Many parents are faced with such a common problem as intestinal colic in a newborn. Intestinal colic is abdominal pain that occurs when there is increased gas formation in the baby's intestines. This usually happens when the gastrointestinal tract adapts to nutrition after the birth of a child. The baby becomes restless during this period cries uncontrollably and continuously.
Most often, colic - intestinal spasms in infants appears 2-4 weeks after birth, and disappears after 3 months. Such problems can appear even in completely healthy children. However, it can be treated quite successfully.
There are a large number of ways to relieve your baby from unpleasant painful sensations and improve his condition. This article will tell young parents about the difference between colic and gas and what treatment is best to choose.
What is the difference between colic and gas in newborns?
By the word gas, children's doctors mean the accumulation of gases in the baby's intestines. This is accompanied by unpleasant sensations, as well as bloating in the child. The child experiences some discomfort, may release gases, grunt, and press his legs to his tummy.
Moderate accumulation of gases in a child’s intestines is normal. Therefore, it does not usually cause the baby to scream or cry. But when a lot of them accumulate, parents will know about this by the cry of the child. In other words, their excessive accumulation is accompanied by so-called colic.
If gases can cause slight discomfort, then intestinal spasms, on the contrary, cause sharp, severe pain in the child’s stomach. It is accompanied by a long, heart-rending cry of the baby. To understand what is bothering the child, it is important to distinguish colic from gas.
Symptoms of colic:
- unreasonable anxiety of the baby;
- the child presses his legs to his tummy, which indicates cutting pain in the stomach or intestines;
- at the same time he cries shrilly;
- releases gases;
- paleness appears on the face;
- loose stools or constipation.
Causes of colic and how to deal with it
Among the main causes of colic, we highlight the following points:
If the child is bottle-fed, then when feeding the bottle should be held at an angle of 45 degrees. This will prevent the baby from swallowing air.
Some foods can also cause stomach pain, therefore, a mother who is breastfeeding her baby is advised to follow a special diet. In this case, tummy pain in a child can be avoided only by following a strict diet.
When breastfeeding, a nursing mother should exclude the following foods from her diet:
- spicy dishes;
- corn;
- cabbage;
- milk;
- coffee;
- nuts;
How long does a baby have colic?
Many parents are afraid of problems associated with excessive accumulation of gases in the child, so they are interested in when colic appears and how long it bothers the baby.
Most often, colic and gassy begin to appear 2-3 weeks after the baby is born. This has already been mentioned above. Colic intensifies at one and a half to two months and usually goes away by 3-4 months. At this stage of life, the child’s digestive system is already adapted to the food offered. The ailments gradually begin to recede. However, do not forget that all children are different. Some people experience similar problems earlier, others later.
If your baby starts having intestinal cramps at 2 months, they can bother him for up to six months. This is often observed in premature babies. This is a very big problem for parents. Such problems can only be avoided with the help of special diets. To receive qualified help, parents are recommended to consult a nutritionist.
First aid for a baby with colic
There are many traditional ways to help your baby with intestinal cramps. Let's describe the best of them.
Before each feeding, the baby should be placed on his tummy. So he should lie down for 10-15 minutes. In this situation, the gases will come out and it will not come to colic.
A warm compress from an ironed diaper is also a very good way. You need to iron the diaper so that it becomes warm, but not hot, and tie it around the baby’s tummy. This is a very effective method. Our grandmothers used it back in the old days.. A gentle mother’s tummy massage also helps a lot. It should be done with light clockwise movements.
During intestinal cramps, the mother should hold the baby to her chest. This will distract him from the pain and the colic will become less severe.
If a child has colic who is bottle-fed, in this case the formula needs to be replaced.
Colic and gas in newborns: treatment
All medications intended for the treatment of colic are divided into two types: drugs for prevention, drugs for relieving intestinal spasms.
The use of prophylactic anticolic drugs does not guarantee complete disappearance of colic, but makes attacks rare and less painful. Such drugs are very effective. They reduce gas formation, which causes colic. Their active ingredients, such as dill, fennel, and anise, have anti-colic properties.
Drugs that help overcome intestinal spasms are used at the time of an attack to stop it. These drugs are made from simiticone. It relieves tension in the intestinal walls, breaking down accumulated gases and reducing discomfort. With the birth of a child, it is recommended to have medications for the treatment of colic and gas in your home medicine cabinet.
Means and preparations for the prevention of colic
A good remedy for preventing colic is Plantex tea. This tea is made from fennel. The package contains 10 granulated tea bags. To prepare the drink, you need to pour 1 sachet with 100 ml of boiling water. Let it brew. Give a newborn this tea 1-2 times a day between feedings, dividing 1 bag into 2 doses.
Another good remedy is dill water. It can be purchased at a pharmacy. Sold in glass bottles of 15 ml. This drink is given to the baby 2 times a day between feedings.
If the pharmacy doesn’t have dill water, you can prepare it yourself. To do this, dill seeds are poured with boiling water. Let it brew for 40–45 minutes. After this, filter.
This drink removes gases well and relieves intestinal spasms. Regular use of this product helps improve digestion and also relieves pain in a child.
It should be added that dill water is useful not only for the baby, but also for the mother. It improves lactation, digestion in mother and has a calming property.
Together with the above remedies for the prevention of colic, you can use the drug Baby Calm. This is an Israeli drug based on vegetable oils. It contains dill, anise and mint oils.
Before using the drug need to be diluted with warm boiled water, as indicated on the bottle. The resulting suspension is dripped into the child’s mouth, 10 drops each, before feeding. Baby Calm should be stored in the refrigerator.
Means and preparations for relieving colic
One of the most effective and popular drugs for relieving colic is espumizan. This drug is sold without a prescription, but when buying it, you must tell the seller at the pharmacy that the product is being purchased for a newborn, since this drug is also available for adults.
The main advantage of espumisan is that it can be given to the baby from the first day of life. Espumisan is a suspension of simiticone. It is not absorbed through the intestinal mucosa, so it does not cause any harm to the child’s body. Once in the intestines, espumizan relieves the baby from colic and is excreted from the body in its original form.
Espumisan is sold for newborns in the form of a white suspension with banana flavor. The bottle has a dispenser and measuring cap, which is very convenient to use. The dosage of the drug depends on the age of the child. When it comes to babies, it is very important to know the correct dosage to follow. To resolve this issue it is recommended consult a doctor.
Espumisan has no restrictions on the number of doses. It all depends on how severe the baby’s colic symptoms are. The duration of use is also not limited. The drug can be safely given to the baby until he is no longer tormented by intestinal spasms.
