Bonitas Member Magazine B-Living - Issue 2

Comforting colic It’s hard when your baby won’t stop crying. You may be worried that something is wrong with your child, that your parenting skills aren’t up to the job, or that you’ll never connect with your baby. Learning the right techniques can help soothe an upset, unresponsive, or colicky baby while keeping you calm and in control. What is colic? Colic usually affects babies just after birth, making them cry uncontrollably. This lasts up until the baby is over 3 months old but in some cases last longer. If your baby is still colicky after this age, your baby may be experiencing a reflux disorder. Colic can even occur in adults, and is characterised by severe abdominal pain. What treatment options are there? There are not many treatment options for colic, and it usually gets better on its own after a few months. However, the following tips may help: • Hold your baby during a crying episode • Prevent your baby from swallowing air, by sitting them upright during feeding • Bath your baby in a warm bath • Gently massage your baby’s tummy • Avoid overstimulating your baby by constantly picking him or her up and putting him or her down • Use a “fast-flow” teat if you are bottle-feeding • Don’t drink too much tea, coffee and other drinks containing caffeine if you are breastfeeding As colic improves on its own, medical treatment is not usually recommended. However, if you have problems coping, contact your doctor for advice about possible medication. This includes: • Simeticone drops (designed to help release bubbles of trapped air in the digestive system) • Lactase drops (eases lactose digestion) that you can add to baby’s bottle or breast milk. • There are also various alternative and traditional remedies (such as gripe water). What are the symptoms? Symptoms may include: • Crying for no apparent reason: It’s normal for babies to cry sometimes, but crying usually means your baby wants food or a clean nappy • Changes in posture: Curled-up legs, clenched fists and tensed abdominal muscles are common • Unpredictable crying episodes: Babies will often cry around the same time every day, usually in the late afternoon or at night • Intense or inconsolable crying: Colic crying is intense and sounds distressed Contact your baby’s doctor if you think symptoms are due to illness or a fall, your baby’s lips or skin have a blue tinge during a crying episode, or you notice changes in eating, sleeping or behaviour. How is it diagnosed? Doctors usually conduct a physical examination and ask you about symptoms and behaviour. This is so they can rule out conditions that may be causing your baby’s excessive crying, such as eczema or gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). GORD is a condition where stomach acid moves back out of the stomach and into the oesophagus (gullet). If there is no reason for your baby’s symptoms, a colic diagnosis may be made. Page 11 B-Living Issue 2, 2017

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