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Ancient scholars first described infantile colic in the sixth century. Modern parents have no trouble describing it today. The baby cries, pulls its knees up into its abdomen, and appears to be in great pain. He may become gassy, then quiet, then begin to cry again.
Nothing much seems to have changed over the centuries, and nothing much seems to help. Colicky babies cannot generally be quieted with feeding or a change of nappies, and episodes may last for many hours. Colic tends to be most severe at 4 to 6 weeks of age and gradually subsides by 3 to 4 months. Though none of the remedies offered below will cure colic, most have brought some relief to suffering parents somewhere, so you might want to give them a try. And remember this too shall pass. Colic disappears as mysterious as it begins.
Try the colic carry
“I’m a big believer in the colic carry,” says Ann Price, educational coordinator for the National Academy of Nannies, Inc (NANI) in Denver, Colorado.
Extend your forearm with your palm up, “then place the baby (on your arm) chest down, with its head in your hand and its legs on either side of your elbow.” Support the baby with your other hand and walk around the house with it in that position, Price says. “It definitely helps.”
Burp that babe
“My experience is that at least some of colicky babies do have more abdominal gas than the norm and may be more difficult to burp,” says Linda Jonides, a pediatric nurse practitioner in Ann Arbour, Michigan.
Her recommendation: Watch the position of the baby when feeding (upright is all right), and burp frequently. When bottle feeding, burp after every ounce, and try a variety of nipple types (some parents swear by the Playtex disposable nurser).
Cut the cow juice
Many child care specialists believe colic is caused when cows milk is transmitted from mother to infant through breast milk. Though some recent research casts doubt on that connection, experts agree that a maternal diet free of cows milk may be worth a trial, especially in families with a strong history of allergies.
“I firmly believe that milk in the mother’s diet is a frequent cause of colic in breastfed babies,” Price says. “I recommend mothers start by eliminating milk from their diets as see what happens. If that does it you don’t have to go any further, but if not, you may need to cut back on other dairy products.”
Check out the diet connection
“Occasionally there may be some foods that set a baby off,” says Morris Green MD, chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine. “The breast feeding mother may try to notice if there’s any correlation between what she eats and the onset of the colic.” Some potential troublemakers are caffeine –containing drinks, chocolate, bananas, oranges, strawberries, and strongly spiced food.
Try a wrap session
“I recommend holding and swaddling a colicky baby,” Jonides says, “or using a back pack to hold the baby so you can have your arms free to do other things.”
For some reason, wrapping a baby snugly in a blanket has a calming effect. It’s very popular in some cultures, and it does sometimes stop colic attacks. And it does not spoil an infant who wants physical contact.
Use a vacuum instead of a lullaby
Though it’s true that nature detests a vacuum, colicky babies seem to love the sounds a vacuum creates. Science has failed to explain this mystery. “The noise of a vacuum cleaner running does seem to calm a colicky baby,” says Dr Green.
Parents have been known to tape record the sound of a vacuum cleaner and play it back when baby gets fussy. Others simply start vacuuming the carpet and hope the child outgrows while there’s still some rug left. Price suggests a more aggressive approach. “If you put the baby in a front pack and vacuum at the same time, it’s a double whammy,” says she. “That colicky baby goes out like a light”.
Do the dryer dribble
“Put the baby in an infant seat and rest it against the side of a running clothes dryer so that the baby bets that buzzing sound and vibration through the seat,” suggests Helen Neville, a pediatric advice nurse at Kaiser Permanente Hospital Oakland, California. Sound too far fetched? Wait until baby fusses for another 3 hours or so. “There’s something about the vibration that really soothes a colicky baby,” Neville says.
Warm that tummy
“A hot-water bottle or heating pad set on low and placed on the baby’s tummy sometimes helps,” Jonides says. (Place a towel between the baby and the hot-water bottle to make sure he doesn’t get burned.)
Log it in
“Keeping a log would be a very good idea,” Neville says. “Often, when it seems like the baby’s been fussing for 2 hours straight, it was only really 45 minutes. A log will help you determine just how long the baby’s been crying, and – more important – what might be bringing it on.”
Swing into action
“Motion-type things are good for colic,” says Jonides. “Many babies will at least be quiet long enough to let you get through dinner when they’re swinging.” Automatic swings can provide motion, and relief for up to 20 minutes.
Ref: “The Doctors’ Book of Home Remedies”, Bookman Press 1993, ISBN 1 96381 013 7
Available at libraries & book shops.
Breast feeding mums: ask our pharmacists for food ideas.