Baby Care Basics

Baby colic may look distressing for a baby, but let me tell you that it is more distressing for the parents. Colic is not a medical problem that can harm baby. It’s just excessive crying for unknown reasons in a healthy baby. So you see, a colicky baby is not a sick baby. On the contrary, infant colic is highly stressful for the parents. They don’t get enough rest time, they face exhaustion, they don’t feel good about themselves and they are trying hard to stay sane.

Babies cry to communicate many things. It is not surprising that many new parents are not sure if their baby’s cries are due to colic or something else. Parents that have had colicky babies before will assure you that it’s hard to NOT know. How a baby cries when it’s hungry, tired or needs a diaper change is different from how it cries because of colic. It’s more intensed. You won’t call it crying but rather screaming that can burst your eardrum. Plus, it can last for hours. Baby will refuse to be comforted no matter what you do. Other symptoms include flushed cheeks, distended abdomen, clenched fists and legs curled up to their stomachs. Colic can begin when baby is as young as three weeks old. About 3-4 months old, the colic will start to disappear. Most people report evenings as being the worse time. But not every colicky baby is the same. Some cry anytime or even worse, all the time.

The priority of any parent who is battling infant colic is to find a a way to stop it. Unfortunately, if you ask a doctor how to do it, they may give you a disappointing answer. The problem is, medical professionals have yet to find what causes colic. There are several theories but essentially, the question to what causes colic is still a mystery. One theory is that baby is suffering from too much gas in the tummy. Then there is also the idea that baby is adjusting to life outside the womb. Sometimes it’s the milk formula being used. There isn’t a sure answer. That’s why discovering a colic baby remedy that works more often than not involves trial and error.

Here are some tricks that have worked for others. Hopefully it will work for you too.
1. Swaddle your baby
2. Holding baby close to you in a sling.
3. Baby massage
4. Have baby listen to white noise like the sound of vacuum or hair dryer.
5. Give baby a pacifier. Some people may not agree with this idea but if it can restore back some peace into your life, why not?
6. Use a baby gizmo such as bouncy seats or swings that come with a vibrating mode.
7. Give baby a nice warm bath.
8. Change baby’s surroundings by taking baby out of the house.
9. Use calming music.

Well, those are ideas on how to pacify the baby. Let’s now turn our attention to the parents. What are ideas to soothe the parent’s nerves? First of all, don’t blame yourself for what is happening. Don’t see yourself as a poor parent just because you can’t stop your baby from crying. Next, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Engage the help of your spouse, church members, neighbours, friends, family and maybe even a baby sitter. Also, it’s okay to let baby cry it out for a few minutes while you go into another room to calm your frazzled nerves. It’s vital that you look after yourself too. Don’t feel like you are being selfish for doing so. If you feel empty inside, you cannot be the best parent that you can be. Reach out to other parents that have to survive colic days too. Surfing the internet, you’ll find many online parenting groups. It helps to know that you are not the only one having to face this problem.

I know that you know your baby’s colic will not last forever. However, I know the day of “liberation” just can’t come fast enough. If you’ve tried everything and come to a dead end, click here for one more colic baby remedy that may be just what you are looking for. You may feel like life is against you right now. Make the best of things by being more optimistic.

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