Another good medication for relieving colic is the drug Sab Simlex. It is developed on the basis of simitikon and is available in the form of a suspension.
Sab Simlex should be given to the baby 15 drops after feeding. If the baby is bottle-fed, the suspension can be added directly to the milk formula.
Sab Simlex, like all medications, has contraindications. Its use is not recommended in case of obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract, congenital pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as in case of individual intolerance to the drug. In rare cases, the baby may be allergic to simiticone or other components that make up the medicine. In this case, you should contact your pediatrician and change the drug.
Colic is a clinical syndrome manifested in infants. Most pediatricians tend to view colic as a natural physiological phenomenon associated with the functional immaturity of the digestive system. At the same time, it is important to know that there are others, even quite serious ones, the first manifestations of which are very similar to painful, but, in general, harmless colic.
How long does colic last in a newborn?
Intestinal colic in infants is sometimes called three-month colic. The number three is associated with the functioning of the intestines in a completely mystical way. So:
- the first attacks appear in the third week of life;
- the total duration of an attack of pain during the day is about three hours;
- The problem disappears on its own after reaching three months of age.
In some sources you can find mention of three restless days a week. In fact, the “rule of three” is very arbitrary; colic can begin earlier or much later, torment the baby not until three, but up to six months, etc.
How to tell if your newborn baby has colic symptoms
The symptoms of an attack of colic in an infant are quite characteristic and well known to experienced mothers.
Colic is considered a diagnosis of exclusion. If the baby feels well outside of attacks, eats normally and gains weight, has no signs of indigestion, the problem is temporary and the baby does not need serious treatment. The doctor will recommend appointments and advise you to be patient.
Can colic in a newborn baby be permanent?
As a rule, colic begins with rare (1-2 times a week), short-lasting attacks (15-20 minutes), which stop after the passage of gas or stool. Subsequently, the frequency and duration of colic increase, sometimes reaching 8 hours. An alarming sign of long-term colic may be the overlap of other symptoms such as foamy stools and constipation. In this case, additional examination is required to exclude diseases that have similar features.
Can colic occur during feeding?
Attacks of colic are quite clearly associated with feeding, appearing approximately 20-30 minutes after it, mainly in the evenings. Sometimes an attack of pain can occur during a meal, prompting the baby to refuse the breast or bottle. This is due to the fact that milk, entering the intestines, increases its peristalsis. Swallowing air during feeding may also be a possible cause. In this case, you need to hold the newborn upright or massage the tummy. You should not give your baby the breast if he doesn’t want to until the attack passes. Otherwise, excessive intrusiveness may lead to rejection of the breast even in the absence of colic. Sometimes a baby's anxiety during feeding can be caused by...
How to distinguish colic from gas in a newborn
One of the causes of intestinal pain (colic) in a newborn may be gas, which is the name given to the accumulation of gases in the intestines. At the same time, colic and gas can occur independently of each other. With increased gas formation, the child is restless, groans, draws in his legs, strains, but cries quite rarely and not as shrill as with colic. After six months, colic remains only a memory, and the gas problem can arise periodically as a reaction to dietary habits.
How to distinguish colic from constipation in a baby
It is very important to distinguish colic from constipation. Normally, a breastfed baby has stool 4-7 times a day. If bowel movements occur 1-2 times a day or less often, you should consult a doctor to find out the reasons.
How to distinguish colic from hunger
In theory, everything is simple: a hungry baby should calm down if you give him a breast or a bottle of formula. In practice, there are other options: the quantity or quality of milk has changed, the formula is chosen incorrectly and the baby does not receive enough of the necessary substances. Malnutrition is indirectly indicated by changes in bowel and bladder bowel movements. The baby begins to cry immediately after feeding and cries almost constantly, becomes lethargic, and sleeps poorly. Hungry babies can get carried away by sucking fists, fingers and anything that fits in their mouths. With prolonged malnutrition, a decrease in the rate of weight gain is observed. For more information about whether it is at a particular age and how to determine it, read the special articles.
How to distinguish colic from lactase deficiency
Pain in the tummy can be a symptom of lactase deficiency (in everyday life it is sometimes mistakenly called lactose deficiency). A deficiency of the enzyme that breaks down milk sugar is indicated by:
- loose, foamy stools with lumps, bowel movements occurring more than 10 times a day. The smell is pronounced sour. Artificial babies may be constipated, but the structure of the stool has the same characteristic features: clear lumps, then foamy liquid.
- weight loss.
- disruption of the intestinal microflora.
Does not exclude colic; on the contrary, their manifestations only intensify.
Can there be fever or diarrhea with colic?
Fever and diarrhea are very alarming signals. The appearance of such symptoms means that in addition to or instead of colic, your baby has more serious problems with the digestive system. In such cases, you should immediately consult a doctor.
How to determine if a newborn is colicky
Focusing only on the baby's crying and restlessness, it is sometimes difficult to determine whether colic has passed or not. After all, at the age when they pass, teething begins, which also causes a lot of anxiety for parents. Therefore, the main criterion that you can focus on is the baby’s tummy. If crying is accompanied by a tight and swollen tummy, flatulence, then colic still bothers the baby. When the baby’s tummy is soft, it means that the colic has already passed, and the reason for the crying must be sought elsewhere.
The digestive system in infants is not fully formed, for this reason, children in the first three months of life may feel discomfort associated with the accumulation of gases in the intestines, which provoke colic. This problem has physiological causes, does not require special treatment, and, as a rule, goes away on its own by three months. The task of parents is to prevent the occurrence of colic, in all available ways, and to alleviate the baby’s condition if pain in the tummy does occur.
How to tell if your child has a stomach ache
Babies express their feelings and needs by crying. The cause of crying can be fear, boredom, discomfort from wet diapers, hunger, changes in ambient temperature and pain. The source of anxiety can be determined by the intensity of the crying, its intonation and the baby’s characteristic behavior. So, in case of pain, the baby’s cry is sharp and piercing, and does not stop after the child is picked up. The child may refuse food and not respond to soothing words or lulling.
Pain syndrome in infants occurs most often with otitis media, intracranial pressure, infectious diseases accompanied by inflammatory processes, as well as various pathologies of the digestive system. Therefore, only a doctor can determine what exactly is hurting a baby.
If the baby has a normal temperature, there are no signs of intoxication of the body and visible inflammatory reactions, and sharp crying is replaced by periods of calm, when the baby walks, sleeps normally, eats with appetite and gains weight, infant colic is diagnosed. Colic is an attack of intense pain caused by increased gas production and stretching of the intestinal walls, resulting in spasm.
