Colic is not a rare disease about which you should worry. In fact, it happens to a lot of babies, especially ones who are less than a year old. Still, a child who screams and moves around all the time can worry a lot of parents, especially if this is the first time they've had a problem like this. After all, a baby who cries all the time may not just have colic.
This is why it's important for parents to know what colic is and how to spot the signs and symptoms of it.
Colic isn't caused by anything we know of. Even though this problem is pretty common, doctors still don't know what to make of it. Most of the time, it starts in the first few weeks, especially in the third week. It's worst at two months, then gets better between the third and fourth month. By the fourth month, most babies will no longer have colic.
Colic is said to be a painful feeling of gas that makes my stomach hurt. Children who don't know how to talk about their pain and aren't used to the problem will cry for an hour to five hours. They'll scream as loud as they can. This can be very surprising for parents who aren't used to seeing their usually quiet and angelic babies acting this way.
Colic happens a lot to babies who are big and active, especially those who eat a lot and grow a lot. Most of the time, these babies get colic at certain times of the day, often after each meal.
Since no one knows what causes colic, there is also no way to treat it. Parents can't do much but make the experience as comfortable as possible for the baby and try to ease the pain and make sure it doesn't get worse.
Here are some things you can do to help your child with colic and make sure that you aren't making the situation worse.
The first piece of advice parents should take to heart is not to overfeed their children. When babies cry, parents sometimes think that they are hungry and feed them right away. Make sure they are hungry and don't have a colic before you feed them.
Another thing that parents should keep an eye on is what their children eat. This is especially true for breastfeeding mothers. Some babies are allergic to certain foods, and even if you don't give them those foods directly, they will still get the allergens from your milk.
Caffeine, cabbage, onions, beans, and other foods that cause gas are usually not eaten. Colic can also be caused by juices, so dilute them with water or, better yet, just give them water when they're not drinking milk.
Colic can also be caused by strong emotions, like anger or sadness. Then, parents are told not to show their babies their anxiety, fear, or tension so that the feelings don't get passed on to the babies.
Taking the baby for a walk can help a lot with colic. Make sure that his legs are pulled up so that his belly doesn't hurt.
Parents can also try playing soothing music and gently rocking their babies to help them calm down.
