Healthy infants cry one or two times a day without an explainable reason. These crying bouts last for a couple of hours every day. The crying might, however extend to a prolonged period and that can be dangerous of the baby. No, it's not necessary to worry. Today we will assist you with 10 home remedies for colic in infants.
Colic usually starts in infants who are 2 to 3 weeks old. As the months pass, the problem gradually resolves. In some cases, the problem persists in babies over Six months of age.
What causes colic well the reason is not yet known. However, experts suggest that one of the reasons could be the air that gets trapped in the baby's abdominal cavity. This air is painful and a great deal of discomfort. Moreover, if you smoked when you were pregnant, your child runs a greater risk of getting colic.
Symptoms of colic
The general the signs of colic are,
- Pain
- Crying
- Moaning
- Finicky behavior
- Cramping
The baby might develop other symptoms when the colic is really severe. These include,
- Frequent vomiting
- A change in stools
- Unstable body temperature
- Poor weight gain
- Fatigue
Colic not only harms the baby, but also the parents. In case your baby is colicky, then chances are you as well as your partner are suffering for a relationship stress and postpartum depression. You might even have problems breastfeeding your child. With these natural remedies, you can treat your baby's coli effectively and save yourself from all these troubles.
Home remedies for colic in infants
Here are the 8 best natural cures to get rid of colic in babies.
1. Warm Bath
The first remedy is a straightforward yet effective treatment that helps calm a baby almost instantly. You your baby a warm soothing bath. This will help you distract their attention in the crying, and also induce sound sleep.
For the therapy, fill the baby's tub with soothingly tepid to warm water. Now add about Five to six drops of lavender oil towards the water and mix it well. Provide your baby a calming bath in this water, and while doing so, lightly massage their tummy area. This will help relieve the trapped gas, which otherwise may cause them pain. Now dry your baby, and put them to sleep.
2. Warm Compress
The next remedy is warm compress. It will help relax a colicky baby quickly and effectively. You need to apply the warm compress gently in your baby's tummy area. It will help get rid of the gas and also lull these to sleep.
Warm sop water. Dip a soft, clean washcloth in it and wring out the excess water. Now gently place the cloth on your baby's abdominal area, and rub it lightly in circular motion. You must do this for a few minutes.
Repeat the therapy twice every day to help your kid with the gas movement.
3. Oil Massage
The third remedy is oil massage. Massages help relieve colic in infants and keep the baby's body warm. This, in turn, improves their digestion, thus preventing gas. Also, after each feeding, your child is likely to sleep immediately should you massage its tummy well. 
For the remedy, heat some olive oil. Once it is soothingly warm (apply some on your elbow to check), massage it onto your baby's stomach. Be gentle with your strokes. Also, you need to massage your baby's rib cage area, his or her pelvis, feet and hands.
You need to follow this treatment thrice every day.
4. Knee Pushing Exercise
Yes, you read that right! Gentle exercise for babies is really as vital as it is for adults. This will help ensure proper digestive functioning in your baby. There is a particular exercise that helps colicky babies, and we will be sharing that with you.
First, put your baby in a lying down position. Now hold his or her knees together. Do it lightly. Be sure you do not exert force. Now bend the legs slowly, at the knees pushing them toward the stomach. Hold them in that position for 4 seconds. Now straighten the legs again. Repeat this ten times. If you notice any discomfort inside your baby, the stop immediately.
5. Burp Your Baby
Helping your baby burp after you have fed them, is the best way to avert chances of colic. The burp/s will help the baby release gas. This can prevent formation of air pockets in his or her stomach, which otherwise causes pain.
For the remedy, after feeding your child, sit it in upright position. You can also hold them against your shoulder to provide support to their neck and back. Now gently rub their baby and tummy area. You'll probably hear small burps. Now lay them down.
You have to do this treatment every time after you feed your son or daughter to prevent colic.
6. Asafetida
The next remedy on our list is asafetida, that is an anti-flatulent that helps with digestion. It relieves gas, thus preventing colic in infants.
For the remedy, you need to mix a pinch of asafetida powder having a tablespoon of water. The solution has to be heated and then allowed to cool. Gently, rub the answer around the navel of the baby. Don't put the oil in the navel.
This treatment should be repeated two times a day.
If your baby has begun eating solid food, you'll be able to mix a pinch from the powder in their food, and then feed it to them.
7. Fennel Seeds
This may be the wonder herb that treats colic in infants, in a jiffy. Fennel seeds relieve gas, thus comforting your child.
For the remedy, you need to crush some fennel seeds. Add this powder to a cup of warm water. Cover the cup and let steep for around 15 minutes or so. You need to strain water in case the powder isn't that fine. Now drink this tea thrice each day. When you breastfeed, the goodness from the seeds will reach your child. Also, you can give a teaspoon of the tea to your baby, 3 times every day.
The treatment needs to be followed every day, for positive results.
8. Peppermint
The last remedy on our list of natural treatments for colic in babies is peppermint. Owing to its antispasmodic qualities, peppermint calms the infant. It helps reduce flatulence along with other problems with digestion that are common among infants.
For the therapy, you need to mix peppermint oil and baby massage oil within the ratio of 2:1. Now gently apply the oil on your baby's waist, and massage in circular motions. Be gentle.
This treatment should be done two times, every day.
The other option you can test is bring a cup of water to boil. Ass a teaspoon of dried peppermint leaves to this water. After a minute, take away the container from the heat, and canopy the container. Let it steep not less than 10 minutes. Now strain the tea. If you're breastfeeding, then drink this tea thrice each day to cure the colic in your baby.
Additional tips for colic in babies
Here are some extra tips that you can try to treat your baby's colic.
- You have to let your baby lie on its tummy for 15 minutes, at least, every day.
- If you are breastfeeding your baby, then you need to add probiotic yogurt to your diet. This will help your and also the baby's digestive system.
- To calm your child, play soothing music.
- To stop your infant from crying, keep rocking them or have them in motion by walking around with them
- You may also change your baby's milk formula and see if you are noticing any changes
- Try putting your baby down to sleep.
- Changing your baby's milk formula will also help.
- Feed your baby more often, but also help them burp by lightly thumping on their own back.
- If you are breastfeeding your baby, then you need to follow a very healthy diet style. You cannot indulge in stimulants such as chocolate and coffee.
- You should consult your baby's pediatrician and change your diet plan for at least two weeks and observe changes in your baby's crying patter. Sometime eliminating dairy products or nuts out of your diet for a while might help your colicky baby as they might be allergic to these products.
- As soon while you feed your infant, hold her or him upright.
If despite these remedies or tips your kids colic does not get cured, then you need to visit your doctor immediately.
That is all we have on today's post on home remedies for colic in babies. Was this helpful? Will you be recommending it to others? If you have some remedies that you would like to share with us, then please so in the comment section below.
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