How to Treat Colic
Nearly one out of every five babies suffers from colic. Colic is defined as excessive and inconsolable crying not attributable to any evident cause. If your baby cries for more than three hours a day, at least three times a week, he may have colic. It's speculated that colic is caused by abdominal pain, starting at about two weeks of age and, in most cases, subsiding by the age of three months. Whatever the cause, the effect is the same: a distraught baby and parents who are desperate to find a way to comfort him. Read on to learn more about how to treat colic.
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Instructions
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Treat Colic With Feeding Changes
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Eliminate problem foods from your diet if you are breastfeeding. Foods to avoid include beans, spicy foods, onions, garlic, cruciferous vegetables (such as cabbage and broccoli) and cow's milk, if there is reason to believe that lactose intolerance is a concern. Reintroduce foods one at a time to determine whether a particular food may be causing colic.
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Switch formula-fed babies to a different brand of formula or try soy-based products if there's reason to believe that lactose intolerance is a concern. See if colic symptoms subside after the switch.
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Reduce the amount of air the baby swallows when she is feeding by using curved bottles or those with a collapsible insert. Make sure to burp her often to reduce the pressure of the small amount of air that is inevitably ingested with her bottle.
Treat Colic With Soothing Techniques
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Swaddle your baby, wrapping him tightly in a blanket or keeping him close to your body in a sling or baby carrier. Rock him in a rhythmic motion either by moving your body slowly back and forth or by sitting in a rocking chair.
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Use a vibrating baby seat or a baby swing to gently rock the baby. Alternatively, you can place her infant carrier in proximity to a home appliance (like a dryer or washing machine) that vibrates and creates white noise when in use.
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Put the baby in the stroller and take a walk around the block. Not only can the movement soothe colic, but it also gives you a chance to relieve, through exercise, some of the stress caused by hearing your child cry incessantly.
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Place the baby face down on your lap and rub his back in slow, circular motions. Then, reverse his position and rub his tummy in the same manner.
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Provide a pacifier or finger to suck on. Babies have a strong suck reflex unrelated to nourishment, and find the action comforting.
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Tips & Warnings
Though some pediatricians will prescribe medicine to treat babies with colic, there is no research proving that it is of substantial help in calming colic.