The main symptoms of colic are:
- Sharp crying that appears suddenly, often in a dream, or after the child has eaten. A baby can scream incessantly from several minutes to several hours, most often in the evening and at night. The crying stops as suddenly as it started, rather than subsiding gradually, while the baby may immediately begin to smile or fall asleep. After some time, everything repeats again.
- With pain caused by colic, the baby may turn pale or, conversely, blush. Muscle tone is increased, the stomach is tense.
- The child pulls his legs towards his tummy or twists them.
- After the gases pass, the child feels better.
Unfortunately, not only gases can bother a baby; some pathological conditions of the digestive system, accompanied by pain in the abdomen, are potentially dangerous to the health and life of the baby. Parents should know how certain diseases manifest themselves in order to promptly seek medical help.
Symptoms and manifestations of pathologies that may be accompanied by abdominal pain in infants - table
| Pathology | Possible reasons | Symptoms and manifestations |
| The intestinal microflora of newborns is in the process of formation. Any changes in the diet of a nursing mother can affect the digestive processes. When bottle-fed, babies experience a deficiency of beneficial bacteria, and physiological dysbiosis can last longer than in infants. Concomitant factors affecting the qualitative and quantitative composition of microflora include the use of antibiotics in the treatment of a baby or a nursing mother. | Unstable stool - greenish diarrhea mixed with mucus may be replaced by constipation. The child is restless, refuses food, and loses weight. After feeding, regurgitation, rumbling in the intestines and bloating are possible. | |
| Lactase deficiency | Lack or deficiency of the lactase enzyme, which is involved in the breakdown of milk sugar. The pathology can be congenital with a genetic predisposition, as well as acquired. The secondary form occurs in children born before the 24th week of pregnancy, as well as when the baby is overfed. | Milk sugar (lactose) is not digested and disrupts the intestinal microflora, causing fermentation and impaired intestinal motility. FN is accompanied by bloating, rumbling, belching or vomiting after feeding. If severe diarrhea and vomiting occur, symptoms of dehydration may appear and develop rapidly. This condition is dangerous for the baby's life. |
| Allergic reaction | It occurs with the early introduction of complementary foods, as well as if new food is introduced during the period of illness, when the baby’s immune system is activated. In newborns, food allergies can occur when the nursing mother does not follow the diet. | Indigestion is accompanied by diarrhea, abdominal pain and skin rashes. |
| Constipation | In breastfed children, constipation occurs when the body is dehydrated or the mother's milk is high in fat. Artificial people are more susceptible to the disease. A mixture that is too thick or inappropriate can cause constipation, accompanied by cramping. | Constipation in a breastfed baby is considered to be a prolonged absence of stool, accompanied by restlessness in the baby. When trying to have a bowel movement, the child strains and turns red. With constipation, stool is defragmented and has a dense consistency. |
| Intestinal obstruction | In infants, the main cause of intestinal obstruction is volvulus or pinching of the intestine, which is associated with impaired peristalsis. In some cases, obstruction occurs due to a tumor or the presence of intestinal abnormalities, as well as severe constipation. |
|
| Acute intestinal infection due to infection with various types of Shigella. |
|
If a child, in addition to the signs characteristic of infant colic, has other symptoms indicated in the table, you should immediately consult a doctor.
For infant colic, the rule of “three” applies - they appear in the third week of life, last three hours a day, three days a week and go away on their own as soon as the baby is three months old
Causes of colic in infants
Colic in infants appears in the third week of life and stops when the baby is three months old. The main reason for their occurrence is called the functional immaturity of the digestive system, which leads to increased gas formation in the intestines.
There are a number of factors that contribute to the appearance of infant colic, as well as influencing their intensity and duration:
- Swallowing air during feeding. Incorrect attachment to the breast or incorrectly selected nipples on formula bottles (too large or small hole) contribute to the swallowing of air, which bursts the walls of the stomach and intestines.
- Enzyme deficiency in newborns. To digest food, the baby needs enzymes; if the baby was born ahead of schedule, their production in the stomach has not yet been established. This can lead to indigestion, which results in frequent regurgitation of curdled milk. Incompletely digested food causes fermentation processes in the intestines and leads to increased flatulence. As you get older, the problem goes away on its own. In addition to the factor of gastrointestinal immaturity, overfeeding leads to digestive disorders.
- Changes in intestinal microflora. At birth, the child’s intestines are sterile, the colonization of its microflora occurs gradually, and its composition can constantly change. Any changes may be accompanied by constipation or diarrhea. Doctors do not diagnose dysbacteriosis until one year, since the quantitative and qualitative composition of the microflora is at the stage of formation.
- Non-compliance with diet by a nursing mother. The composition of breast milk varies depending on the foods a woman consumes. For this reason, foods that cause constipation and food allergies should be excluded from the menu. And also, you should not get carried away with increasing the fat content of milk, as this can lead to digestive upset in the baby.
- Incorrect feeding regimen. Pediatricians recommend feeding babies as needed. When a child is hungry, the stomach secretes a sufficient amount of juices and enzymes necessary for digestion. When feeding on time, the digestive system may not be ready, which causes heaviness and pain in the abdomen, and puts additional stress on the pancreas.
- Violation of the temperature regime in the room. The microclimate in the room where the baby is located affects the digestion processes. If the child is hot and the air in the room is dry, the baby refuses food, feels thirsty, and may experience constipation and colic. When you feel cold, a large amount of energy is spent on thermoregulation, while intestinal function slows down, and cramps may occur.
- Weak abdominal muscles. The condition of the abdominal muscles affects intestinal motility - with hypertonicity and severe crying, overexertion of the abdominal muscles can cause vomiting. Weak muscles with hypotonicity, on the contrary, lead to a slowdown in intestinal motor function, which is accompanied by constipation.
- Unstable emotional situation in the family. Even after birth, the baby and mother are one, physically and emotionally. So, a mother can anticipate the baby’s awakening; she releases breast milk a few minutes before the baby’s hungry cry. Children, in turn, also adopt the mother’s mood and emotional state, show anxiety during her long absence and fall asleep better in the same room with the parent. Therefore, it is not surprising that stress, postpartum depression and quarrels in the family can affect the behavior of a baby, cause anxiety in him, and with it colic of psychosomatic origin.
Improper feeding is one of the most important factors in the occurrence of colic. Inappropriate or thick formula, a large hole in the nipple, incorrect inclination, large portions - all this leads to increased gas formation and abdominal pain
What to do if your newborn has a stomach ache
Pediatricians, including Dr. Komarovsky, are inclined to believe that infant colic is a temporary phenomenon that simply needs to be endured. However, there are a number of recommendations that, if followed, can prevent the appearance of abdominal pain or relieve the symptoms of colic in infants. Before performing them, you should make sure that the cause of crying and discomfort was colic, and not other pathologies of the digestive system, the treatment of which requires medical attention.
