Any parent whose baby has suffered from colic
can tell you that colic is one of the most excruciating experiences ever
imaginable. Nothing is worse than seeing one’s baby in pain and not being
able to help take it away. Finding relief for colic quickly becomes a top
priority. There are many different colic remedies that may come to the
rescue for your particular baby. Each baby is unique and may only respond
to some or a combination of colic remedies. Unfortunately, parents may
have to use the old trial and error method to determine which provide the
greatest amount of relief for their little colic sufferer. One thing is
certain…the days of “waiting it out” are long gone for those determined to
find an answer. There is no need to suffer needlessly along with baby. If
you’ve tried all proper feeding and burping techniques and baby is still
crying, try the following list of the most effective remedies available:
#1 Music / Sound - Traditional lullabies, classical music composed
for infants and heartbeat/womb CDs are very popular external remedies that
relax many babies suffering from colic. You can find some particularly
good ones at the SlumberSounds web site. Some parents have had great
success by placing baby in carseat on top of running dishwasher, washing
machine, dryer or near running vacuum cleaner. A gentle “shhhhhhh”ing
sound in baby’s ear can work magic, as can soft whispers and humming or
singing.
#2 Diet - Bottlefed babies with colic may show improvement if
switched to a different formula, such as soy. The mothers of breastfed
babies may have to pay close attention to their own diet to make sure that
babies are not having negative reactions to certain foods. Try eliminating
the following common culprits one at a time for a week to see if there are
any signs of improvement for baby: dairy, caffeine, chocolate and
gas-producing foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions,
peppers, melons, tomatoes, citrus fruits, beans and peanuts.
#3 Gripe Water - Be sure to check the ingredients before buying
a gripe water. Many claim to be natural but include artificial ingredients
and preservatives. Colicky infants’ digestive systems certainly do not
need any of these potential irritants. Some gripe waters are not very
helpful. There is a new, very effective and safe gripe water on the market
called ColicCalm, which you can purchase online at Colic Calm Gripe Water.
It has the highest success rate on the market.
#4 Warm Aromatherapy Bath / Massage - Add a few drops of
lavender to a warm bath and follow with the soothing touch of massage.
Focus massage on the tummy area to relieve painful trapped gas. You can
research baby massage techniques on the web or pick up a book on the
subject. A good one to try is The Practical Art of Baby Massage by Peter
Walker. You can buy lovely lavender, chamomile and fennel massage oils
specifically designed for baby massage on the Web. There is also a popular
baby massage tool called “Snukkles” which may work well for you.
#5 Swaddling - Babies are often soothed when swaddled or held
close to a parents chest and heartbeat since they are reminiscent of the
comfort and safety of the womb. Newborn babies are soothed in nurseries
with swaddling. Techniques on folding soft, stretchy blankets are easy to
learn. Find instructions and diagrams online or pick up a book/ magazine
on the topic. A good ready-made wrap to try is “Swaddleme”, easy to find
on the Web.
#6 Motion - Walking, rocking and movement are very comforting to
most infants. The good old rocking chair may be all it takes. Some parents
have been known to push stroller or drive around in car until baby falls
asleep. Try putting baby in an infant chest carrier or sling so that your
hands can be free. Walk with baby facing down across arm with hand under
abdomen, applying gentle pressure. This position is often referred to as
“the colic hold”. Many babies like to be outdoors. Almost all babies love
swings. Try a combination of the above to see what helps soothe baby the
best.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
After experiencing colic firsthand, it fast became this mother and
educators mission to conduct extensive research on colic towards finding a
solution. This article outlines some useful techniques including music,
motion, swaddling, gripe water, and diet. |
