Being a parent, you know that late nights are a given but if your baby has colic, the nights can last even longer. Find 12 ways to help soothe a fussy and colicky baby.

Is my baby just crying and needing something or does he/she have colic?

If you have taken care of all of your babies basic needs and they are still crying, they may have colic. See my article Baby Bedtime Routine to see if they are just needing a routine to help them calm down before bed. If you have felt like you have tried everything to help soothe your baby, keep reading…

Symptoms of Baby Colic

– Colic is an uncontrollable crying or screaming in infants. The rule is 3-3-3

• Uncontrollable crying for 3 hours or more
• Can happen as often or more than 3 times a week
• Lasts about 3 weeks

– Uncontrollable crying that is intense and is not their normal I’m hungry, want picked up, or tired cry.

– Gassy and uncomfortable

– There isn’t anything significant that is triggering their crying.

– Physically tightening their body, arching their body back, and/or not wanting to be touched or moved.

– Usually crying at a specific time of day, commonly in the evening.

 

Why does my baby have colic?

Colic is still a mystery. Doctors do not know exactly what is the main reason why babies develop colic. There can be many factors that are related to the reason why your baby may have colic. So, saying that it is just one thing could be a mistake. Some say that it is because of overstimulation, digestive issues, or allergies However, there are a couple of things that have helped other moms get through the colic phase.




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12 Colic Calming Methods

 

Quiet and Relaxation

Your baby may be overstimulated throughout the day or when they are wanting to sleep. So before the time they usually start crying, try to give your baby a relaxing and soothing atmosphere. A white noise machine, soft humming, quiet and/or a dimly lit room may help relax your baby. They may also just want to be left alone and not touched.

Football hold

By holding your baby tummy down along your forearm, will sometimes help relax and soothe a fussy baby.

Take A Warm Bath

Give your little one a calming bath to help relax them. By using a calming wash while bathing and a calming lotion  afterwards, to massage them with.

Exercise your baby

• Switch their legs back and forth by making bicycle looking movements with their legs.
• Gently and slowly bring both of your baby’s legs in and out from their chest.

Keep Your Baby Away From Smoke

Keeping your baby away from smoke may help with their colic. To read more about how colic is increased do to tobacco smoke visit here.

Probiotics

Did you know that probiotics are not just for adults? They are great for helping immune systems, improve gut health, and decreasing the crying time of your colicky baby. You give your baby their probiotics by adding some drops like Colic Probiotics Drops in your baby’s formula or applying the drops on your nipple if you are breastfeeding. If you would like to learn more go to –  Using Probiotics When Your Baby Has Colic.

Changing Mommy’s Diet

If you are nursing, then changing what you are eating may help. See if certain foods cause more flare ups than others. Make sure you are eating as much whole and unprocessed foods as you can. There are also a couple of colic causing foods that you may want to avoid. Gassy foods = gassy babies.

• Uncooked vegetables of the Brassica family like – cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts
• Spicy foods, peppers, and onions
• Allergenic foods like- dairy, soy, wheat, nuts, and corn.

Formula

If you are exclusively formula feeding or only supplementing, it may help your baby if you change their formula to one that is specifically designed for helping colicky babies, like this one. Some formulas have probiotics already in them to help reduce their crying.

Use A Different Bottle

You may find that switching your baby’s bottle to an anti-colic bottle, beneficial. Anti-colic bottles are designed to reduce any air pockets when your baby is eating.

Burp Your Baby

Even with long nights, don’t forget to burp your little one after each feeding. Not burping them can leave them in pain from the air trapped inside, giving them cramps and feeling uncomfortable.

Massage

By massaging their tummy you can help relieve some of your baby’s discomfort. You can do this by using your warm hand to massage your baby’s tummy in a clockwise motion.

Give them security

Give your baby the comfort they need by being snuggled close to mommy or swaddled. By doing both of these, you can greatly reduce crying in most newborns and colicky babies.

• Baby wearing- I suggest using a sling or cloth wrap. Both are the safest for newborns and comfortable for both mommy and baby.
• Swaddle- Swaddling early, when they are newborn helps them have the security similar to when they were in mommy’s tummy and it also helps them sleep better. I like using swaddle wraps the best for newborns because it is fast and easier to do than swaddle blankets.

 

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