How to help a baby?
- At the first symptoms of colic, a compress from a warm diaper will help. To do this, a diaper folded in four and ironed is placed on the tummy. Instead of a diaper, you can use a salt heating pad purchased at a pharmacy.
- Another way to distract your baby from pain is to switch his attention to a bright object or a uniform sound. Many parents note that the baby stops crying when water comes from the tap or the steady hum of a vacuum cleaner or blender.
- Placing the baby on its tummy, on the mother’s bare belly, is no less effective. Moderate warmth eliminates the spasm, and the usual rhythm of breathing and heartbeat lull the baby to sleep.
- Warm water also helps eliminate intestinal spasms. Often, babies suffering from constipation and abdominal pain due to intestinal spasms have bowel movements immediately after taking a warm bath, so immediately after bathing you should not swaddle the baby or put a diaper on him; it is enough to wrap him loosely in a terry diaper.
- If gases accumulate, a gas outlet tube or, as a last resort, a pipette without a rubber tip will help. This method should be used only as a last resort, if other methods have not alleviated the baby’s suffering.
Methods for eliminating colic in babies - photo gallery
This heating pad emits heat at the optimal temperature and eliminates cramps. 
Modern gas outlet tubes have a retainer that does not allow the tip to penetrate deeply and prevents injury to the rectum 
Warm water and a feeling of weightlessness relaxes the baby and promotes better removal of gases 
Tactile contact with the mother's skin eliminates infant colic and calms the baby
Abdominal massage for colic
Another effective way to eliminate infant colic is to massage the tummy, which relaxes spasming muscles, stimulates peristalsis, the release of gases and eliminates pain due to the release of gases and accelerating blood circulation.
It’s very easy to do this massage yourself, just follow some rules:
- the air temperature in the room should be 21–23 degrees;
- Mom’s hands should be dry and warm; you can preheat your palms by rubbing them against each other;
- movements are performed clockwise, and in no case in the opposite direction;
- You should perform light, massaging strokes, without affecting the right hypochondrium;
- massage should be done daily, 15 minutes before feeding.
Tummy massage for colic - video
Gymnastics for constipation and increased gas formation
- Place the baby on the back and pull the legs brought together and bent at the knees towards the chest, briefly holding them in this position. Number of repetitions 5–6 times.
- Alternately pull the leg bent at the knee towards the opposite elbow. So, you need to try to reach your right elbow with your left knee and vice versa. Do 3 pull-ups on each leg.
- Turn the baby over onto his tummy and stroke his back from top to bottom, from the shoulder girdle to the lower back, without touching the line of the spine.
- After the navel has healed, you can lay the baby on a large ball (fitball), after covering it with a diaper. The baby is placed on the surface of the ball, tummy down, holding the lower back with one hand and the feet with the other, and rocked back and forth. The amplitude of rocking should not be strong, as this will cause fear and resistance in the baby, which will lead to a negative effect from the exercises.
It is better to do gymnastics immediately after bathing, when muscle tone is relaxed and the child is in the mood for communication. If the baby is very tired, wants to sleep or eat, it is better to refuse gymnastics, since there will be no positive result from such activities.
Medicines for colic and abdominal pain
For severe abdominal pain caused by increased gas formation, drugs based on simethicone are used; such drugs are not absorbed into the blood, do not accumulate in the body and are not addictive. Simethicone helps eliminate gas bubbles during flatulence by reducing their surface tension. The gases that are released can be either absorbed by the intestinal walls or excreted naturally, thanks to intestinal peristalsis. Most often, pediatricians prescribe the following safe drugs:
- Espumisan;
- Bobotik;
- Simikol;
- Infacol;
- Sub Simplex;
- Colikid.
Herbal preparations that reduce gas formation in infants:
- Bebinos;
- Plantex;
- Dill water;
- Baby Calm.
If the cause of abdominal pain in an infant is associated with changes in the intestinal microflora, probiotics are prescribed:
- Bifiform baby;
- Linex baby;
- Bifidumbacterin;
- Acipol.
In case of enzyme deficiency, the doctor may prescribe medications containing the enzymes amylase, protease, and lipase. Such medicines improve the digestion of food, eliminate constipation and flatulence. Enzyme-containing products are unsafe because they can be addictive, and if they are abruptly discontinued, they can provoke inflammation of the pancreas. The most commonly used medications are:
- Lactazar;
- Mezim;
- Creon.
Medications for colic - photo gallery
Espumisan L 
Plantex 
Bifiform baby 
Lactazar
Diet
Pain may occur due to the mother's failure to follow a special diet. Thus, the list of prohibited foods that should not be consumed by a woman breastfeeding a baby includes:
- Vegetables that increase gas formation are white cabbage, legumes, radishes, cucumbers, onions, garlic, eggplants, radishes.
- Fruits that cause heaviness in the stomach - pears, cherries, plums, grapes, raisins.
- Products that promote fermentation in the intestines - whole cow's milk, hard cheese, black and malt bread;
- Foods that cause constipation - nuts, chocolate, baked goods, strong black tea, semolina porridge;
- Allergens - more than one egg per day, citrus fruits, strawberries, honey, orange and red fruits and vegetables in large quantities.
- Products that contribute to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract - smoked sausages and fish, canned food, products containing dyes or flavor enhancers.
In the first months of breastfeeding, the mother's diet is very limited, however, gradually, the menu can be expanded, adding new dishes to it. It is important to keep a food diary so that if your baby develops digestive disorders, you can know exactly what caused the malaise.
Folk remedies for colic in babies
Medicines, although considered safe for babies, however, in addition to simethicone, contain additional components (flavors and sweeteners), which, if used frequently, can cause diathesis in the baby. For this reason, many parents resort to equally effective folk remedies to eliminate the symptoms of flatulence and abdominal pain in infants. The easiest to prepare and time-tested are decoctions made from chamomile flowers, dill seeds or fennel.
| Name | Ingredients | How to cook | How to give to a baby | Indications |
| Dill water |
|
| Dill water is given to the child 10 minutes before meals, 3 times a day. |
|
| Fennel seed infusion |
|
| A decoction of fennel seeds is given to the baby 1 teaspoon before each feeding. |
|
| Chamomile decoction |
|
| Chamomile decoction is given in between feedings, 1 tsp three times a day. In the summer, you can dilute the decoction with boiled and cooled water and give it as herbal tea. | Chamomile helps eliminate inflammation and activates the digestive system. |
If such products are used by a nursing mother, then the likelihood of colic in the baby is reduced by half.
