What Is Colic? How To Relieve It?

Colic As A Common Ailment In Infants 

So. what IS colic? Although colic is prevalent among babies, when it actually happens and a baby screams and cries without stopping, a new mom can be devastated. It occurs when the infant is about 2 or 3 weeks old and reaches its height at 2 months and comes down at about 3 or 4 months when it actually stops. The child is not in danger because of colic, but an episode can occur almost every day, and parents learn to deal with it and handle it well. Doctors and researchers are unable to come to a conclusion as to what actually causes it. Colic usually occurs after food, and as a result of a severe pain in the stomach, the child cries non-stop for hours. A typical attack can last from 1 – 4 hours. The baby becomes flushed from the exertion, and it is extremely hard on the parents to watch their tiny infant suffer so much. While there is an episode of colic, the baby’s stomach becomes distended, and the hands and feet become clammy and their fists are clenched. The episodes happen later in the afternoon or in the evening usually after food. Colic does not affect all babies and researchers tend to feel that it is through genetics – if either or both parents has had colic, it may pass on to their children.

Certain Factors That Can Worsen The Situation 

The child should never be overfed. You will need to know the difference between hunger and colic before he is fed again. There are foods high in sugar or juice that has not been diluted that can produce gas and worsen the problem. There may be an allergy in the intestines, so a mother will need to discover what her child is allergic to. It could also be something that the mother has eaten that reaches the baby through milk while breast feeding. Emotions like anger, stress and fear should be eliminated as this will reflect on the baby and cause him pain. The main thing is to keep calm and find out as much as you can about colic. There could be other factors that make a baby cry – you will need to weed them out one by one before you conclude that it is colic. As the cause is unknown, there is no real cure, but the only way to handle colic is to be as calm as possible, keep the child comfortable, soothe him with music if necessary and wrap him up warmly so that he feels a sense of warmth and comfort and this will help with his pain.

The Value Of Breastfeeding 

When a baby is born, doctors always advise the mother to breastfeed the baby, as the milk is just rightly constituted and contains antibodies which prevent the baby from getting viruses and keeps bad bacteria out. It has been learnt through research that an infant can be breastfed till it is 4 years old. Since it will have teeth by this time, mothers may use a pump or go ahead with artificial milk. When a baby cries continuously, it is usually colic, and this is something parents need to deal with as it will eventually subside after about 4 months. There are many doctors who feel that it is the breast milk that causes colic. There are a couple of reasons that this may happen – one is, that while the baby sucks milk it also absorbs air, so the mother should allow the baby to burp after a meal. The second reason could be the food that the mother has taken which could be gaseous and this is passed on to the infant through the milk from the breast and colic is the result. 

Different Ways To Relieve The Baby 

There is no real indication as to colic in a baby as a result of being breastfed, because it is even more frequent in bottle-fed babies. However, the food that is eaten should be made a note of, so anything that upsets the infant can be eliminated. A dietician can always help with recommending correct foods. Some of the ways in which you can deal with this is to observe your diet, see that the baby burps and also carry the infant or sing some songs to put him to sleep. Another way is to place a CD player near the crib with some nursery rhymes so that outside sounds can be shut out.

If the teeth have already appeared, then the baby can be soothed with a pacifier. This will help all around. There is no harm done if the doctor diagnoses the child as having colic – it is normal and the non-stop crying and anger bouts can be dealt with. It may be difficult for first time parents, but as time passes they will know exactly what to do to help and relieve the infant. It should be understood by parents that this a phase and will pass after the first few months – they will do all they can to help the child and relieve the pain – also it is hereditary as either one or both of the parents might have had it.

This instant relief method for colic might also helps.

This is my baby eating vegetables. He was 13 months old.

Babies also need a good night sleep everyday. These psychological weird tricks could help your baby have a quality sleep.

How To Provide Relief And Comfort For Your Baby 

Taking no notice of the child and hoping its cries will subside will not work as the baby may be suffering and be in pain. Someone has to look in on the baby to see if the diaper needs changing or if the child is hungry. If both these are not the case, then picking up the child and soothing it to sleep with a lullaby may be a good idea. Another important point a mother needs to remember is to burp the baby after its feed. This is a known cause of colic. A baby may need a change of scene, and could be brought out. Another way of diverting its attention is to take the child in a stroller to the park or even a ride in the car.

Just as a bath relieves adults after a stressful day, the same is the case with babies. You will need to make sure that the water is not too hot – just warm to soothe and relax the child. Also distractions in the form of toys can be hung by the baby’s crib or soft music can be played. These are simple ways of de-stressing a baby. The most important thing that you can give your infant is love and time. Also it is important for the mom to find out what the child is allergic to in terms of food. There are gas producing foods and this can be passed on to the child through mother’s milk. Therefore it is essential to discover the foods that agree with the baby. If the condition persists, you could try Simethicone drops. There are ups and downs in bringing up a child. Colic is only the beginning. A babysitter could help you, but in the final analysis, it is the love of the parents that counts most of all.