Baby Colic: All You Need to Know to Calm the Baby
Well, we are focusing on the definition of baby colic. To know what is meant by colic, think of this rule of 3.
- If your baby is crying for 3 hours a day,
- for at least 3 days a week,
- for 3 consecutive weeks.
If these three conditions are met, your child is likely to have colic.
You must first meet with your doctor to rule out any illness that may be responsible for your baby’s crying. If your baby is in good health, and colic is indeed the problem, try the tips below to soothe your baby.
Symptoms of colic
What are the other symptoms to look for?
- Intense crying episodes (sometimes with predictable daily patterns)
- Inconsistent crying episodes without apparent trigger
- Back arching, fist tightening, back to the touch and other physical / posture changes
You can not prevent colic, but you can reduce the frequency of episodes.
How to reduce baby’s colic
- Follow a clean breastfeeding regime
If you are a nursing mom, you must stop foods that can trigger the baby’s colic symptoms. Foods like eggs, shellfish, citrus, caffeine and spicy foods and dairy products though it’s not fun to give up some of your favorite foods. The immature digestive system of the baby can react to various foods. You need to eliminate these allergic foods and give them 2-4 weeks to make sure they are clear of your body and your milk.
- If you use artificial milk, change brands
Your child may react to an ingredient in his brand of milk. Some moms find that changing the brand can make all the difference.
- Make sure your baby is well rested
Try the next nap 15 minutes earlier. The goal is to make sure your baby gets the rest she needs, when she needs it. This will only help the baby’s colic symptoms.
- Silence
Some babies are comforted by movement, noise, and activity, but others require less stimulation and respond better to calm, stillness, and darkness.
- Move the baby gently
A gentle movement can be soothing, so try to rock your baby. You can put him in a baby swing, but if your baby falls asleep in the swing, it is safer to place him in the cradle.
It may be easier for your baby to settle down if you walk around the house carrying her. She prefers to be held higher, near your chest and your heartbeat.
- Try to change the position of the baby
Your baby may be most comfortable in your arms, or he may prefer a more upright position, or be on his stomach in your lap. Try different positions when he is angry to see if he prefers one posture over another.
- Take a walk with baby
If you have been indoors, a walk may help your baby. Take a walk in a stroller, or a baby carrier. New faces, sounds and smells can distract him, and the fresh air and rhythmic movement of the walk can calm him down enough to make him fall asleep.
- You can wrap the baby in warm clothes
Wrapping your baby comfortably in a blanket or sheet can soothe it. You may try to do this during meals if he is difficult to settle in enough to eat, or wrap him before its usual collage period or before putting him to sleep.
Not only can the pads help your baby sleep, there is a good chance that it will help him stay asleep too.
- Bathing your baby
A warm bath in the middle of your baby’s colic could distract and relax him. Your baby can enjoy the rhythmic pulsations of hot water and sound.
- Give the baby something to suck
All that helps your baby to calm down is a lifeguard right now. For some babies, sucking is the best. Consider giving him a pacifier or encourage your baby to suck his finger by gently putting it in his mouth or breastfeeding him.
- Use a bottle of hot water
Some babies like the feeling of hot water against their belly. Fill a bottle of warm and cold water and wrap it in a towel. (Do not use hot water – hot for you may be too hot for your baby.) Place the bottle on your stomach and let your baby rest on you.
