The best tips for colic relief include small, frequent feedings of either breast-milk or formula, swaddling and rocking. Offering a pacifier, giving warm baths, or increasing background noise may also help. These tips may not be effective for all babies with colic. It is important for parents to experiment with different methods for soothing their colicky baby to find out what works best. Gas drops are frequently used for colic relief, but studies have shown these may be ineffective. A doctor's diagnosis of colic is necessary soon after the episodes start to be sure that the crying isn't due to an underlying medical condition.
Colic is typically the problem when a baby fusses and cries excessively on an almost daily basis for many hours in a row. Most colic episodes do not last longer than four hours. The crying episodes often occur at the same time each day, usually beginning in the early evening. Parents of colicky infants often become frustrated because their soothing efforts don't seem to offer any relief. The problem tends to disappear on its own by the time most babies are three months of age, but in some cases it will continue to be an issue until nine months.
Not all infants develop colic, and doctors are not sure why it's only a problem for some. Research has shown that formula fed babies are not more likely to develop colic than breastfed babies. Giving an infant juice or foods with high levels of sugar may worsen colic, and breastfeeding mothers with colicky infants should try to cut down on their sugar intake as well. Doctors often suggest that breastfeeding mothers reduce the amount of cow's milk they drink, as this could aggravate colic. Parents may be tempted to overfeed their colicky babies in an effort to calm them down, but the excess milk in the stomach may result in more fussiness.
Research suggests that probiotics might be effective to use for colic relief. Probiotics are a healthy type of bacteria. Some doctors think this good bacteria may work for colic relief because infants have immature immune systems, making it harder for them to fight off harmful intestinal bacteria. Studies have shown that colicky babies given probiotic supplements on a daily basis have a large decrease in crying bouts after a three week period. The supplements could help with colic, but parents should ask their child's doctor before trying any new treatment.
