Colic sounds scary-it’s something that new parents often fear because of stories from well-meaning friends. Not every baby will have colic, but almost all will experience similar symptoms at some point.
Colic is just a name for what is essentially excessive and difficult crying. It’s not some terrible disease that’s going to hang around forever-it’s just a collection of symptoms and behaviours that typically last just through the new born phase. If your baby is crying a lot, seems to be struggling with wind/gas, seems uncomfortable and is difficult to settle…but medically all checks out totally fine…then your dr. will probably say it’s “just colic” a baby will grow out of it.
This is frustrating and confusing for many parents as colic can be quite a mysterious diagnosis that’s different for every bub.
It can certainly be a trying time for you all, but it’s important to try to stay calm. Sometimes the following can help:
- Take baby away from all of the things that are over-stimulating. A quiet, dark/dim room.
- Try switch on some ocean sounds or lots of shhh’ing and verbal reassurance.
- Offer feeds-if not hungry, try a pacifier.
- Lay tummy to tummy-sometimes this can help alleviate symptoms of trapped gas.
- Warm and gentle heat on bub’s tummy or trying bicycle kicks to work through any gas.
- Swaddle securely-this mimic the security and warmth of your womb.
- Pat their back/bottom, or trying rocking them to sleep.
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