subject: Dealing With A Colicky Baby [print this page] Colic can be very stressful and many babies experience it. There is little evidence or research to indicate what exactly causes it. There are some things you can do, while at other times there isn't much you can do but cuddle your child and let them work it out. This article goes over some tips to help you cope.
Before I begin to give some suggestions as to solutions, it is important to know that sometimes you just can't do anything for your baby. Sometimes you just have to accept that you can't do anything but hold them and let them "cry it out" in your arms. This can be extremely stressful, but keeping calm for your baby is your best bet. I would take my son out in a sling to help calm myself down as much as him in moments where I could do nothing but accept the situation and just hold him.
Besides the fact you may not always be able to help, there are a few things you can do. With my son, he sometimes got trapped wind that just wouldn't budge. I found this out when I decided to take him for a walk in the sling. After 45 minutes of walking he suddenly burped and was completely fine after that! Before I reached the 45 minute walk, every moment I stopped he would get upset and this burp came as such a huge surprise to me! I couldn't believe it took so long to dislodge. So my first tip is to get a sling, they work wonders.
Walking has always been a very effective way for me to calm myself down and my baby. Putting baby in sling is better than a pushchair because they are close to your chest, can feel your heartbeat so it calms them down. It also keeps them nice and warm as you regulate your baby's temperature when you are cuddling them. On top of this the fresh air you get on a walk can also help calm and refresh you both. This is just a great to bring some peace to your own mind as well as your baby's.
Another tip is baby massage or moving your baby's legs. Lay your baby down and move their legs in a cycle motion or one up and down one at a time. This isn't always effective but can help relieve trapped wind.
Sometimes we feel at a loss of what to do as we don't know what is wrong but sometimes it can be really obvious! I remember one time my son was really upset and it wasn't until a long while after I realized he was teething. I started rubbing his gums and he was fine. He wasn't very old then so I didn't think about his teeth but it was obvious once I finally worked it out.
Exhaust everything, but try to remember that sometimes there isn't always an answer. Colic isn't nice for mother or baby but it can be helped.
