Babies Suffering For Colic-Toddler
Babies Suffering For Colic
About one quarter of babies will suffer from colic from around age 3 weeks - and you will suffer too! All babies cry of course, but those with colic will cry relentlessly for at least three hours several times a week, usually in the evening when your partner gets home from work. This can be a stressful time for you all, but it will go away of its own accord once baby reaches about 12 weeks. In the meantime there are some things you can try to ease her discomfort and the decibel level.Symptoms Of Colic
As well as the crying and general distress, baby will often extend or pull up her legs, arching her back; and her tummy may feel bloated.The Cause Of Colic
The causes are not fully understood, although some experts believe that bottle-fed babies are more likely to be affected as they take in air through the teat. Other causes are smoking during pregnancy - this includes being in a smoky atmosphere (second-hand smoke).Other theories include an intolerance of lactose (a natural ingredient of milk), and the immaturity of her digestive system - the latter is supported by the fact that babies usually grow out of colic at around 12 weeks of age.Treatments
If you're bottle feeding you can get anti-colic teats that reduce the air intake. Change the teats as she develops as using a newborn's teat after a few weeks will mean she has to suck harder and will take in more air. You can also get colic drops from your pharmacist which break down air bubbles in her tummy. Gripe water will act in the same way.If you are breast feeding, some foods that you eat may be aggravating the problem. Possible culprits are orange juice, spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol, onions and cabbage.
Try massage. Rub her tummy in a clockwise direction to aid digestion.Switch on a hair dryer or vacuum cleaner so she can hear the noise. Seriously, baby heard these sort of noises while in the womb and she may be comforted by them.Cranial osteopathy may help. If the birth was difficult, a gentle realignment of bones and joints can work wonders and some mothers have found that one treatment results in a cure for colic and other ailments. We have a separate article on this subject.Make a note of anything that seems to reduce or stop the crying and repeat next time.Helping You To Cope
With your baby in obvious distress, the relentless crying, and maybe a grumpy partner; you will be under a lot of pressure. Understand what is happening and the reasons for it, and make sure your partner does too. Talk to other moms who will reassure you that it is nothing you are doing wrong.
Above all, keep in mind that this will end of its own accord, usually around age 12 weeks. Hang on in there!****************************************************************
Author: Tony and Katy Luck who run a site with advice on having a baby.
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Coping With Colic-Toddler
Coping With Colic
A new baby with colic is one of the most difficult problems a new parent has to cope with. Most new parents are under pressure trying to deal with a new routine and lack of sleep, the added burden of a crying infant you seem powerless to help can be overwhelming. The only comfort that can be offered is, with 1 in 5 babies developing colic, many other parents are suffering too and that by the time the baby is four months old the problem normally disappears.The normal symptoms of colic are continuous loud crying, flexing and extending the legs, clenching fists and often a distended tummy. Very often this occurs in the late afternoon or early evening, although it can happen at any time.So what is colic and is there a remedy for it? There are many possible causes, but initially the most important thing that a parent must do is establish that the child is actually suffering from colic and there is not another reason for the crying. Colic, however distressed the baby seems, is not life threatening, but it is essential not to assume a crying baby has colic, check with your doctor immediately.Once colic has been diagnosed you should try to identify the cause. If you are breastfeeding avoid foods that are likely to cause gas. Make a note of what you are eating, baby may be intolerant to something in your diet, including dairy products. If the baby is bottle fed your doctor may suggest a change of formula. Don't overfeed the baby, we all know that bloated feeling when we have overeaten, so why shouldn't baby feel the same. Try hard not to get stressed, I know this isn't easy but many experts believe that babies are sensitive to stress around them and react. It's a catch 22 situation, the more crying the greater the stress. Try to take turns in dealing with the crying baby, even rope in grandparents or a close friend so that you can walk away for 30minutes.A continuous soothing sound such as a washing machine or tumbledryer often works. There are CD's available that can help and I found that a tape of sea waves worked well, particularly when gently rocking the child.Seek your doctor's advice on medicines, he may recommend some colic relief. If colic has been diagnosed but there is any change in the baby's behaviour, go straight back to your doctor, it's better to err on the safe side.Finally remember that it will pass, in a few months that screaming bundle will be toddling about getting into more mischief than you can possibly imagine!This article is for information only. You should always consult your doctor before commencing any treatment and no liability is accepted.Margaret Tye runs the FromTots2Teens website that offers information on supplies for children of all ages as well as advice on health and other child and teenage related problems.You are welcome to use this article as long as it is not altered and credit is given to the author, with a link back to this site.
http://www.fromtots2teens.com.
Please pay the site a visit for articles on other childhood health issues.
Baby Massage: A Cure for Colic-Toddler
Baby Massage: A Cure for Colic
Colic hurts. Any parent who has an affected child will know that there is almost no pain like it ? the physical and vocal response to the problem can be highly tiring and its very difficult to stand by and cope as a parent. It's often tough to ask ? what the hell is going on inside my baby?! When the problem arises, as it's so common and many health visitors expect parents to be aware of the nature of the affliction and how to deal with it.The fact is: NOBODY knows what colic is, it was thought for a time to be a intestinal problem, and related to trapped wind, but the only thing that even the medical profession know about the cause of such pain is that is causes up to three hours of crying a day, for more than three or four days a week. Your baby isn't alone either: 20% of children, males and females, suffer colic as infants; usually when they are but a few months old. Apart from the application of gripewater: a, shall we say, interestingly flavoured product; there was for many, many years no cure for this elusive problem?. Until now?Many parents instinctively rub their children when they are in pain. We all know that, just as we need to massage our limbs when we get cramp, they need physical stimulation so that blood flow and wind movements can be righted. Baby massage allows for intense and structured contact with colic afflicted babies ? and has been accredited to the dissolution problem completely.Flowing from the head to the toes, this specialist form of massage sees babies have full, much needed skin to skin contact with their caregiver; a soothing prospect for those suffering pain. A particularly encouraged technique for parents of colicky babies is the stomach massage, which sees the masseuse rub the babies belly in a gentle, circular motion beneath the rib cage, an action that encourages the correct movement of digested food through the body.Classes teaching baby massage techniques are available worldwide, as many families have now begun to reap the benefits of the special, quiet times massage allows them to spend with their children. The BBC recently ran an article on the enriching quality of the exercise for mothers who have suffered from post-natal depression and their babies, noting that the bonding process can be strengthened by the intimacy of massage. It has also been suggested that the strong bond developed naturally by the exercise can prevent behavioural disorders later in life, and that the muscle stimulation involved can see children sitting, and even walking much sooner.Available at a number of Sure Start centres in the UK, baby massage provides at last a positive solution for parents suffering the effects of a colicky child. Righting sleep patterns and ending infant anxiety, it is perfectly simple, and the perfect solution to a huge number of childhood ailments.Lucy CurranFor further details on Baby Massage teachers in the UK visit www.busylittleones.co.uk