Need some home remedies for colic? Since there is no absolute diagnosis for colic, there are no colic cures available. Parents the world over have found their own different methods of coping with infant colic. If one colic remedy does not work for your child, don't give up. There are dozens of ways to cope with colic.
The best home remedy for colic is to make sure your baby knows you love her. Babies are very perceptive; since colic occurs in the first few months of a baby's life, assume that inside influences, such as an immature digestive system and nervous system, as well as outside influences, such as overstimulation, are to blame.
Avoid too Much Stimulation
Your baby is used to your womb. When she was inside your body, she was safe. Your body temperature kept her body temperature at just the right level and she was constantly reassured by the sounds she heard in your womb. Because everything is new to your baby, and because colic episodes generally occur in the evening, the reason may simply be that your baby is having a difficult time dealing with all of the new stimuli she encounters throughout the day. By evening she may be on overload.
To prevent your baby from becoming overloaded by the end of the day, try to keep her day free from too much stimulation. Swaddling your baby in a receiving blanket is the best way to mimic the womb. Hold your baby close so she hears your heartbeat. Add warmth, darkness and quiet (or ocean sounds) and you may have found a good start to keeping your infant on an even keel.
Some parents discover that their babies do better when movement is incorporated into the daily ritual. Purchasing a baby swing, taking your baby for a car ride or simply walking the floor with your baby while you hum softly may help.
Home Remedies for Colic Can Be Harmful
Before you give your infant anything other than breast milk or formula, it's important to okay it with your pediatrician. This means even a sip of diluted tea or sterile water, which both can be harmful to your baby if not administered correctly.
Gripe water, sterile water that is often diluted with a scant drop of a specialized herbal tea, is a European home remedy for colic that has been around for ages. Some people also add a drop of Karo syrup to the mix; not only does it sweeten the water, it also softens the stool.
Remember that anything and everything can be harmful to your baby. Consult your physician before introducing any new foods or medicines to your infant. Products that are introduced too early in life can lead to allergies, especially products that are dairy-, wheat- or corn-based. Some sugar-based products can cause additional gas.
Dangerous Doses
Even minute amounts of an herb can be harmful to an infant. Feeding an infant too much water, regardless of whether it has anything in it, can lead to water intoxication, which can be lethal. Never take chances with your infant's health. While a colicky baby can turn your household upside down in a few short hours, don't be hasty or rash. It is understandable that you want to help alleviate your baby's symptoms as soon as possible, but speak with your physician before purchasing over-the-counter medications or resorting to folklore for answers. Your baby depends on you to make the correct decisions for her; don't let her down.
 | If you're asking "what is colic," it's safe to assume you have never experienced firsthand the horrific crying that can tear a mother's heart out. |
 | Colic remedies run from the obvious to the complicated, but that doesn't mean all remedies (or any remedies) actually work. |
 | Common colic symptoms in babies can be horrible to watch. Babies with colic don't just cry, they scream at the top of their lungs and often squirm as if they are in extreme pain. |
Coping with colic is the first great emotional challenge for parents, because there's often nothing they can do to control it. |
The best lesson in learning how to relieve colic in an infant is also the smartest thing any parent can do: Visit your doctor first to make sure there is nothing physically wrong with your baby, then take the doctor's advice. |
