Home Remedies for Colic
Babies tend to develop colic between four weeks and six months of age, and it’s almost as distressing to moms as it is uncomfortable for babies. Although there are several home remedies for colic, not all of them will work for every infant. Your best bet is to try a few different cures until you find the one that works best for you and your baby.
Most home remedies for colic focus on simply making your baby more comfortable so that she will fall asleep more readily. Since colic is frequently caused by gas that has built up in your baby’s tummy, relieving the gas will often alleviate the problem. In other cases, however, the cause of colic may simply be over-stimulation, being overly tired or some other unknown cause. Trial and error will usually get to the root of the problem.
Soothing Home Remedies for Colic
Often simply soothing your baby and calming her will relieve the unrelenting crying of colic. If your baby likes to be rocked or walked around, do this until she is relaxed, then continue to do so until she is asleep. Stopping too soon may simply startle her and get the cycle of crying going again. A baby swing will often soothe a child, as will the soothing sound of running water. You could try gently rocking your baby with the sound of running water in the background, or purchase a CD with repetitive sounds such as ocean waves or a rushing river.
Conversely, some babies may be so tired that they can’t get to sleep because they are exhausted and too sensitive to any stimulation at all. In these cases, you may want to let your baby calm herself by crying it out for a bit. If truly exhausted, babies will generally fall asleep on their own within ten to fifteen minutes. It can be helpful to put a warm (not hot) hot water bottle or towel on the baby’s abdomen to relieve any muscle spasms or tightness in the abdominal muscles if you lay the baby down.
Infant massage is one of the best home remedies for colic because it relaxes the baby all over, and can reduce cramping, relieve gas and stimulate proper bowel function. You can purchase infant massage books or CD’s to learn techniques for relaxing infant massage, but often all that is needed is gentle, circular massage on the tummy. Try using a few drops of warmed baby oil on the stomach to aid in the massage and add a warm, relaxing element to the technique.
Kitchen Home Remedy for Colic
As many as 10% of babies are sensitive to cow’s milk. If your baby is on cow’s milk formula and seems to frequently suffer from colic after having a bottle, try switching him to soy formula, which is much easier to for a baby’s digestive system to process. Some babies also seem to digest their formula better if you add a bit of Citrucel (a fiber product) to it. Just a half teaspoon three times daily in a bottle of formula or milk can ease the excess gas that often leads to colic.
Many parents don’t realize that a bit of tea can be very helpful in relieving colic and is perfectly fine for babies in moderation. Chamomile, basil or peppermint tea are all antispasmodics with mildly sedative qualities. About a quarter cup of room temperature fed to a colicky baby is one the most effective remedies for colic there is.
You can also try pouring boiling water over a teaspoon of anise or cumin and allow it to steep for fifteen minutes, then feed a small amount to a baby with colic. If you prefer a smaller portion that may be easier to get down, try one teaspoon of mint juice (from freshly crushed mint leaves) mixed with a teaspoon of honey and a touch of fennel. A dropper full if this can quickly relieve colic, and your baby will enjoy the pleasantly sweet taste.
Finally, remember that a baby with colic will often work himself up into a state of agitation if he senses that his mother is also tense. Being relaxed and reassuring is important when dealing with colic. The more upset you become, the more your child will sense this and react with even more crying.