IF MY BABY IS SUFFERING FROM COLIC, WHAT CAN I DO?

Colic is one of the first and most common problems parents encounter.

All of a sudden the baby balls up his legs and goes red and cries in distress. This is more frequent in the evening or night.

Stay Calm! This is not dangerous for your baby, it is just distressing. The crying of your baby can upset you, however, if you follow certain steps,it can pass without any major consequences. The calmer you both are, the quicker you will resolve the situation. Speak softly and sing to him to reassure him.

Your technique in feeding the baby is very important because: if the baby ingests air during his feeding, colic will be the result. Incorrect positioning of the baby to the breast because of bad posture will result in his swallowing air in excess. If you are breast feeding make sure that the suction to the breast is good. If he is drinking from a bottle, ensure that the teat is full of milk and that it is not too small.

Watch the position of your baby after he has eaten and keep him in a vertical position. Gently pat his back both during and after feeding to help him expel gases.

A gentle and rhythmic rocking movement of the baby in your arms will help to sooth him and reduce his anxiety. Also circular massage of his abdomen and moving the feet toward the shoulders can help to expel gases.