Colic can be as distressing for a parent, as it is for bubba. It manifests itself as regular, inconsolable crying with what appears to be little or no specific cause. Bubba may appear to be in otherwise fine health but there must be something causing the issue, right?
How can you tell if this level of crying is usual? For new parents, this can be frightening. Parents will often worry that their child is very sick or that they are doing something wrong. This is often not the case. Colicky babies can seem as if they are in a lot of pain. Their body may stiffen and you may even see discoloration in the face. It is always advisable to have your bubba checked by a doctor to eliminate other, more recognisable, health issues.
Colic is found in both bottle fed and breastfed infants. It may start around 6 weeks and lasts up to the age of 3-4 months but it does reduce and stop. To identify possible causes, your doctor may ask how long your child cries for in a day and if it tends to happen at around the same time. An exhausted and worried parent may not have accurate answers to these questions, so try and have this information ready as it could speed up a diagnosis. Possible factors, and there may be several contributing factors, are: food allergies; inappropriate feeding amounts; digestive issues; migraine; wind; and sadly, stress. Crying may actually increase the crying, as bubba swallows air, causing further discomfort.
So we have ascertained that the causes are difficult to pinpoint, but what we are really interested in is how we can help relieve it. There are a number of things you can try and it may be different for each child, requiring a process of trial and error. These should be performed in an orderly fashion, as you would when eliminating foods from a diet to identify intolerances. Try one remedy for a few days before trying another, so you can tell which is the one that’s helping.
A parent could alter the amount they are feeding. Try changing their body position, such as sitting them up or laying them down. A simple rocking movement may ease them. Some have found success with the use of probiotics, though this should be done under medical supervision. Car rides are notoriously successful at calming a crying child.
You could try switching to an anti-colic bottle and try teats with different speeds of flow, which could help manage digestive issues. A slow flow teat is often recommended for newborns, breastfed babies, premature or those mixed feeding. Medium flow teats are for those that have been fed formula from birth. Fast flow teats are more suitable for babies that are on thickened formula milk. However, these are all recommendations and your bubba’s requirements may be different.
Talking with other parents can ease the stress on any carer concerned they are doing the wrong thing. We all experience similar problems in this community and we should all celebrate and share our successes.
Élhée | Baby Bottle 150ml /Medium Flow
As beautiful as they are practical, this anti-colic birth bottle is recommended by paediatricians for better digestive health. The small size of the bottle in soft medical silicone combined with an anti-colic valve system makes it more effective than a rigid plastic bottle, limiting the risk of colic. Alternative teats with medium or fast flow are also available to buy separately, to meet your bubba’s specific need.
Lola & Lykke | Natural Flow Baby Bottle
Offering a more natural way to feed. The ergonomic design and non-collapsible teats with an anti-colic valve, mimic the natural feeling of the breast for a better latch. Fully compatible with the Lola & Lykke® Smart Breast Pump. Alternative teats in varying flows are available and sold separately.
