Comparison of the effect of massage and probiotic consumption on infantile colic: A randomized clinical trial

Infantile colic is a stressful tension for the baby and parents, whose cause and certain treatment are still unknown. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effect of massage and probiotic consumption on infantile colic.

 This clinical trial was conducted in Tehran’s Children Medical Center in 2020-2021, and 75 colicky infants were included in the study based on ROM IV criteria and assigned into two groups of massage and probiotics. A total of 64 infants (34 in the massage group) and 30 in the probiotics group) completed the study. The duration of the intervention was 14 days. The first group received abdominal massage with olive oil twice a day, and the second group received probiotic drops, five drops a day. The study tool was the Barr Child Daily Measurement Scale. The information related to colic measurement, including the average time of colic crying, sleep, and frequency of defecation was analyzed within and between groups on days 1, 7, and 14.

Abdominal massage and probiotic consumption both reduced infantile colic (P<0.05), but the massage group had more reduction than the probiotics group (P<0.05).

Considering that the massage method was more effective in controlling colic, using massage is recommended for the care of infants with colic, which is a non-drug, safe and simple method and can be easily taught to parents by nurses.