Managing the Colicky Baby - By: A Wolski

Being a new parent is a time of joy and of anxiety. When your baby cries incessantly, it can be devastating for the parents who question whether they are doing things right.

Colic is very common in infants and is not dangerous. However, it can cause the baby distress on a daily basis and the parents have to learn ways of coping with this situation. Colic generally starts when the baby is about three weeks old and can often go on for several months.

An attack can last for hours and normally happens after a feed. Baby suffers from severe stomach pains and cries so much, he/she becomes flushed from the effort. The stomach becomes distended and the fists clenched. Baby's feet and hands are also normally clammy during a colic attack.

As you can imagine, this sight of the infant in such severe distress is emotionally traumatic on the parents.

Researchers feel that colic may be genetic and that if either of the parents suffered from colic, they may pass it on through their genes.

As a parent, you should never overfeed the baby. You also need to determine whether your baby is allergic to anything that may be causing the colic. It may be something that the mother has eaten and is being fed to baby through the breast milk.

There are also foods that cause wind which makes the problem worse. These can include undiluted juice and sugar laden foods.

Remaining calm is crucial as a baby can sense emotions such as fear, stress and anger and may become worse. Find out all you can about colic and how to cope with it. Because colic cannot be cured, you need to remain calm, keep baby warm and comfortable and use things like music to reduce his/her anxiety.

Although colic is not curable, there are several things you can do to calm your distressed baby and give yourself some respite.

Firstly, don't just jump to the immediate conclusion that your baby has colic. Colic is characterized by irritability, flushed cheeks from crying, legs folded to stomach and problems in passing faeces. Some colicky babies have muscle spasms as well.

Check whether the baby may be crying for other reasons such as hunger, tiredness, or discomfort due to heat or cold.

Research suggests that colic may be the result of an immature digestive system that has difficulty processing food outside the womb. This may be because of a lactose intolerance to cow's milk or baby formula. For breastfed babies, it may be a case of the mother consuming too much coffee or acidic food that creates a buildup of gas in the breast milk.

Whatever the cause, it is certain that colic causes distress for the baby and the parents. It is therefore crucial to manage the colic effectively.

Burping baby during and after feeds will help. Sometimes a baby may relax more if there is soothing music playing or if you give him/her a warm oil tummy massage. This will help baby to pass faeces and reduce bloating, thus providing relief from colic.

About the Author

Anne has worked primarily within health and welfare for around 35 years. She has always loved to write and has a wide range of interests. She is the owner of http://www.ourkidzbiz.com and http://www.ozehealthbiz.com.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/A-Wolski/44746

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