Colicky Baby

Although it's a must that you bring the baby to a doctor so he or she can be examined, there are other ways to relieve the discomfort caused by simple colic at your home. If you are sure that the infant only experiences simple colic, all you need is muster enough patience and try these simple home remedies:

1. Try to relax and comfort the baby by giving him or her a massage. Through the years, massage has proven to be an effective method of relieving varying levels of discomfort. Because of this, many colic release techniques have become available in the Internet or from the publications available in many bookstores.

These series of massage usually include simple movements and techniques that are easy to learn and apply. Although these techniques do not directly treat the major cause of colic, it can help a lot to comfort the child by reducing the level of pain he or she experiences.

If the massage is done properly, it can even help stimulate regular bowel movement and releasing of gas that will eventually reduce cramping that causes extreme pain.

A baby with colic is not necessarily a sick baby. A baby is diagnosed with colic when they are generally healthy, but experience episodes of crying that last for three hours straight on an ongoing basis for at least three days in a row.

To have colic a baby is generally between the ages of two weeks and five months. The episodes of colic will begin within the first month after birth and can continue up until the baby is five months old.

The episodes of colic are usually recognizable because they will occur around the same time each day and can begin with no warning.

2. Try the wonders of burping. Indeed, one of the most overlooked home remedy for colic is the simple process of burping Experts say that letting your child burp before, after, and during feedings can reduce the amount of air going into his or her stomach and intestines.

While feeding, try to stop every five minutes and let your baby burp for a minute or two then proceed to the entirety of the meal. Since it can disrupt his or her meal, the infant will reject this at first but by doing it regularly, you can find the best home remedy for your colicky baby.

Many people think that it is breastfeeding that causes colic to occur, but this is not the case. When babies breastfeed, they actually ingest less air than they would if feeding from a bottle. Gas is something thought to cause colic, and since babies get less air breastfeeding, then it is not a likely cause of colic in your baby.

An old myth about colicky babies is that they get colic because of what their mom eats. Moms have often been warned from eating certain foods, but there really isn't any real evidence that what you eat is going to cause a problem. If you think that something you have eaten is a problem for your baby, try eliminating it, but it probably is not what is causing your baby to be colicky.

In reality it is quite rare that babies end up being lactose intolerant and if babies are lactose intolerant they usually have more symptoms than colic - symptoms that are much more serious. Some of the symptoms of lactose intolerance can be diarrhea, bloating, failing to gain weight, and vomiting. If your baby has these signs, see a doctor. However, just colic is not an indicator your baby has a problem with lactose.

Dispelling the myths about colic is important. This way you know what is myth and what is truth. Colic is a real problem that many babies deal with. Armed with the facts you can realize what really is causing your baby to be colicky and you can then work on solving the colicky baby problem.