81-90). This shows that the child may have colic (Lester 2006, pp. 131-192). It is possible that the baby reacts to pain in the stomach, which makes her draw her legs and press them to her stomach. It is essential not to confuse colic with some other health issues (Needlman 2009, pp. 246-304). As a result, it is essential to take a look at the child, if she moves her head or wave her hands. In such situations, it is most likely that the pain is associated with the upper part of the body (for example, it can hurt the stomach). The reaction of children to colic may be different - from rough to very ...