Colic in newborns and infants is very common. At times, even the best of natural and home remedies fail to give any relief to your baby. Colic is a condition denoted by a sudden bout of crying while pulling the legs towards tummy. It is usually believed that gas, indigestion or bloating could be reasons behind tummy ache which could lead to these episodes of colic. It is more common in babies between two weeks to four months. However, babies, older than four months can also suffer from episodes of colic sometimes. Here is what you should do if your baby keeps crying due to colic.
While there are a host of kitchen ingredients that can help counter colic, which works wonders on small babies, here Sonali Shivlani, Internationally Certified Pregnancy, Lactation and Child Nutrition Counsellor and our panel expert shares tips on dealing with colic all naturally.
Practice tummy time
Your baby won t be able to roll over on her own at least till six months of age, so you have to help her enjoy some tummy time to get relief from colic. However, you need to do this when your child isn t suffering from colic pain. Put your baby on her tummy for a while every day to get rid of the gas that could be trapped in her abdomen. Ideally, do this a short while after she has her feed. But never leave her unattended when she enjoys tummy time. Babies below four months of age cannot keep their head supported for too long on their own, and if you leave her unattended, it could lead to an accident due to suffocation. You can do this every afternoon to help her get relief from the gas and bloating. Here is another herbal remedy to help your baby fight colic. Start tummy time after the baby is four weeks old.
Give tummy massage
Another natural way to avoid newborn and infant colic is by giving your baby a gentle tummy massage. Again, you need to do this when your child is relaxed and not suffering from a bout of colic. Gently, with your thumb, circular massage around the navel in a circular movement and gradually massage the entire stomach. This can also help in relieving the gas and bloating, and save your baby from colic pain.
Note: Remember, both these techniques work well when practiced regularly and not during an episode of colic.
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