The 411 on Natural Colic Remedies - by J.J. Courtiol, M.A. Ed.

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 Colic Calm Gripe Water.

#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.

About the Author

None

Quotes About Babies...

Only when human sorrows are turned into a toy with glaring colors will baby people become interested -- for a while at least. The people are a very fickle baby that must have new toys every day. - Emma Goldman

Informative articles:

Get Your Baby Off to a Healthy Start--Begin Before It's Born! - Did you know that every year nearly one million American women deliver babies without receiving adequate medical attention? Or that babies born to mothers who received no prenatal care are three times more likely to be born at low birth weight, and five times more likely to die, than those whose mothers received prenatal care?

How to Help Your Children Succeed in School - As a parent who wants the best for your children, there are undoubtedly many things that you already do every day to help your children succeed in school. The purpose of this article is to provide some practical ideas for you to try.

Choose Life: Abortion Stops A Beating Heart - I believe in the right to life. I believe that there is a human life forming from the moment of conception. I believe anyone who allows or has an abortion is denying the right to life. Abortion is wrong. The Lord has said, "You shall not murder," (Exodus 33:13). The life that is growing within the mother is a child, a baby.

Petroleum and Cosmetics: What are the potential health risks? - What is petroleum? Crude oil, sometimes called petroleum, is a fossil fuel that was produced deep in the earth through a process that took millions of years to complete. Millions of years later, almost all of us come into contact with a derivative of petroleum every day.

“Just In Case” Party Invitation: BYO Pets, Laptops & Kids ! - “Just In Case” Party Invitation: BYO Pets, Laptops & Kids !The Laptop Guy Sponsors First Annual Fundraiser To Benefit The Franklin County Dog Shelter Pets, Laptops and Kids – oh my! To help the community prepare for a safe, fun-filled summer, The Laptop Guy and his well-known K9 companion, Zoe, are sponsoring a fundraising...

Baby Acne - Much to many parents dismay, baby acne is very common. The hormones that are transferred from mother to baby at birth and with breastfeeding can sometimes cause this annoying but painless condition. Baby acne usually appears as small whiteheads on the infant's cheeks, chin and forehead.

Your Engine, Your Baby: Synthetic or Conventional Oil - One central argument between car enthusiasts and on Internet car forums alike is what oil is better for your car, synthetic or conventional. Before synthetic oils became available for regular automobiles, the argument centered solely on brand types and weight.

More articles about child care and baby care: 1, 2, 3, 4

Home: Play & Toys: Mums: Safety & Training: Keeping Warm: Bodysuits: Baby Clothes