Treatment prognosis and possible complications. Consequences
Infant colic is not a disease - it is a physiological process of development of the digestive system that does not require special treatment. Taking medications only briefly relieves the symptoms of pain, without eliminating the root cause of their occurrence. Pediatricians note that there is no universal remedy for getting rid of colic; some babies are helped by massage and a warm bath, others only by medications, and others are distracted from pain and calm down at the first sounds of the rhythmic hum of household appliances.
When an infant exhibits abdominal pain, it is important to exclude other causes of its occurrence, since an incorrect diagnosis can lead to complications. Thus, warming the tummy with a heating pad is contraindicated in case of inflammatory processes in the body, and taking medications based on simethicone can harm the baby with intestinal obstruction. Therefore, at the first signs of abdominal pain, parents should not prescribe treatment on their own, but be sure to show the child to a pediatrician.
Prevention
It is impossible to prevent the occurrence of infant colic; this is the path that all parents and children must go through, however, by eliminating the factors that contribute to its occurrence, the frequency and intensity of the pain syndrome can be significantly reduced.
Methods for preventing colic in infants are:
- Daily routine. In order to normalize digestive processes, you should not put your baby to bed immediately after feeding. After the child wakes up, it is necessary to maintain a wakefulness regime, the duration of which depends on the age of the baby. It is better to do active communication or gymnastics in the first half of the day, and in the late afternoon schedule a relaxing massage and bathing so as not to overstimulate the baby’s nervous system.
- You should not overfeed the baby, since the amount of food for which there are not enough enzymes undergoes a process of rotting in the intestines, which leads to increased gas formation.
- Correct attachment to the breast, preventing air from being swallowed and injury to the nipple. If cracks in the nipples have already formed, silicone pads should be used until they heal, since the fear and pain that the mother experiences during feeding are transmitted to the baby and can trigger an attack of colic.
- It is necessary to dress the child in loose clothing made from natural fabrics. Swaddling, an incorrectly worn diaper, or tight-fitting onesies can create pressure on the intestines, which can affect bowel function. When choosing clothes, you should exclude outfits made from synthetic fabrics that disrupt thermoregulation and cause overheating of the baby.
- Carrying your baby upright after each feeding allows air to escape as a burp.
- Strengthening the abdominal muscles through gymnastics, massage and regular laying on the stomach improves peristalsis, prevents constipation and flatulence.
Colic in a child in the first months of life is one of the the most common problems.
In a broad sense, this condition represents pain of varying degrees of intensity, provoked by the formation of an increased amount of gases in the intestines.
Colic may be a natural reaction of the baby's digestive system or it may be a sign of dysfunction.
This condition can be eliminated in several ways, but the factor that provoked it must be identified. We will talk about the symptoms of colic in newborns in this article.
How to recognize volvulus in a child? Find out about this from ours.
Concept and characteristics
Colic is a specific spasm of the smooth muscles of the intestine, which accompanied by painful attacks.
In children in the first year of life, this condition in most cases is not an independent disease and indicates a natural weakness of the digestive system.
If colic occurs in a child at an older age, then the spasm may indicate the presence of serious abnormalities in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
Causes
Colic is always provoked by certain external or internal factors.
In most cases, their cause is disruption of the feeding process a newborn or infant, errors in the diet of a nursing woman or baby if he is bottle-fed, as well as a number of other nuances.
In some children, colic may appear under the influence of the individual characteristics of the body. The presence of specific reasons in this case cannot be identified.
Causes of colic in children the following factors may be involved:
For serious reasons Colic in a child can be caused by congenital diseases of the digestive system, food poisoning or infection. In some cases, pain in the intestines is provoked by colds.
The most dangerous cause of colic is intestinal obstruction. This pathology may be congenital.
In the presence of such factors, it is not possible to normalize the baby’s condition using common means. The child needs comprehensive medical care.
Products causing the problem
There are certain foods, the presence of which in a nursing mother's diet significantly increases the risk of colic in the baby. If remove them from the menu, then the baby’s condition returns to normal within 24 hours.
Provoke colic The child may have the following foods in the mother's diet:
- nuts;
- cabbage;
- spicy seasonings;
- tomatoes;
- radish;
- radish;
- mushrooms;
- caffeine;
- corn;
- garlic;
- black bread;
- grape;
- dairy products;
- carbonated drinks.
What are the dangers of constipation for a child? find out right now.
At what age do they begin and when do they go away?
In most cases, colic occurs in children from the second to the fourth week after birth.
If this condition is not a sign of a serious abnormality in the functioning of the digestive tract, then by four months of life the functioning of the digestive organs is normalized.
Colic can occur in completely healthy older children as a reaction to the first feeding or introduction of new products into the diet, characterized by difficult digestion in the intestines.
How can you tell if your baby has intestinal pain?
Identifying colic in a child is not difficult. This condition accompanied by specific symptoms.
However, in some cases, signs of colic may coincide with the manifestation of diseases of the digestive system in a child.
To establish an accurate diagnosis and assess the baby’s condition, the help of an experienced specialist may be required.
Symptoms of colic The child has the following conditions:
- When crying, the baby presses its legs towards its tummy.
- Appetite before and after colic is not affected.
- The child cries shrilly and shows anxiety.
- The baby's skin may suddenly become pale.
- While crying, the baby turns red and clenches his fists.
- The stool may take on a green tint and a slimy consistency.
- A colicky baby's tummy becomes hard.
- After feeding, the baby begins to cry.
- The presence of gas formation is indicated by the rounding of the abdomen ().
- In most cases, colic occurs at the same time every day.
Help for babies
Despite the fact that colic can be a natural reaction of the baby’s body, providing assistance to the child cannot be ruled out under any circumstances.
How to help a child with colic? There are many ways to normalize the state of the digestive system of a newborn or infant. If independent attempts do not lead to the desired result, then you need to contact an experienced specialist.
Options for dealing with colic in a child:
- Before and after feeding(before feeding, the baby should be placed on a hard surface on the tummy; after eating, it is necessary to hold the baby in an upright position for some time, it is advisable to wait for regurgitation).
- Compresses(you need to iron the diaper with an iron and then apply it to the baby’s tummy; in this case it is not recommended to use a heating pad).
- Massage(to eliminate colic, it is enough to regularly make clockwise stroking movements along the baby’s tummy, U-shaped stroking and stroking along the tummy with light pressure on it).
- Gas outlet pipe(before the procedure, the child’s anus must be lubricated with Vaseline or vegetable oil, one end of the tube is inserted into the anus with a rotational movement, the other is lowered into the water, characteristic bubbles in the liquid will indicate the release of gases).
