Colic: Use These 3 Techniques To Avoid It

There is nothing that makes a mother more desperate than when her child cries. And it is one of the most immediate effects of colic that manifests itself as a continuous moaning, with no apparent cause. Below we give advice on how to avoid colic in babies, so keep reading.

One of the biggest myths about colic is that it occurs when children receive infant formula in bottles. However, it can also occur in children who are breastfed, although cow’s milk certainly produces more air than breast milk.

In addition to the type of milk, cramps occur when the baby gets food and swallows air. The air remains in the baby’s tummy and it can cause a lot of pain. In addition, this discomfort is highlighted at night, which can upset any mother’s nerves.

In fact, pediatricians identify colic when there is crying that lasts for at least three hours a day, three days a week, for three weeks in a healthy and well-nourished child.

Colic is normal in babies

Statistics from pediatricians confirm that the cause of 30% of cases of colic is air. Between 15% and 40% of babies suffer from colic in the first four months of life. But this spontaneously resolves itself after the fourth month.

How the baby is fed is one of the crucial factors when the discomfort appears. The position of the mother and baby, as well as the position of the breast and bottle, play a role. “It is ideal for women to sit comfortably and calmly, and for the baby to sit down,” says pediatrician Libia Segura.

Segura conceptualizes colic as an inconsolable cry that gets worse in the afternoon hours, and which is accompanied by abdominal distension, leg flexion, redness of the skin and clenched fists. All of these symptoms are clear signs of colic.

3 techniques to avoid colic

Routine care for newborns can be exhausting. Therefore, there are many parents who feel like nothing more than putting them to bed when they have finally finished eating and they finally fall asleep. This is the first mistake.

It is critical that you burp your baby even if he falls asleep. We will describe three possible techniques below that may be useful to you.

Pat him on the back

To make the baby burp, it is important that you hold him so that his stomach rests on your shoulder. Once this is in place, give him a gentle pat on the back with a curved hand to help him release air. 

It is also good to make an upward movement with your hand while clapping. In this way, he will release air while remaining in a relaxed position. This makes it easier for him to fall asleep as soon as he has burped.

Move your legs

If you touch his stomach and feel empty, hollow or full of air after patting him on the back, it is best to lay your baby on a flat surface, such as your bed, and stretch and push both legs on same time about 10 times. 

You can also stretch one leg while bending the other, as if he is riding a bicycle. Another option is to move both legs clockwise.

This movement stimulates the intestines and helps to propel the air that is formed when drinking milk. It can be compared to a healthy workout that adults perform after eating to help digestion along the way.

Stomach massage

A tummy tuck also helps the baby to puff out air, which creates colic. You can caress the abdomen with delicate, upward movements, or make circular motions. It has actually been proven that massaging in a clockwise direction can relieve it.

Anti-colic medication

If you can not get your child to release air or overcome the pain that colic causes with these techniques, then you may need to resort to medication.

The best thing you can do is use anti-colic medication that your pediatrician has prescribed for you. This is usually given before you feed your baby. It will help release air and prevent the appearance of colic.

All of these techniques, which prevent your baby from suffering from colic, should be used periodically. You will see effective results and you will help your child sleep better, allowing you to come face to face with daily tasks in a good mood.