Colicky Baby or Just Fussy:
Symptoms and Soothing Treatments for Relief of Excessive
Crying
Colic can be identified from the nature of the crying:
colicky babies cry more and more loudly than fussy ones. An
infant with colic has intestinal discomfort; you can hear it
in that shattering wail. Colic crying puts all adults within
hearing on red alert: there’s no way in the world to ignore
it. Colicky babies curl into a tight ball or arch their
backs, throwing back their heads. Their tummies may seem
tight or distended, and their temperament may be generally
cranky (how do you feel when you have indigestion?).
Is it colic?
If your baby starts exhibiting signs of colic, first
consult your pediatrician. Other medical problems may cause
pain and crying that can mimic colic; have a professional
check out the baby to rule out other problems.
Your doctor may diagnose colic based on the “rule of three”.
If a baby cries for more than three hours a day, three days
a week, for three weeks, he or she is considered colicky.
Doctors and parents seem to agree that colic has something
to do with the digestive process, causing excessive crying.
Natural Remedies for Colicky Babies
Herbal gripe water has been a preferred colic treatment
in Europe for more than a hundred years. Some babies respond
to switching formulas from cow to soy based milk, or to
special formulas made with smaller molecules that digest
easier. Lactose intolerance causes colic, or nursing babies
may be responding to something that the mother ate.
Underdeveloped digestive systems or food allergies may also
cause colic.
The good news about colic is that most babies outgrow it by
four months of age. The bad news is that colic symptoms
often start when a baby is two weeks old, turning that
newborn “precious little bundle” into a screaming bag of
misery, and parents into desperate prisoners. Cures are rare
and highly individual; treatments seem to rely on the
individuality of each child. A Remedy List for Colicky /
Fussy Babies
- Change of diet (different formula, new feeding
schedule, different food amounts)
- Safe, soothing baby ‘tea’, made of chamomile and
lemon balm.
- Change of bottle: try a different bottle design,
with the teat tilted to prevent excess air intake during
feeding.
- Gentle tummy and back massage can ease gas pains and
help burp the baby between feedings.
- Change of diet for nursing moms: avoid members of
the cabbage and onion families.
- Unhurried feeding. Nursing should be calming, not
rushed. Organize your schedule for plenty of time
feeding and burping the baby.
- Lowered Stimuli. Loud noises, bright lights and
constant change increase the stress on infants (and
parents!) Dim the lights and quiet the household during
bed, bath and feedings. A cranky child has more problems
going to sleep, so try an evening ritual of a warm bath,
massage and quiet rocking in a dark room.
- Consistent burping. Don’t skip this important part
of feeding! Help the air move out of your baby’s stomach
by patting her back with a cupped hand, working from the
lower back up.
- Homeopathic remedies. Some parents have complete
success with homeopathics; others can’t tell the
difference. It’s certainly worth a try.
Calming Crying Infants
- You don’t have to hold your screaming baby all
the time. Studies show that babies cry more when
parents are anxious, and babies who spend time alone
in their cribs learn to self soothe more easily than
ones who are always being picked up. If you’re
getting more and more stressed, put the baby in his
or her crib and find yourself a quieter room. Relax
by playing soothing music or reading books or
magazines you find calming.
- Parents under the stress of a screaming child
are more likely to hurt the child by shaking or
hitting to make the crying stop. If you’re feeling
desperate, put the baby to bed and call someone—a
mom, the dad, a friend or neighbor—for help. Having
an emergency sitter, even for a half hour, will help
you get yourself under control.
- Realize that colic isn’t your fault. It’s normal
to feel guilty when your baby is inconsolable, but
recognize that colic is a “normal” growing stage for
many babies.
- Hire a sitter recommended for calm, unruffled
dealings with screaming children. Get someone you
can trust, pay him or her highly, and get yourself
to dinner and a movie or a walk outdoors.
Continue reading more baby tips about Why Do Babies Cry?
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