More than 20% of babies will have Colic, according to research. This is not a disease or disorder, but the baby will cry for hours and hours until he or she is four months old.
Is there really a way to stop colic for good? No, that's not true. The best thing a parent can do is fix the problem until the problem goes away on its own as the baby grows up.
Here are a few of these solutions.
Because they are breastfed, babies are used to having something in their mouths. Since the mother's breasts can't always be there, a pacifier can help the baby stay calm and stop him or her from crying too much.
- A warm bath for the baby can also help. Since this can't always be done, the parent can try putting a warm bag on the belly or massaging the baby with lotion instead. Covering the pack with a towel is a good idea because the heat could be too much for the baby.
- It doesn't help to watch the baby cry for no reason. The parent must take the colicky baby out of the crib and rock it from side to side to help it feel better. Sometimes a baby's sense of touch is all it takes to make him or her feel safe. It will also be a good idea to sing a lullaby that has been known to help the child drift back to sleep.
- As the baby grows up, it will gain weight. Instead of carrying it in your arms, you could put the baby in the stroller and go for a walk. Some parents have taken the baby for a ride in the car, which also helps the baby feel better.
- The kind of food the mother eats can also make the baby have colic. If you talk to a dietitian, they can help you replace foods that give you gas with ones that are healthier.
- Using a CD with light music is another way to help a child with colic. Studies have shown that this has the same effect as a mother singing a lullaby to a child.
If the situation doesn't change, this is when you should use medicine like Simethicone drops.
- Some moms stop breastfeeding after the second month and switch to a formula made from cow's milk. Some babies get colic because of the formula, so one way to help is to switch to a formula made with soy.
- Some kids get colic because of the air, especially if they are now drinking from a bottle. The parent should check the hole in the nipple because a big hole makes the baby drink more than usual. If this happens, you should probably get a new set of nipples.
Believe it or not, a baby with colic is healthy. This is because the way it acts lets people know it's there and what it needs.
Parents may have to get up late at night or early in the morning to deal with this, but it can be fixed. Before you know it, the baby will have gotten used to the new environment and will no longer cry a lot.
