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 have 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 Slumber Sounds
web site. Some parents have had great success by placing baby in
car seat on top of running dishwasher, washing machine, dryer or
near running vacuum cleaner. A gentle shhhhhhhing sound in the
ear can work magic, as can soft whispers and humming or singing.
#2 Diet - Bottle fed 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, which you can
purchase online at http://www.coliccalm.com
#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. It is
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.
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