Any parent whose baby has suffered from colic can tell you that colic is one of the most excruciating experiences ever imaginable. Nothing is worse than seeing one's baby in pain and not being able to help take it away. Finding relief for colic quickly becomes a top priority. There are many different colic remedies that may come to the rescue for your particular baby. Each baby is unique and may only respond to some or a combination of colic remedies. Unfortunately, parents may have to use the old trial and error method to determine which provide the greatest amount of relief for their little colic sufferer. One thing is certain?the days of "waiting it out" are long gone for those determined to find an answer. There is no need to suffer needlessly along with baby. If you've tried all proper feeding and burping techniques and baby is still crying, try the following list of the most effective remedies available:
#1 Music / Sound - Traditional lullabies, classical music composed for infants and heartbeat/womb CDs are very popular external remedies that relax many babies suffering from colic. You can find some particularly good ones at the SlumberSounds web site. Some parents have had great success by placing baby in carseat on top of running dishwasher, washing machine, dryer or near running vacuum cleaner. A gentle "shhhhhhh"ing sound in baby's ear can work magic, as can soft whispers and humming or singing.
#2 Diet - Bottlefed babies with colic may show improvement if switched to a different formula, such as soy. The mothers of breastfed babies may have to pay close attention to their own diet to make sure that babies are not having negative reactions to certain foods. Try eliminating the following common culprits one at a time for a week to see if there are any signs of improvement for baby: dairy, caffeine, chocolate and gas-producing foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, peppers, melons, tomatoes, citrus fruits, beans and peanuts.
#3 Gripe Water - Be sure to check the ingredients before buying a gripe water. Many claim to be natural but include artificial ingredients and preservatives. Colicky infants' digestive systems certainly do not need any of these potential irritants. Some gripe waters are not very helpful. There is a new, very effective and safe gripe water on the market called ColicCalm, which you can purchase online at Colic Calm Gripe Water. It has the highest success rate on the market.
#4 Warm Aromatherapy Bath / Massage - Add a few drops of lavender to a warm bath and follow with the soothing touch of massage. Focus massage on the tummy area to relieve painful trapped gas. You can research baby massage techniques on the web or pick up a book on the subject. A good one to try is The Practical Art of Baby Massage by Peter Walker. You can buy lovely lavender, chamomile and fennel massage oils specifically designed for baby massage on the Web. There is also a popular baby massage tool called "Snukkles" which may work well for you.
#5 Swaddling - Babies are often soothed when swaddled or held close to a parents chest and heartbeat since they are reminiscent of the comfort and safety of the womb. Newborn babies are soothed in nurseries with swaddling. Techniques on folding soft, stretchy blankets are easy to learn. Find instructions and diagrams online or pick up a book/ magazine on the topic. A good ready-made wrap to try is "Swaddleme", easy to find on the Web.
#6 Motion - Walking, rocking and movement are very comforting to most infants. The good old rocking chair may be all it takes. Some parents have been known to push stroller or drive around in car until baby falls asleep. Try putting baby in an infant chest carrier or sling so that your hands can be free. Walk with baby facing down across arm with hand under abdomen, applying gentle pressure. This position is often referred to as "the colic hold". Many babies like to be outdoors. Almost all babies love swings. Try a combination of the above to see what helps soothe baby the best.
After experiencing colic firsthand, it fast became this mother and educators mission to conduct extensive research on colic towards finding a solution. This article outlines some useful techniques including music, motion, swaddling, gripe water, and diet.
Lets face it becoming a mum is a bit of... Read More
To have reasonable expectations of our children is an important... Read More
The internet is a dangerous place for your children. Don't... Read More
Hey Parents! I hate to tell you, but there is... Read More
Parents looking for a quick fix usually choose troubled teen... Read More
Thank you to all of our professional educators who dedicate... Read More
Have you ever experienced one of those days when you... Read More
All babies cry, but if yours cries a lot, isn't... Read More
The Greatest Gifts in Life, which are always created for... Read More
My oldest boy is fifteen and was a real jerk... Read More
Be sure to respect the intellectual changes that mark adolescence.... Read More
What is hard for parentsLetting them learn from their mistakes.Trying... Read More
Oh yes you have! Suddenly, "Where's Bobby?" You instantly realize... Read More
I could nearly fund my children's future education if I... Read More
Emotional OverloadMany single parents say they deal with a variety... Read More
In elementary school it's pretty straightforward: bringing in cupcakes to... Read More
There are a lot of sophisticated parenting theories and techniques... Read More
1. Tell me something you like about yourself? Help your... Read More
The debate in many towns continues throughout this country about... Read More
Ever feel like you're out of the loop when it... Read More
Chiladult? Whatever you call them, teenagers are a changin' and... Read More
For any parent, learning that a convicted sex offender lives... Read More
Below is a copy of our eating program for Attention... Read More
How would you like to have more time? Of course... Read More
Some public schools try to turn children against their parents... Read More
Saturday mornings. Cold cereal and Scooby Doo. How many parents... Read More
You are at the grocery store with your daughter and... Read More
To protect children's self-esteem or deflect complaints by parents, many... Read More
Many working families choose a commercial or individual day care... Read More
My cousin boasts five names and I confess that when... Read More
Sometimes a change of perspective can make a huge difference... Read More
Recently, a parent came to me, conflicted over whether to... Read More
Isn't it ironic that a country whose constitution allows for... Read More
In seminars I am often asked about pocket-money and whether... Read More
Researchers have estimated that 25-35% of children in the United... Read More
Is Homework Really That Important?Dear Friends,I no longer teach in... Read More
1) It's not my (pot, beer, cigarettes, etc.), I'm just... Read More
Even if your teenagers do not use drugs, you still... Read More
Ask parents what their biggest school year challenge is, and... Read More
When you talk about multiply your child's intelligence, you can't... Read More
Several similar terms describe the central attribute of a character... Read More
When it comes to the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity... Read More
Many parents struggle with solutions to put their child on... Read More
No matter how old your children are, you have an... Read More
You are in the final round of your favorite game... Read More
Age 1: Invite only family members and close friends only... Read More
Vacations and trips are great family events, but how do... Read More
Advocate: you've probably heard the term before. But what does... Read More
Most of us when asked what we want our children... Read More
Have you ever experienced one of those days when you... Read More
A common problem many times facing parents is Colic. Estimates... Read More
"I could have helped you if I would have known,... Read More
It is hard to believe that summer is coming to... Read More
There is no doubt that mothers play an all-important leading... Read More
Your child's leadership skills begin at the family dinner table.... Read More
In a single dose of children's television, I was bombarded... Read More
One fantastic way to get your children involved in what... Read More
Kids today no longer live the kind of privileged lives... Read More
17 Quick Ways to Strengthen the Bonds of LoveOn Mother's... Read More
On a bright Sunday morning, a couple of weeks ago,... Read More
Do your children have a McChildhood? Do they experience the... Read More
Teri was 5. As younger siblings do, she looked up... Read More
How in the world do you get your child to... Read More
Let's face it.The job market is getting tougher every day.Computerization... Read More
What is a parenting problem?Parenting is a tough job, we... Read More
To the untrained eye, it might look like a piece... Read More
Parenting |