Treatment methods for colic in children vary. Some experts recommend that new mothers perform activities that are not pediatric procedures.
For example, nice music can distract the child, and the attack of colic will pass with less intensity.
Pharmacy drugs and folk remedies
What to give a child for colic? Drugs against colic in a child are divided into two categories - for the prevention and relief of this condition.
The first group includes Plantex, Baby Calm, Babynos and Dill water. Helps relieve pain from colic Espumisan, Bobotik and Sub Simplex.
These pharmaceutical products are predominantly herbal based and do not harm children even of the youngest age.
Examples of folk remedies to combat colic:
- Fennel tea(a teaspoon of fennel seeds should be crushed in a mortar or crushed in other ways, pour a glass of boiling water and leave for one hour, give the baby a teaspoon of tea before each feeding).
- Dill water(one teaspoon of dill seeds should be poured with a glass of boiling water, the preparation should be left for an hour, the daily dosage for a child should not exceed three tablespoons, a new decoction should be prepared daily).
- Chamomile decoction(pour a teaspoon of dry chamomile mixture into a glass of boiling water, leave and cool, give the baby a teaspoon of the decoction several times a day).
If a child's colic is more intense, then stronger medication may be needed.
For example, when a fever appears, it is recommended to give the baby Paracetamol, with regular strong cramps in the intestines - Enterosgel, Lactofiltrum or Kuplaton. Only a doctor should prescribe such medications after a full examination of the baby.
What can a nursing mother eat?
There is a special diet designed for women during lactation. Diet restrictions include only the exclusion of foods that can harm the baby’s digestive tract.
In the diet of a nursing mother must be present the following food products:
- cottage cheese and fermented milk products;
- boiled vegetables;
- compotes and jelly;
- hard-boiled eggs;
- lean varieties of meat and fish.
You will find specialists in the treatment of dolichosigma intestines in children on our website.
Does the formula need to be changed?
If colic appears in a bottle-fed baby, it is necessary replace the mixture used.
Baby food products have different compositions.
Among their range there are special mixtures designed for children prone to problems with the digestive system. About this nuance manufacturers make marks on product packaging.
When a child has colic give preference follows the following types of mixtures:
- containing lactic acid bacteria;
- with the addition of probiotics or prebiotics;
- hypoallergenic options;
- palm oil free;
- containing lactulose.
Failure to treat colic in a newborn or infant can cause the development of digestive diseases in older age.
Despite the fact that this condition is a natural reaction, it must be treated promptly. absolutely necessary.
In addition, severe crying and constant anxiety can cause harm to the baby’s body. Such factors will negatively affect the state of the baby’s nervous system.
What to do if your baby has colic? Find out about it in the video:
We kindly ask you not to self-medicate. Make an appointment with a doctor!
Although there is no consensus on the origin and definition of colic in children, doctors suspect that they are the cause of unexpected and inexplicable bouts of inconsolable crying in the baby.Signs of colic:
colic lasts at least 3 hours a day, occurs 3 times a week and lasts at least 3 weeks;begin in the first 3 weeks of life;
rarely last more than 3 months;
occur in children who are otherwise healthy and growing well.
The most depressing and frightening thing about colic is that it is unknown why the child is screaming and why what used to calm him down now does not work. There are several myths about colic.
Myth one
The child's restless behavior is more a consequence of his own temperament than of the mother's inability. Researchers relieve parents of blame. There is no evidence that mother's stress is inevitably transmitted to the child. True, a mother who was nervous a lot during pregnancy is more likely to give birth to a baby with colic.The authors of some developments also suggest that the appearance of colic in a child is associated with self-hypnosis of their mother. Some expect their baby to have colic, and often get it. According to some reports, the mother's mood rather influences how she cares for the child, and is not the root cause of colic. It’s just that the child feels uncomfortable in the arms of a nervous mother.
If parental anxiety caused colic in children, then it would be most reasonable to assume that first-born children should have colic, but this is not the case. Restless children and children with colic are born regardless of the number of children in the family. The child’s behavior cannot be attributed to the parents’ workload. Anthropologists claim that peoples who carry their children more have fewer fussy babies, but colicky babies are found all over the world. The Chinese call it “one hundred days of crying.”
Myth two
Children often have a lot of gas inside in the first months of life.Place your hand on the swollen tummy of a one-month-old baby who has just been fed, and you will hear the grumbling that passes into the next feeding. X-rays cast doubt on the presence of gas as a cause of colic. They show that such gases occur equally often in both healthy children and babies with colic. In addition, on the contrary, there is more gas after an attack, and not before it. It is believed that when a child screams, he swallows a lot of air, so gases are not the cause, but the result of colic. Although many babies may be bothered by gas in the tummy, these studies undermine the theory that colic is caused by a buildup of gas.
If you intervene to interrupt the cries of a colicky baby, he will swallow less air. Look at a child during one of these attacks. He holds his breath for so long while screaming that he even turns blue, which sends his parents into a panic. Then, when it seems that the screaming will never end, the child convulsively swallows air (as you do after holding your breath for a long time).
Some of it may enter the stomach, and this excess air distends the insides, possibly causing continued colic.
To find out what's bothering your child, you need to consider three possible causes: medical, emotional, and nutritional. Swallowing air and escaping gases is a normal condition for a child's growth. But excess gases in the intestines can cause trouble for your baby.
Try several methods to remove gases. Try to allow less air to get inside when feeding. Make sure your baby's lips form a tight ring around the nipple. When feeding from a bottle, make sure your baby grasps the nipple away from the end. The bottle needs to be tilted at an angle of 30-45° so that air accumulates at its bottom, or use special squeezable bottles for feeding. If you are breastfeeding, eliminate certain foods from your diet. Feed your baby less, but more often. Hold your baby upright or at a 45° angle during feeding and half an hour afterward.
Make sure your child does not suck on the pacifier for too long. Respond immediately to your baby's cry.
First of all, make sure that the baby burps air after feeding. You can also use the following tools:
abdominal massage;
child bends;
special drops for gases;
glycerin suppositories.
You may suspect your pain is due to a medical reason if:
if a child’s crying suddenly turns into a heartbreaking scream;
if the child often wakes up in pain.
The cry is expressed in frequent, long, inconsolable attacks and is not limited to the evening hours. Parental intuition tells you that your baby is suffering from something. If you decide that a visit to your doctor is necessary, take the following steps to make sure you do everything you can.
Before calling your doctor, write down the answers to the following questions.
Is the pain so severe that it could seriously harm both the baby and you, or is he just being capricious?
When do the attacks start, how often do they happen and how long do they last?
What provokes them and what brings the child out of the attack? Are they there at night?
