A - Z Encyclopedia
Understanding Colic
the Basics | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention
Treatment
What Are the Treatments?
There is no cure for colic, although many at-home remedies have proved helpful in soothing colicky babies.
It is important to remain calm. Communication of your own anxiety or frustration to a colicky child will probably result in more crying. Above all, never punish or shake a colicky baby. If you feel yourself near the breaking point, ask someone else to stay with your child while you rest or get away to compose yourself.
If you suspect your child has colic, call your pediatrician or family doctor. After ruling out possible medical causes of prolonged crying, such as ear infection or respiratory problems, most doctors recommend simple home-management techniques.
Some babies with colic seem to feel better if they sleep in a quiet room and get a lot of attention from their parents. Some encourage parents to talk with other parents for support. If you have gone through colic with an older child, you may decide to call the doctor only if you think your colicky infant is sick. Colic does sometimes run in families.
Many babies with colic are soothed by motion, especially vibration, and by €śwhite noise €ť -- any steady background noise.
If your baby is soothed when driving in the car, this is virtually diagnostic of the €ścolic temperament" syndrome. Typical background noises that soothe colicy babies include dishwashers, washing machines, and vacuums.
If background noise or motion seems to improve crying -- and if you have the funds -- there is a commercial product that can be bought and attached to the baby's crib (the Sleep Tight Infant Soother) which will vibrate the crib and also initiate a white noise. Insurance companies rarely cover the device, but you can talk with your doctor about it.
There are over-the-counter preparations containing the drug simethecone (Mylacon) that can reduce gas cramps. The medication changes bubble surface tension, thus making big bubbles into small ones, though the overall amount of gas is still the same. Some babies also seem to cry less when given this benign and inexpensive medication.
the Basics | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention
