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Usually colic is short-lasting for just a few months, but nevertheless it is an upsetting time for both you and baby. It is commonly believed that colic in young babies can be a result of digestive or feeding problems, which can be linked to swallowing air when feeding. Air can be ingested by baby when it enters the bottle and mixes with the milk, and also when baby ingests air while feeding from the teat.
Symptoms of colic to look out for
If a baby has an attack of colic, crying generally occurs at the same time every day (usually in the late afternoon or early evening). It seems like your baby is crying for no apparent reason, but they may also pull up their legs, be restless and fidgety, and clench their fists.
What you can do to help alleviate colic
If you are bottle feeding your baby, try a bottle with an anti-colic teat, like our NURTURE breast like feeding bottle. Designed to reduce the risk of baby ingesting air during feeding, our BPA-free bottles has:
Lying baby on his/her back in a quiet room or swaddling may also help, as may sucking on a soother or a bath.
Baby massage is a fantastic opportunity for you to not only bond with your baby, but also helps to strengthen the digestive system, so relieving common newborn ailments and discomfort such as wind, constipation and colic.
Justina Perry, pregnancy, new mum and baby wellbeing expert, and founder of MamaBabyBliss, has put together a short sequence of combined baby massage and baby yoga techniques that can help you settle your baby.
About half an hour before your baby normally has a crying period, begin by lying your baby on a mat. Try to create a soothing, calming, warm environment, with dim lights and as few distractions as possible. Keep any sensory stimulation to a minimum.
Undress your baby, but keep a vest on, as you may also have to pick your baby up and carry him or her around.
Begin with a soothing tummy massage. Make a few gentle circles around the belly button. Keep noise to a minimum, however, it can help to hum a lullaby. This will help keep you and the baby calm. Find a soothing, gentle pace and try to keep your body language and breathing as relaxed as possible.
Next using your handles as paddles, make a gentle flowing movement, gliding down the lower abdomen. Finally, make a gentle peddling movement with your baby’s legs. Repeat this little sequence and the tummy massage a few times during the day, as it will help strengthen the digestive system and so can help prevent the build-up of wind and tension in the baby.
If your baby begins to cry and will not be soothed by the massage, you can try and pick him or her up into our miracle baby yoga hold.
Colic is very distressing for a parent. Take deep calming breaths, throughout and keep telling yourself, that this phase will pass and even though it is very distressing to hear your baby cry, there are no lasting repercussions for your baby.
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