How to Cope with Colic
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How to Cope with Colic
Coping with colic is truly a challenge, but paediatricians usually ask you to be patient because there is no particular medicine for colic. In Pakistan, mothers rely on ‘gripe water’, ‘Nownehal’, or ‘colic drops’. These are not remedies; rather, they are soothing solutions that may or may not work. Here are a few suggestions that may help in dealing with colic:
- Formula-Fed Babies: If a formula-fed baby has colic, you can consult your paediatrician about changing formulas. But first make sure that it is actually the formula milk that is causing the trouble.
- Breastfed Babies: Mothers who breastfeed should be careful about their diet, because they may eventually see a pattern develop if the baby becomes disturbed when she eats a particular food. They should avoid too many milk products, caffeine, or other irritating foods. Remember, breastfeeding moms don’t need to consume a lot of milk to produce milk for their baby, as is commonly believed in Pakistan.
- Stressed-out Parents: Parents need to be stress free to soothe a crying baby. If you find yourself feeling tired or irritated, seek help so that you can take a break. The calmer you are, the more successfully you will calm your child.
- Swaddling: Wrap your baby tightly in a comfortable blanket. The baby shouldn’t be able to move his or her arms and legs freely. This recreates the comforting feeling of being in the womb again.
- Overfeeding: Your baby isn’t necessary hungry every time he or she cries, so be careful not to feed too much/too often. Instead, your child’s crying may be a milk protein or lactose intolerance—overfeeding would just make this worse!
- Bottle Nipples: Select the right size holes for your baby’s bottle nipples. If they are too small, the baby is likely to swallow more air during each feeding. Holes in the nipples shouldn’t be too big, either.
- Rhythmic Sounds or Singing: Rhythmic sounds may help calm your baby, so invest in some toys that create a rhythm. Your singing can also calm your baby whether you have a good singing voice or not.
- Peaceful Environment: Sometimes unnecessary noises and lights will stimulate the baby, and the crying will become more intense. You will be better able to soothe you baby if you take him or her somewhere calm with dim lights.
- Gentle Tummy Massage: A gentle tummy massage with castor or mustard oil is also helpful because it may help decrease the intensity of gas in your baby’s stomach. Massage may also help him/her pass wind and feel more relaxed.
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