What is Colic ? How Can You Handle Your Baby and What Medicine To Use
A very valid question asked by many first time parents is, what is colic? Baby colic is characterized by bouts of persistent, uncontrollable crying which continues for more than three hours a day and occurs at least thrice a week. Colic usually occurs in babies that are three weeks old and worsens at around six weeks of age. In most cases the condition stops after three to four months.
What Exactly Colic Causes in Babies?
The exact cause of this condition is not known. There may be many reasons why baby colic occurs. The digestive system of a baby is not fully developed and this could lead to spasms. However some experts believe that it is the crying that causes the stomach pain. Another theory suggests that colic is associated with an immature nervous system. This causes tensions in the baby’s body when there is external stimulation. It is also possible that breast milk or bottle milk causes colic. This could be the case especially if the baby starts crying excessively after a feeding. There is still research being carried out on all these possible causes. The symptom of colic may vary from case to case. Some babies may experience many symptoms while others may experience only a few. Some of the common symptoms of baby colic include prolonged, loud crying that persists for one to three hours, coldness of the feet and clenching of the hands. In many cases babies with colic tend to cry in the afternoon or evening. Some babies may become fussy immediately after a feeding or may refuse to eat at all. There may also be difficulty in falling asleep.
Possible Medicines That You Can Use
The most popular baby colic medicine is gripe water. Gripe water contains natural ingredients such as ginger, peppermint and fennel. It is important to make contact with the baby when there is a bout of colic. The baby should be cuddled in the arms or spoken to softly to provide comfort. In many cases the stomach pain is caused by gas buildup in the stomach. To alleviate this condition massaging the baby is beneficial. Gentle motion also helps in easing the discomfort caused by colic. One can rock the baby in a crib or in the arms until the pain and crying subsides. Giving the baby a warm bath also helps to reduce the discomfort. This also induces sleep. In some cases the diet of the breastfeeding mother may lead to colic problems and hence she must make the necessary dietary changes such as avoiding dairy foods and citrus fruits.