This article contains practical tricks to overcome colic in your baby.
You've waited nine long months for your perfect child but something is dreadfully wrong and no one can help. Sound familiar? Colic can be a traumatic experience for new parents. It's frustrating for several reasons. First, as a new mom, your hormones are still raging from pregnancy and childbirth. You are probably a little emotional still. Secondly, everything you've watched on television or read has stressed the importance of this special time. While this time is important, new mothers often put an exorbitant amount of pressure on themselves to do everything perfect to ensure bonding.
What is colic? Opinions on this abound. Some pediatricians insist that it is the result of gastrointestinal upset. Well-meaning older relatives have probably told you colic comes from not breastfeeding or if you are breastfeeding, from something you ate. The fact is, no one knows what causes colic or what particular cure will work for a given infant. Both breastfed and formula fed infants can have colic although it is more common in formula fed babies.
Doctors often prescribe gas drops for colicky infants. Over-the-counter gas drops are also available. Of all the mothers I have surveyed, (myself included) this is the least effective colic cure. However, every baby and every case of colic is different so it makes sense to try all the cures. What works like a charm for one baby drives another crazy.
Teas are popular for curing colic. Teas made from mint, fennel and onion are just a few supposed cures. The Germans even have a specially prepared baby tea that can be purchased for colic. These teas can be prepared at home though. The main tea ingredient, such as mint, is boiled, cooled and a bit of sugar is added. Since these are served warm, the curative effect may be merely from drinking something warm but it also may be an action of the sugar. Either way, it doesn't hurt to try.
Many moms find a hot water bottle filled with warm water placed next to the infant's tummy helps. Take care that the water is not too hot.
An infant in a carrier can be placed on top of a clothes dryer, with mom holding onto the carrier at all times, while the dryer is running. The vibration and noise have a soothing effect on many babies.
The noise of a vacuum cleaner works for some. Just running the vacuum near the infant's crib or swing can have a calming effect.
Often, colic is blamed when constipation is the true culprit. If your child is constipated, a teaspoon or two of corn syrup in the baby's bottle will help. A few tablespoons of prune juice will work as well.
Colicky infants are often overfed. This leads to a vicious cycle of crankiness. The baby is cranky; the mom feeds the infant because when eating the child doesn't cry. The child then becomes overfed and cranky, often spitting up and subsequently crying more.
Many times what is called colic is not truly colic. Well-meaning parents, usually with their first child, will pick up the baby the instant the child cries or gurgles. After a few weeks of this, the child knows that the smallest cry will result in the pleasurable experience of being held. The child makes this connection about the third week of life. This is the same time that colic normally rears its ugly head. The result, of course, is a miserable mom who has to hold her child constantly. I believe this has a hormonal tie-in as well. The tremendous pressure a new mom is under combined with hormonal changes and the perception that only a bad mother would let her baby cry, results in an emotional, not a practical response to crying. Picking a child up immediately every time it cries also results in difficulties later because the child has never been forced to learn to comfort himself.
Don't be afraid to give your infant a minute of crying before you go to see what's wrong. Pay attention to when the child eats and how much. This will help you determine whether the baby is hungry, wet or just plain cranky. If the baby has been fed and is dry, try comforting or distracting the child without picking him up. It's perfectly all right to hold your child and pick him up when the urge strikes for a bout of cuddling. If, however, you're spending the day holding your little bundle, it may be time for a little distance.
