|
Click Here for more articles
|
|
|
The 411 on Natural Colic Remedies
|
|
by: Jacqueline Courtiol
|
Any parent whose baby has suffered from colic can tell
you that colic is one of the most excruciating experiences ever imaginable.
Nothing is worse than seeing one’s baby in pain and not being able to help
take it away. Finding relief for colic quickly becomes a top priority.
There are many different colic remedies that may come to the rescue for
your particular baby. Each baby is unique and may only respond to some or a
combination of colic remedies. Unfortunately, parents may have to use the
old trial and error method to determine which provide the greatest amount
of relief for their little colic sufferer. One thing is certain, the days
of waiting it out are long gone for those determined to find an answer.
There is no need to suffer needlessly along with baby. If you have tried
all proper feeding and burping techniques and baby is still crying, try the
following list of the most effective remedies available:
1 Music / Sound - Traditional lullabies, classical music composed for
infants and heartbeat/womb CDs are very popular external remedies that
relax many babies suffering from colic. You can find some particularly good
ones at the Slumber Sounds web site. Some parents have had great success by
placing baby in car seat on top of running dishwasher, washing machine,
dryer or near running vacuum cleaner. A gentle shhhhhhhing sound in the ear
can work magic, as can soft whispers and humming or singing.
2 Diet - Bottle fed babies with colic may show improvement if switched to a
different formula, such as soy. The mothers of breastfed babies may have to
pay close attention to their own diet to make sure that babies are not
having negative reactions to certain foods. Try eliminating the following
common culprits one at a time for a week to see if there are any signs of
improvement for baby: dairy, caffeine, chocolate and gas-producing foods
such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, peppers, melons, tomatoes,
citrus fruits, beans and peanuts.
3 Gripe Water - Be sure to check the ingredients before buying a gripe
water. Many claim to be natural but include artificial ingredients and
preservatives. Colicky infants’ digestive systems certainly do not need any
of these potential irritants. Some gripe waters are not very helpful. There
is a new, very effective and safe gripe water on the market, which you can
purchase online at http://www.coliccalm.com
4 Warm Aromatherapy Bath / Massage - Add a few drops of lavender to a warm
bath and follow with the soothing touch of massage. Focus massage on the
tummy area to relieve painful trapped gas. You can research baby massage
techniques on the web or pick up a book on the subject. A good one to try
is The Practical Art of Baby Massage by Peter Walker. You can buy lovely
lavender, chamomile and fennel massage oils specifically designed for baby
massage on the Web. There is also a popular baby massage tool called
Snukkles which may work well for you.
5 Swaddling - Babies are often soothed when swaddled or held close to a
parents chest and heartbeat since they are reminiscent of the comfort and
safety of the womb. Newborn babies are soothed in nurseries with swaddling.
Techniques on folding soft, stretchy blankets are easy to learn. Find
instructions and diagrams online or pick up a book/ magazine on the topic.
A good ready-made wrap to try is SwaddleMe. It is easy to find on the
Web.
6 Motion - Walking, rocking and movement are very comforting to most
infants. The good old rocking chair may be all it takes. Some parents have
been known to push stroller or drive around in car until baby falls asleep.
Try putting baby in an infant chest carrier or sling so that your hands can
be free. Walk with baby facing down across arm with hand under abdomen,
applying gentle pressure. This position is often referred to as the colic
hold. Many babies like to be outdoors. Almost all babies love swings. Try a
combination of the above to see what helps soothe baby the best.
About the Author:
Jacqueline is a mother of two
and veteran teacher who has develop a unique and proven approach to dealing
with infant colic and infant gas.
Circulated by My Article
Emporium
|
|