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Baby Colic: What Is It And How to Soothe Your Baby

Colic is a common condition among infants and is estimated to affect upto 1 in 5 infants during the first few months. It usually starts between the 3rd and 6th week post birth and gradually ends by the time the baby is 3 to 4 months old.

My girl had a severe problem of baby colic. She was all fine till she was 3 weeks old and I remember adjusting well to her routine of sleep, eat, pee/poop, etc. Then one day I suddenly found her wailing with red face, clenched fists and flailing legs. And I just couldn’t understand what happened. Honestly, as a new parent, nothing breaks your heart more than seeing your baby crying or howling in pain. And it’s all the more stressful when you don’t know the reason or the ways to comfort him/her. Isn’t it?

We would relate her crying to all the possible reasons – hunger, cold, heat, tiredness, indigestion, and try different remedies to pacify her. But the bout of incessant crying would hapen repeatedly every night, mostly at the same time and at times nothing would work to soothe or comfort her. Eventually we consulted a doctor and realised that she is a colicky baby.   

Sharing a bit more about Baby Colic – it’s symptoms and ways to soothe the baby .
Baby Colic
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What Is Baby Colic?

Colic is associated with abdominal pain in young infants leading to an attack of incessant crying. Doctors usually diagnose baby colic if a healthy and well-fed infant cries for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, and for more than 3 weeks. It is not a disease or an ailment. Both breastfed and formula-fed babies are likely to have colic and it’s believed that it usually goes away on its own by 3 or 4 months.

Symptoms

1 Instense crying that turns into screaming with baby’s face all flushed up and lasts for 3 hours or longer.

2. Crying that occurs at the same time everyday, usually in the evening or night.

3. Crying without any apparent reason (i.e the baby is not hungry or tired or in dirty diaper)

4. Baby cries with clenched fists, knees drawn up and arched back.

5. Baby passes wind during the episode of intense crying.

6. Irregular feeding or sleep interrupted with bouts of crying.

How to Soothe A Colicky Baby

The causes of baby colic are largely unknown and so there isn’t any specific treatment for the same. But there are a few things that parents can do to soothe and calm a crying infant with colic.

If the child is too cranky and inconsolable, offer calming remedies to pacify him-

1.Hold the baby in arm, swaddle her or wrap her in blanket. Some infants respond well if placed in a rocker. For my little one, I would walk holding her in arms and it would give her relief. The minute I would sit down she would start crying. But walking and holding her in upright position would help soothe her.

2. Play music or white noise that serves as a distraction and has a soothing effect.

3. Babywear (that is carry the baby in a sling or carrier) or put him/her in a stroller and take for a walk.

4. Sometimes giving a warm bath or a gentle massage may also help.n

5. Ensure the baby swallow less air. Make him sit upright while he feeds. For breastfed baby, ensure the baby latches properly. For bottle fed babies, make sure the holes in the bottle teats are the right size (as per the age). If they are too small the baby is likely to swallow more air during each feed.

6. Donot force feed the baby, especially if not hungry and try to burp him/her more often after every feed.

Some QUICK remedies that can help if you suspect the baby is suffering from gastrointestinal issues-

1.Put hot water bottle on baby’s belly. Be very careful while doing so and check the water temperature properly.

2. Lay the baby on your lap and gently rub his/her back. You can also massage him slowly on the tummy.

3. Apply hing paste on his navel- I used to make this warm paste using hing and ghee and apply it often. However making it while pacifiying a crying and cranky baby was usually a task. Also before applying do check the temperature of the paste and make sure it isn’t burning hot.

4. Try Anti colic Roll ons.

Baby Colic

This is a good option as it’s quick and handy. One good roll on that I know of is Mother Sparsh Hing Tummy Roll On which is 100% Ayurvedic. It is formulated with natural herbs especially to treat colic and indigestion in babies. It includes a combination of Hing Oil and Fennel Oil that help to reduce stomach discomfort caused due to acid reflux and constipation.

Baby Colic

It mainly includes all natural ingredients and so is fully toxin-free and safe to use on babies. Also you can carry it anywhere in your purse, that makes it a convenient option to rely upon if you are outdoors or traveling.

(Buy it here )

Caring for a colicky baby involves a lot of patience. It does get frustrating as a parent especially when you don’t know the cause behind it. But make sure you yourself are not stressed out and take eventual breaks whenever required. Stay calm and simply remember that the child will eventually outgrow this phase.


Disclaimer : This is a sponsored post, however the views and opinions expressed here my own, based on personal experiences. 


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