Describe the nature of the cry.
Why do you think the pain occurs? What do the child's face, abdomen and limbs look like during an attack?
Describe the details of feedings: bottle or breastfeeding, their frequency, how much air gets in.
Have you tried to change the composition of the mixture or the way you eat in any way? What helped?
Does your baby pass a lot of gas?
Does food move down the esophagus easily or with difficulty, how often does the child defecate, and what is the nature of the stool?
Does the baby burp? How often, how long after feeding and with what force?
Does your baby have diaper rash, what is it like? Does he have a red ring-shaped rash around his anus (this indicates food sensitivity).
Write a report on your home remedies: what works and what doesn't.
Suggest your diagnosis.
Can the foods you eat that contain gas cause excess gas in your baby?
Any experienced breastfeeding mother knows what she should not consume to prevent the baby from experiencing colic. The list of undesirable foods includes gas-producing vegetables, dairy products, some grains and nuts, and foods containing caffeine.
But bloating in a baby can be caused not only by what the mother eats, but also by how the baby eats. Overfeeding is one of the common hidden reasons for the formation of excess gases. Consuming too much milk can cause the stomach to release gas when lactose is broken down. You can improve your baby's digestion by feeding him more often, but in small portions, or giving him only one breast (ensuring, of course, that the baby's nutrition does not suffer from this change).
Gastroesophageal reflux
Gastroesophageal reflux (GER)- one of the recently discovered causes of colic and night awakenings in children. The irritating effect of acid that enters the esophagus during reflux causes pain akin to what adults call heartburn. Such acid throwing often occurs in a horizontal position, so the child suffers more if he lies down and feels better in a vertical position.Symptoms of reflux in a child:
- frequent attacks of painful screaming - very different from the usual crying of a baby;- frequent regurgitation after feeding: this can be combined with copious nasal discharge;
- frequent attacks of stomach pain - both day and night, waking up at night from pain;
- restlessness after eating (the child kicks his legs, pulls his knees to his chest);
- the child’s body bends or squirms in pain;
- suffering is reduced if the child is held upright and placed on his stomach (prone), giving the bed an angle of 30°;
- frequent and unclear colds, shortness of breath, chest infections;
- holding your breath.
A baby with reflux may show only some of these signs. If the contents of the stomach are thrown into only part of the esophagus, regurgitation may not occur. Some children get so tired of screaming during the day that they sleep peacefully at night. If gastroesophageal reflux is suspected, a test is carried out using a probe that is inserted into the esophagus and the acid content is periodically measured over 12-24 hours. But since reflux can occur to one degree or another in every third child, it is difficult to tell from one acidity level whether reflux is the cause of the pain. To clarify this, they draw up a schedule for the baby’s colic. If the attacks correspond to the time of acid entering the esophagus, then we can assume that the cause of the pain has been found. If symptoms of GER are obvious, your doctor may begin treatment without even checking your acid levels.
How to cope with gastroesophageal reflux:
- give medications prescribed by the doctor and designed to neutralize the acid and ensure normal passage of food through the esophagus;- carry the baby as much as possible so that he cries less. When you scream, more acid enters the esophagus;
- breastfeed. Research shows that the level of GER is lower;
- the child should be placed on his stomach at an angle of 30° for half an hour after eating and for sleep;
- you will need a special flap that will hold the baby flat on his stomach on an inclined mattress. Less effective is simply a vertical position in a child's seat;
- add rice porridge to formula or give it during or after breastfeeding;
- feed less, but more often (mother's milk neutralizes acid).
In most children, GER declines at about 6 months of age and disappears completely by the age of one year. But sometimes longer treatment is required, and in some cases, reflux remains unrecognized altogether.
The connection between colic and cow's milk. New research confirms what experienced mothers have long noticed. Some babies experience colic symptoms if the mother drinks cow's milk. It has been discovered that 6-lactoglobulin, which can cause allergies and is contained in cow's milk, can be transmitted through mother's milk. It causes indigestion in the child (as if he directly drank cow's milk). One study found that removing cow's milk products from a mother's diet resulted in a reduction in colic symptoms in about 1/2 of babies. Other scientists have not found such a connection. If the cause of your baby's colic is related to this, then the pain usually appears a few hours after you eat these foods, and the symptoms disappear 1-2 days after eliminating them from your diet.
Some mothers may need to completely eliminate dairy products (including ice cream), butter, and margarine. For others, it is enough to reduce the amount of milk consumed, but not give up kefir and cheese. It is possible that colic goes away at the age of about 4 months, partly because by this time the baby’s stomach is already developed enough to prevent allergens from entering the blood.
If you are eager to quickly explain your colic or find a miracle cure, you can easily lose your objectivity by attributing colic to dairy and other foods in your diet. If a child is so susceptible to allergies that dairy products cause colic, then other allergy symptoms will also occur - rashes, diarrhea, nasal discharge, waking up at night. These signs remain even after the attack of colic passes. There is another sign of food intolerance: frequent green mucous stools (or, conversely, constipation), as well as a red allergic ring around the anus. If you eliminate dangerous foods from your diet, your baby's bowel movements will become normal and the irritation around the anus will disappear.
Children fed formulas based on cow's milk may suffer from colic if they are hypersensitive to it. If you suspect your child has an allergy, first check how a particular formula affects him. Use the elimination and replacement method.
Colic occurs more often in children whose parents (or one nursing mother) smoke. It has been established that the child is affected not only by nicotine coming from mother's milk, but also from the surrounding air (passive smoking). Children of smoking parents are more restless, and it is more difficult for a smoking mother to cope with a colicky child. Recent studies show that mothers who smoke have lower levels of prolactin, a hormone that increases maternal sensitivity and allows her to withstand such tests.
Colic can have a variety of causes: physical, medical, nutritional, and emotional. Colic is not just a disease. Could colic be associated with the development of the nervous system, and not with disorders in the digestive tract? For some babies, colic is a behavior rather than an incurable disease.
To make it easier to survive an evening attack of colic and avoid “happy” hour, prepare dinner in advance, this will help you pay more attention to your worried baby. An afternoon nap for your child (and for yourself) sometimes prevents an evening attack. Or, if it does happen, it helps you have better contact with your baby. If you carry your baby for an hour or two before evening, this will help him relax so much that the evening explosion will not occur.
Everyone has their own biorhythms that ensure good health. This is our internal clock, which automatically releases regulatory hormones and controls body temperature changes during the day and sleep cycles at night. When our biorhythms are regulated, we feel good and everything works out for us. If biorhythms are disturbed, for example, when we go to bed late, we become restless.
