5 Ways to Cope with Baby Colic

When your child suffers from colic it seems nothing can help relieve their suffering. Colic isn’t a disease or even a hereditary condition. Scientific speculation about what actually causes colic appears to offer no clear conclusions. There seems very little that parents with newborn babies suffering from colic can actually do. Implementing some simple methods however, will help relieve your little babies suffering. Your new-born baby will surpass colic, usually after the first four months, however these simple treatments will provide immediate relief from colic.

Symptoms

Colic produces a distinctive prolonged cry usually occurring after feeding. Your baby will remain inconsolable when they cry with colic. Colic occurs at distinct times of the day on a regular basis. Often your baby’s face will become flushed while their stomach distends. Sometimes your baby will clench their fists, curling up their legs in agony. Not every baby will develop colic, with only 1-in-5 showing symptoms. Luckily several ways to cope with colic exist.

 

Massage with warm water

Gently massaging a newborns stomach can help alleviate colic. Ensure your palms remain warm, to begin place your hands on the belly-button area. It’s important you locate the stomach while avoiding the chest area. Colic’s a stomach condition. Begin to gently paddle your hands down your baby’s stomach. Your hands will rotate over each-other when they begin the down stroke. Complete this paddling massage eight times. Notice your baby, observing for positive reactions to the massage. Repeat if necessary.

Warm water comfort with bathing or showers

Warm water, such as a shielded hot-water bottle or a warm bath can help comfort your child, reducing their anguish. Similarly a warm shower can relieve their colic. Place a warm hot-water bottle upon their stomach area. When showering or bathing simply allow the water to aid a gentle massage of the stomach area.

Dill with Fennel

In Russia as well as other European countries, a mother will often drink a tincture of Dill (Anethum graveolens) with Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). This passes to the baby through breastfeeding providing relief against colic. It’s also possible to offer this herbal treatment directly to your baby in the form of a weak-tea preparation, served at the correct temperature for the safety of your baby.

Lactose drops

A percentage of babies can also benefit from changes to their diet. Lactase drops added to breast milk or bottle milk, can offer a solution for your baby’s colic. Lactase drops consist of an enzyme that helps your new-born digest lactose with greater ease.

Mother’s diet

A change in your diet as a mother can also offer a solution to your baby’s colic. Try removing cow's milk or other dairy products from your diet. Similarly you should avoid cabbage, cucumber, broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts, parsnips, onions, beans, garlic, apricots, melon, spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol. Simple changes may help bring relief to your baby’s colic.

Treating colic with simple yet effective methods will help relieve your baby’s discomfort. Helping you to make your baby comfortable through trying alternate remedies remains the key. What works for one baby may not necessarily work for another. It’s nobody’s fault your baby has colic. Furthermore it isn’t a reflection on you as a parent that your baby suffers from colic. Your responsibility lies in trying to cure your baby’s distress.  By using a combination of the simple ways to cope with colic, you’ll find a way to relax your little ones temporary suffering.