Posted by Jacek on 12/30/2013 to
NEWBORN
You already know that babies cry. When you become a new parent, you’re prepared for that. What you may not be prepared for is the fact that some babies cry inconsolably for hours night after night. Nothing you do seems to help, and sometimes, it only seems to make your baby more upset. If this is the case, your baby might have colic.
“Colic” is a fancy way of saying that doctors don’t know why your baby is crying. It is defined by periods of crying that last three hours or more, for at least three days per week, for more than three weeks. Since there is no known cause for colic, there is no known solution for it. However, some remedies have been known to help for some babies.
One of the factors believed to influence colic is an excess of gas. You can help you baby by burping him regularly and taking other measures to get the gas out, such as gently pressing his legs into his chest or pushing his legs in a cycling motion. This can help him to pass gas and provide some relief.
Acid reflux is another suspected influence on colic. A baby’s immature digestive system causes a lot of spitting up and acid flowing back into the esophagus. You can help your baby by feeding him in an upright position. The Easy Burp pillow can also offer some relief by allowing your baby to sleep in an inclined position, reducing the amount of acid that is allowed to travel back up the esophagus.
Many home remedies have been recommended for colic, some with more success than others. If your baby suffers from colic, the only thing you can do is try out several remedies to see which might work and, unfortunately, just wait it out.