Baby Colic, No Fun

Baby Colic, No Fun

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Basically, baby colic is caused by painful gas bubbles. Unfortunately, since the only way your baby can tell you that he or she is hurting is to cry, a baby with colic at times is inconsolable. However, there are a few signs that you can look for that will help you determine whether your baby is crying because of colic.

Colic Symptoms:

* Crying is constant and loud, often lasting for hours, and recurring almost daily
* Usually this crying occurs late in the day into the evening
* The face appears red
* Often symptoms appear soon after being fed
* Baby appears uncomfortable, restless and in pain
* Babys feet are cold
* Baby stretches and then pulls legs up to the tummy
* Hands are clenched
* Baby refuses to eat
* Baby begins to get fussy soon after eating
* Baby squirms restlessly and may pass gas

Even though you might be able to easily identify the fact that your baby has colic, easing your babys pain may not be so easy. After youve consulted with your doctor to determine the cause of your babys crying and learned its definitely colic then you must try to ease your babys discomfort. That can be a challenge.

First of all there are some steps you can take to prevent baby colic:

* Breastfeeding? Stop eating spicy or gas-producing foods, such as: onions, cauliflower, beans, cabbage and caffeine. You might also eliminate dairy from your diet after consulting with your physician, who may recommend that you take a calcium supplement.
* If your baby is being bottle fed, try changing to a bottle that is curved or has disposable liners that actually collapse as they are emptied.
* Consider changing to a low-allergy formula, but be sure to check with your doctor first.
* Avoid overfeeding, as this could actually contribute to colic. Keep to a regular feeding schedule and routine.
* Extra burping may help your baby to eliminate excess gas.

While there are prescription medications available to help soothe the pain of colic, there are many old fashioned ways to help a baby with colic.

* Keeping their bellies warm can make a big difference.
* Placing the baby on your chest and gently rocking their body back and forth helps the gas to move along the digestive tract.
* Allowing the baby to ride in a front pack type carrier with their bodies close to yours will allow you to move around.
* Placing the baby across your lap and rolling gently side to side helps,
* Circular rubbing of their tummies.
* An infant sized hot water bottle, (Keep the temperature warm not hot) placed on top of a thin blanket while the baby is laying down will also provide some relief.

Home Remedies For Colic

In addition to over-the-counter remedies like Mylicon drops and the prescription Levsin, there are herbal preparations for colic now available for infants. Most contain Catnip, a member of the mint family, which has the amazing ability to soothe a colicky infant in a very short period of time. Another natural remedy is the gentle mint: Spearmint. However, not all mints are equal, so avoid using Peppermint, which is too strong for an infant.

Hopefully, you will find a way to alleviate your infants bout of baby colic for the sake of both of you. Just remember, while colic can seem to last forever, usually by the time your baby reaches three or four months of age, the incidents of baby colic will ease and soon your babys colicky crying will be a distant memory.

About the Author:
C.L. Hendricks has been a Jill-of-all-trades and become an expert in some. She writes about survival preparedness and pregnancy, children, and weddings, and investment and precision casting.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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