Colic
Colic
10 Ideas to Quell the Cries
Ancient scholars first described infantile colic in the sixth century. Modern parents have no trouble describing it today. The baby cries, pulls his knees up to his abdomen, and appears to be in great pain. He may become gassy, then become quiet, then begin crying 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 diapers, 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 mysteriously 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 his head in your hand and his legs on either side of your elbow." Support the baby with your other hand and walk around the house with him in this position, Price says. "It definitely helps."
Burp that babe. "My experience is that at least some 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 Arbor, 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 cow's milk is transmitted from mother to infant through breast milk. Though some recent research casts doubt on this connection, experts agree that a maternal diet free of cow's 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 and see what happens. If that does it, you don't have to go any further, but if not, you may need to cut back other dairy products."
Check out the diet connection. "Occasionally there may be some foods that set a baby off," says Morris Green, M.D., chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine. "The breastfeeding 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 foods.
Try a wrap session. "I recommend holding and swaddling a colicky baby," Jonides says, "or using a backpack 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 know 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 colic 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 the baby gets that buzzing sound and vibration through the seat," suggests Helen Neville, a pediatric advice nurse at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in 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 was fussing for 2 hours straight, it was really only 45 minutes. A log will help you determine just how long the baby's 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.
PANEL OF ADVISERS
Morris Green, M.D., is chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis.
Linda Jonides is a pediatric nurse practitioner in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Helen Neville is a pediatric advice nurse at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Oakland, California, where she is part of a 24-hour hotline for parents. She is author of No-Fault Parenting.
Ann Price is educational coordinator for the National Academy of Nannies, Inc. (NANI), in Denver, Colorado, and coauthor of Successful Breastfeeding, Dr. Mom, and other books.
