When babies cry uncontrollably for hours on a daily basis, you might feel like there is something wrong with the baby and you need professional help. However, more often than not, babies cry because of colic. If your baby’s doctor ruled out medical problems and you do not know what to do to stop your baby from crying, try natural home remedies for colic. Not all the remedies will work for every baby so make sure you try all of them to see which one works best for your baby.
Feeding Tips For Babies With Colic
If you think the reason your baby is crying uncontrollably is hunger, try to feed them more frequently. Change your feeding method if the one you’re currently using doesn’t work for the baby. For example, try to hold the baby upright during feedings. Also, during feedings, stop often to burp the baby.
If you are breastfeeding and you have a history of allergies in the family, consider changing your diet. Usually, the mother’s diet has nothing to do with the baby’s colic, however, if the baby’s family has a history of allergies the baby is prone to have some as well and the crying might be an unknown food allergy to one of the foods eaten by the mother. Start by eliminating foods that are highly allergic such as soy or strawberries. Wait a few days to see if you notice any difference.
On the other hand, if you are not breastfeeding and your baby is on formula, try changing it. Some babies have milk intolerance or are allergic to cow’s milk and that can make them feel bad and, as a result, they cry all the time. You can also try to change the bottles you use for feeding you baby since some of them can help with some of your baby’s symptoms.
Soothing Tips For Babies With Colic
There are numerous things you can do to soothe your baby but in order to find the one that will actually work for crying baby is to be patient and to test different options.
Even though you do not want to, you can offer your baby a pacifier. Some mothers avoid to give pacifiers to their babies while breastfeeding to be able to continue to breastfeed their babies, however, a pacifier when your baby is crying for hours is ok if that makes him or her calm.
Holding the baby is another option for babies with colic. Skin to skin contact also helps some babies to calm down. Don’t worry about spoiling your baby, small babies need reassurance and comfort from the people that brought them into this world and they won’t become spoiled for being held in their parents’ arms for comfort. If you are tired and you feel like you need a break, use a baby carrier or a baby sling.
Sometimes babies like to be in motion but we understand you if you cannot keep the baby in your arms and walk around the house all day long and all night long. Instead of walking and rocking your baby, you can buy an infant swing. However, make sure you check the manufacturer’s guide to be sure that the infant swing you bought is appropriate for your baby’s age. Some parents go for a drive with their baby because the car motion keeps them calm so this is another option for you and so is a vibrating crib if you feel the infant swing is too much.
Singing or playing music works for some babies while others prefer to listen to the calm voice of their parents talking. White noise can also be an option.
As you can see there are numerous natural home remedies for colic that you can try before purchasing colic tea or colic medication and we hope you will find the one or the ones that work for your baby.