Infacol contains the active ingredient simethicone and is clinically proven to help relieve wind, infant colic and griping pain from birth onwards.  It is sugar, alcohol and colourant free with a natural orange flavour.  Infant colic is a common condition, affecting around 1 in 5 infants in the UK in their first month of life.  Although it is not a serious medical condition and usually resolves by the age of 3-4 months, it is possible to alleviate the distress caused to both infant and parent.  Any parent who experiences the distress of trying to console a baby with colic will want to help ease their baby's discomfort.



How can I tell if my baby has colic?



Your baby may have colic if she cries continuously for no specific reason and you are unable to comfort her.  Colic most commonly occurs in the late afternoon and evening; your baby will cry out in pain and may draw her knees up to her chest and go red in the face.  Her tummy may be swollen or bloated as if she has swallowed a lot of air, and she may pass wind more than usual.  Symptoms not associated with colic include diarrhoea, vomiting or a raised temperature (over 38ºC/100ºF).  If your baby suffers from any of these or if you are uncertain whether your baby is suffering from colic you should seek guidance from your health visitor, midwife or family doctor.



What is the cause of infant colic?



Despite medical research, no one is certain what causes infant colic.  A likely explanation may be the build up of trapped wind in your baby's bowel, which may cause them to cry out in pain and discomfort.



What can I do to help ease my baby's colic?



Try giving your baby Infacol- which is clinically proven to treat colic from birth onwards.  Other products used for helping to relieve the symptoms of colic are gripe waters for babies 1 month old and over and herbal remedies.  You could also try to soothe your baby by rocking her gently or taking her out for a walk in a pram.  All babies are not the same so will respond to different techniques, you should try various methods to comfort your baby and see what works best for you.



How soon should I see Infacol working?



Treatment with Infacol may provide a progressive improvement over several days, so you should see a difference in the frequency and severity of your baby's crying attacks over a period of days.



How often can I use Infacol?



Infacol can be used as often as required, before each and every feed regardless of how many times you feed your baby during the day.  Infacol's active ingredient, simethicone, does not get absorbed into your baby's body.



From what age can I give infacol?



Infacol can be used from birth onwards, unlike gripe waters, which are only suitable for babies of 1 month old, or over.



Are the symptoms of colic and lactose intolerance the same?



Whilst there are some similarities between the symptoms of colic and lactose intolerance - it is important to note that the main difference is that the lactose intolerant baby suffers from diarrhoea.  The pressure generated by lactose and lactic acid in the stomach produces an influx of water leading to a swollen abdomen and acidic diarrhoea.



If you suspect your baby may be suffering from lactose intolerance, contact your health visitor or family doctor