What You Should Know About Baby Colic Remedies
A colicky baby is probably every parent’s worst nightmare. The non-stop crying, often at a high piercing wail can go on for hours. A baby with the colic can become a source of stress, irritation and frustration in even the most mild mannered of families. This article will seek to explain what baby colic is and what remedies for colic are available.
What is Baby Colic?
The short answer to this question is that no one really knows for sure what really causes baby colic. But one thing the medical community does know is that colic is a benign (harmless) medical condition, not a disease, that only a limited number of babies will go through. Colic can start as early as 2 weeks after birth and last as long as 4 months.
What are the symptoms of baby colic?
Signs of colic in an infant are continuous crying for more than 3 hours, several times a week. Other symptoms frequently seen are the legs drawn up tight and infants will also clench their fists and have a hard, distended belly.
Can baby colic remedies really help my child?
Many lay persons, (mostly parents with lots of personal experience) believe that colic may be caused by digestive upsets and abdominal gas in the newborn’s system. As a result, most the baby colic remedies and treatments seek to reduce or eliminate digestive problems.
Some of the remedies for colic have been around for over a hundred years, while others are fairly modern. But remember no matter how effective someone says their favorite baby colic remedies are, all babies will eventually outgrow it and return to normal within a matter of weeks.
Singing Lullabies
Singing to your baby is one of most time-tested remedies for colic. Yes, singing granny’s old lullabies or your favorite love song can help calms your baby. And the gentle rocking you naturally do while singing may help them pass gas more comfortably.
Belly Rubs
This works well as a preventive measure, since an infant’s stomach may be too sensitive once they are in the middle of colicky episode. But gently rubbing a baby’s tummy in a clockwise motion several times a day helps move gas and other waste through digestive system. without a lot of stress and strain. Make sure you only do this with a diaper firmly in place, since this baby colic remedy may release more than gas!
Watch what you eat when breastfeeding, maybe?
The medical community says that nursing mothers don’t worry about what they eat as far as causing colic is concerned. But for thousands of years, older women have warned young mothers that eating certain foods increases the chances of colic in their infants.
Use Gripe Water
An American pharmacist while working in England in the 1850’s, accidentally discovered that a common treatment for malaria also seemed to work as remedy for colic in babies. Old fashioned gripe water (which is usually just an herbal tincture) is making a strong comeback with other natural baby colic remedies.
The above baby colic remedies can be both safe, effective and can make all the difference.