Some children come into this world with disrupted biorhythms. They are usually called restless. For others, biorhythms are fine-tuned, but need to be maintained. If it is not possible to regulate or maintain biorhythms, the child begins to behave as if he has colic. Perhaps there are special hormones that help internal organization. If they are missing, the child is worried, his biorhythms are disordered. He does not scream constantly, but gives vent to tension during attacks of colic, or the tension accumulated during the day results in a prolonged attack in the evening.
Maybe colic is associated with a lack of calming hormones or an excess of stimulating ones? Progesterone is one of the hormones known for its calming and sleep-inducing effects. The baby receives it from the placenta at birth. Perhaps the calming effect of this progesterone wears off after 2 weeks, and if the baby has not begun to produce its own progesterone, it begins to colic. Some studies have found low levels of this hormone in colicky babies and improvements in their condition when given medications containing it.
Other authors have noted variable effects. But at the same stage, children who are breastfed have higher levels of progesterone than others. Another link to the jet lag theory is the role of prostaglandins (hormones that cause strong contraction of the muscles of the digestive tract). When two children were given prostaglandin to treat a heart condition, they developed colic. This hormonal theory is also confirmed by the fact that children born during difficult births are more likely to be restless.
And the last confirmation: colic miraculously disappears at the age of 3-4 months, when the child develops orderly sleep habits and develops appropriate biorhythms. Is there some connection here? Restlessness and colic in most children (although not all) are a reflection of the disorganization of internal regulatory systems on behavior and health. But much more research remains to be done to find the link between hormonal regulation and child behavior, and to clarify how parenting style will influence this. Until these studies are conducted, we can rely on common sense that a baby will calm down when held and nursed.
Although the question of what exactly colic is remains open, two educated guesses can be made. First: the activity of the child’s entire body is disrupted. Second: the child feels pain in the intestines and stomach. The term “colic” comes from the Greek “kolikos”, which means “pain in the colon”. Therefore, treatment should be aimed at relaxing the whole body, and especially the abdomen.
You should try all known positions in which you can carry your baby until you find the right one. Here are some of them, time-tested and, according to parents of children with colic, have a “noise-dampening effect.”
Methods for eliminating colic in children.
1. Place your baby's tummy next to your forearm. Place his head on the inner surface of the bent elbow, and support his legs with your palm. Hold your baby tightly. With your other hand, press his tummy into your forearm. If you have found the right position, the baby's tummy will relax, the eyebrows will straighten, and tense limbs will hang freely, like whips. You can turn the baby the other way around - so that his chin rests on the palm of his hand, his stomach on his forearm, and the back of his body on the crook of his elbow.2. Hold the baby’s head clinging to your chest with your chin. Hum a quiet, slow melody. When the child calms down and falls asleep while dancing or just being carried, make him warmer.
3. Hold your child close enough to meet his gaze; support him under his butt with one hand, and his back and neck with the other. It is especially important to support a newborn's head. Lightly bounce the baby at a rhythm of 60-70 movements per minute. For greater effect, stroke his butt.
In addition to motion sickness, bending over also helps relieve tension in a child, especially one suffering from abdominal pain. Here are a few time-tested exercises, but they won't be helpful when the pain is at its peak. First, do everything to calm the child, then bending over will benefit him.
1. Grasp the bottom of both of your baby's legs and press his legs toward his stomach. You can alternate these movements with the “Bicycle” exercise.
2. This is the best way to relieve tension in children who like to arch their back and have trouble relaxing in another position. Hold the child close to you so that his back rests against your chest and he bends over (sitting position). This relaxes the abdominal and back muscles and often leads to relaxation of the baby's entire body. If you are used to communicating with your baby with your eyes and facial expressions, turn him around to face you. Keep your baby's back away from you and pull his legs towards your chest.
3. Place your baby's stomach on a large inflatable beach ball and roll it back and forth in a circular motion. Hold the baby with your hand.
4. Try to make the child fall asleep, lying on his stomach on the pillow so that his legs hang down; the pressure created on the abdomen calms the baby.
5. Place a folded diaper or a bottle of warm (not hot) water, wrapped in a napkin, under the baby’s belly for the next nap. This will allow the baby not to wake up from the accumulation of excess gases.
Place your palm on the baby's belly in the umbilical area and knead the tummy with your fingers. The warmth of your palm will relieve tension. Mentally imagine an upside down letter “U” on your baby’s belly. Under your palm will be the baby's intestines, which need to be relaxed so that gases can come out of the colon. Rub some warm oil into your palms and knead your baby's tummy in a circular motion. Start by drawing an “I” on your baby’s left side from top to bottom—this will move the gases down through the colon. Then, while massaging, draw an inverted “P”, as a result, gases will pass through the colon to the outlet. Next step: Draw an upside down “U” along the entire length of the colon. Abdominal massage is best done when the child is sitting on your lap with his legs resting on your body, or when the two of you are in a warm bath.
New research shows that colic medications that were once thought to be harmless can harm your baby. Information about the effects of a particular medication is constantly being updated, so you should always consult your doctor before giving your child any medications.
Anti-gas drops, if given before feeding, improve digestion and reduce gas. From our point of view, these drops are safe and sometimes help get rid of excess gas in the intestines. A doctor can relieve a child with a bloated tummy by lubricating the anus. This helps the baby clear his stomach and the colic stops. If your baby suffers from constipation, special baby glycerin suppositories can help. Insert the suppository about an inch into your child's anus and squeeze his buttocks for a minute to allow it to dissolve.
Here are two more unusual colic remedies that parents claim relieve their babies' pain. Bifidum lactobacilli are lactic acid bacteria that promote fermentation processes. Give a child with colic 1/4 teaspoon of solution with food. Herbal teas. Sometimes fennel tea helps: 1/2 teaspoon per cup of boiling water. Cover with a lid and leave for 5-10 minutes, then strain, cool and give your child a few teaspoons of warm tea.
Colic begins at 2 weeks of age and reaches its peak at 6-8 weeks. They rarely continue beyond 4 months, but the child's behavior may remain restless for up to a year and gradually improve between 1 and 2 years of age. According to the results of one study, all 50 children had colic relief within 4 months. It is at this time that the child’s internal sleep pattern is formed. Exciting changes are taking place in its development. The child begins to see everything clearly.
He is so carried away by the spectacle that he forgets about screaming. He can play with his hands and suck his fingers, which is also calming. The child can swing his arms and legs and thus relieve tension. By 6 months, children's stomachs become stronger, which may relieve them of milk allergies. By this time, either the cause is found or the calming technique is improved. The colic goes away, as in the time allowed by nature, the pregnancy ends and childbirth occurs.
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