The mother of a 2-month-old infant complains to the nurse that the infant has been crying continuously all evening. On examination the nurse understands that the newborn is colicky

Question

Which of the following is the most common reason for the onset of colic in an infant? A) Consumption of caffeine by the nursing mother
B) Consumption of cow's milk by the nursing mother
C) Consumption of alcohol by the nursing mother
D) Frequent breastfeeding by the newborn

Answer 1

B
Feedback:
Consumption of cow's milk by the mother has been linked to colic in infants. If the baby is colicky, the mother may want to eliminate milk from her diet for 2 weeks to see if it makes a difference. Consumption of caffeine can cause the infant to be wakeful, restless, or irritable; however, it is not linked to colic in the infant. Consumption of alcohol by the mother does not cause colic; however, large quantities of alcohol in the maternal diet may reduce the nursing frequency of the infant. Frequent breastfeeding by the infant does not cause colic in the infants because the infant will regurgitate the excess milk as soon as it is consumed.