Articles > Colic-Free
Natural Guide to Colic-Free Babies
During the first weeks after your baby is born, it is essential to build and maintain a loving bond with your infant. When colic comes, this becomes stressful for both parents and babies. Colic, and the months of distress and sleeplessness that it brings, can leave you feeling frantic, frustrated, worried, exhausted, confused, guilty and inadequate.
There is no single consistent cause for colic that experts all agree upon. Most experts and health professionals suggest that colic may be caused in different ways in different babies:
- Newborns have an immature digestive system that has never processed food. Furthermore, newborns lack the benevolent bacterial flora (probiotics) that develop over time to aid digestion. This explains why almost all infants outgrow colic within the first few months.
- Certain foods eaten by lactating mothers contain volatile chemicals and allergens that in a small percentage of infants result in colic discomfort and digestive upset. Through lactation, trace elements of gas producing foods such as beans or cabbage may be passed via breast milk to baby and cause gas and bloating.
- Infants often swallow air while feeding or during strenuous crying, which increases gas and bloating, further adding to their discomfort.
When does it start?
Typically, colic starts in the first month, and goes on until your baby is three months or so.
It's not known why some babies are affected more than others, or why it sometimes suddenly disappears. It could be to do with immaturity of the gut, and as the baby's digestion matures, they become more able to tolerate the sensations of digestion. Alternatively, it may be bubbles of trapped wind, causing discomfort.
What are the first signs of colic? - For me it wasn’t the sleepless nights – they started from Day 1 – but the screaming and twitching at midnight. Paediatricians often use the "Rule of Three" to diagnose colic: "A baby that cries for three or more hours per day, at least three times per week, within a three month period." Usually the signs that your baby has colic are:
- Cries vigorously for long periods, despite efforts to console
- Symptoms occur around the same time each day or night, often after meal times, and usually ending as abruptly as they began
- Shows signs of gas discomfort and abdominal bloating
- Has a hard, distended stomach, with knees pulled to the chest, clenched fists, flailing arms and legs, and an arched back
- Experiences frequent sleeplessness, irritability and fussiness
Tips to relief colic naturally
How do you sooth naturally a colicy baby? –
For me it was my husband soothing her. It is a very useful tip when the mother is breastfeeding. Ask your partner to hold the baby while crying, as babies usually can smell mother’s milk and will not stop crying until breastfed (and again, and again.) If the father is holding the baby, it will be much easier for the little one to be soothed.
Start taking probiotics as this helps a lot! Probiotics are the friendly bacteria balancing the gut.
Massages work great! Five drops lavender oil mixed in 100ml olive oil – massaging gently the tummy clockwise helps a lot get the gas out of tummy.
Mummy’s diet is important, when breastfeeding. If your baby is 'colicy' in the evenings, make sure lunch is your main meal of the day and your main source of protein and energy. You'll need to keep your strength up.
Think BOTTLES! Formula-fed babies may experience worse colic, but there are still things to do to help. Think bottles - Which ones are best? Bottles are also used if expressing milk for overnight feeds (if your husband is kind enough to take the night shift), or for when you are out-and-about with the baby.
My recommendation is BornFree bottles – they really were the only choice for my baby, now 2y.o. You know why? Because BornFree bottle are:
1. BPA-free, so no nasty chemicals
2. Anti-leakage – when I value every drop of my breastmilk it’s a very important reason!
3. They are anti-colic due to their Inner Valve and Air Vent system, which helps eliminate colic by reducing vacuum build up.
This sounds revolutionary: reducing vacuum build up is also medically acknowledged to reduce the risk of middle-ear infection! Something more: the inner valve prevents side-leaks which allows you to shake freely when mixing or after warming up milk!
Coping with the stress of a colicy baby
Many parents find the stress of a 'colicy' baby becomes too much. Ensure you have support and are able to take a break. Try to share the crying times.
If you find the stress of a colicy baby just too much, you are not alone. What I found best was taking care of myself. How?
Balanced diet, benefiting from every stolen moment to rest, and a short spa/ massage session from my husband worked just great for me. Having some “me-time” may sound a luxury, but only 15mins relaxing bath may sooth mum so she can then sooth her baby. What also helped me relax was walking in the park – the baby was sleeping, so I had a chance to calm and enjoy the silence.
Read more articles HERE