Colic Relief

There’s so much misinformation out there about ways to relieve colic. Companies will try to convince you that their product is the most effective one for soothing your baby. But I’d encourage you, rather than just trusting what these companies say, to listen to what parents who have been there have to say about colic relief.

3 Things You Can Do Right Now to Relieve Colic

Through talking with hundreds of parents who have been through colic, several techniques have emerged as clearly being the most effective behavioral techniques for relieving colic symptoms. These are in addition to Dr. Harvey Karp’s techniques from the Happiest Baby on the Block, which I’d highly recommend to anyone with a fussy or colicky baby.

1. Gentle bouncing on an exercise ball. While this sounds strange, the movement seems to calm and distract the baby. You can either sit on the ball while holding your baby (preferably swaddled), and gentle bounce up and down, or you can hold you baby on the ball, and gentle rock the ball back and forth. Plus, it gives you a chance to catch up on your favorite TV shows!
2. Try a warm bath. While only a temporary solution, it may provide a break from the crying. The warm water seems to soothe and calm even the most colicky baby, and will give you something to look forward to during the evening hours, when ‘colic’ is often at it’s worst.
3. Wear your baby in a sling or carrier, and go for a long walk. Some experts speculate that colic symptoms can be made worse by the constant state of over-tiredness suffered by some babies. The less sleep a baby gets, the more overtired they become, and the more they cry. Plan to take an hour long walk in the evenings (or whenever your baby seems to be the most uncomfortable), grab a coffee, and let your little one have a long nap rather than crying for hours. This may not fit into your plans, but at least by getting out, he is getting the rest he needs, and you are getting a break from the crying.

As cliche as they sound, these 3 tips for colic relief can make a huge difference in how you cope with a colicky baby. Just hanging on and getting through these next weeks should be your goal. Ask for help from friends and family, and make sure you find ways to get breaks from your baby. As long as she is with a caring and reliable caregiver, you don’t need to feel like you’re deserting or abandoning her. Do your best to get through, and before you know it this time will be a distant memory.