Dealing with Colic-Tips from Mums

14 March 2011 One Comment

The medical definition of Colic is: uncontrollable crying in an otherwise healthy and normally developing baby, which seems unrelated to pain or hunger, and which occurs most days or evenings over a period of time.

Living with a colicky baby can be very stressful especially since no one knows exactly what it is, although the common belief is that it is a painful gut often caused by a build up of gas. We thought: ‘Who better to turn to for advice on how to deal with colic than an experienced mum?’ So, last week one of our Questions of the Day on Facebook page and Twitter was:

What are your top tips for easing symptoms of colic?

We were so amazed by the fantastic response that we thought it would be a good idea to put all the answers together in one place for the benefit of anyone who’s baby is suffering with this painful condition.

So here is a list, in no particular order, compiled from all the wonderful advice offered by you fabulous mums.

Please bear in mind that these are all personal opinions and should not be considered as medical advice. If you are worried about your baby please seek help from a qualified medical professional such as your Health Visitor or GP.

@TheMcCaskieClan via Twitter My colic tip is to try and relax, comfort baby as much as poss & remember it’s only a stage, they soon grow out of it.

@pink_baybee via Twitter To relieve colic I used cooled boiled water with a tummy massage or peppermint water worked wonders! X

Rachel P via Facebook My little boy was lucky he didn’t suffer with colic just acid reflux which is bad enough!! He was premature so was on a special milk called nurprem it’s lots of vitamins and minerals more than milk it’s self so when he went up to normal powder milk like sma his body found it to much to handle so was sick all the time so it was a case of going thru all the milks and finding one to suit finally we did and body got use to it so it finally stopped.

Nicola F via Facebook Lucky for me my boy never had it. But my mum said if he did then warm boiled water with a little sugar in will help.

Kimberly S via Facebook I found infacol and diluted orange juice with cooled boiled kettle water worked a treat.

Kerry F via Facebook I found giving the babies a breather during half their feed and winding helped and also your bottles were a God send. Twins with colic is not fun!

Helen A via Facebook After weeks of colic as a new born I was going out of my mind, my wonderful mother in law came over to help me and she got one of my thin feather sofa cushions folded in half popped it under Cami’s knees and this helped keep her legs up to her tummy where she felt comfortable, it really eased the pain and screaming!! She slept for hours like it. As it was a feather pillow it moulded gently to the shape of her bent legs like memory foam so it did not get uncomfortable for her. Hope this maybe can help other mums who are struggling , it is horrid when they are so little and you have no idea what to do to help them or save your sanity.

Enola S via Facebook Baby massage can really soothe colic no matter what the cause is – if the baby might have reflux it’s best to prop their head up on a little pillow or towel as you massage, though x

Fenny H via Facebook If your child is having trouble with gas, it helps first to put him on his back and put your hands under his little feet and gently lift his knees up to his chest, helping him pass any gas that could be making him uncomfortable. A warm bath: usually a bath does it and he gets sleepy, falls asleep and then wakes up in a better mood. Try to swaddle and gently massage your baby. These are things that helped my baby, without medicine. Also a lot of love and patience

Marzena S via Facebook If my baby has colic I place my baby stomach down along my forearm, with his head near the crook of my elbow and his legs straddling my hand. I press my forearm into baby’s tense abdomen. This is the best method for my baby. I also tried cycling his legs and pushing them up to his stomach, and warm baths.

Kirsty B via Facebook YOU need to have a clear head. Don’t get wound up by it. It’s very easy to believe that you are the one doing something wrong, and get frustrated/upset because your baby is upset. That just makes baby worse x

Cheryl H via Facebook I once read that White noise can help ease colic..so i gave it a try. This included putting the Hoover on or the washing machine, apparently babies respond to these noises because they make a whooshing sound that reminds them of being in the womb. And it worked!!

My baby hasn’t had colic, but some good information is here: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/5/t051300.asp Abigail T via Facebook

Danka B via Facebook It’s good to warm a cloth on a radiator and then put it on the baby’s tummy over the clothes, it helped my lil one.xx

Leanne Y via Facebook Steam helps, put on the shower to a hot setting shut the doors and windows and leave it until the room is steamed up, swaddling baby in a blanket helps too, and rocking! All these methods should help ease the pain x x

Lorna K via Facebook skin to skin contact with a big warm blanket around you both, mummy cuddles can cure most things This really soothed my son. He is 1 now and when poorly we still do this and he loves it.

Sandy Lu via Facebook I find walking up and down the stairs while cuddling my baby works very well.

Shelley Y via Facebook Putting baby on their front across your knees and rubbing their back, my LO loved this and it always settled her.

Emma Yale via Facebook I found that buy infacol-that works a treat or even gripe water. It’s easy and calms them down in an instant, never mind piddling around at 4 in morning with rubbing backs and heating cloths but that’s just me, I love my sleep.x

Emma C via Facebook I’ve found that in the evenings when my DD gets really fussy I take her outside and she almost instantly stops once she realises she’s in a new place.

Kate H via Facebook If you sit down and place baby on your legs with their face down and give them a lovely back rub works for me, mind you I’m lucky that I have very long thighs x