Up to 28 percent of infants develop colic between the ages of two and six weeks. If your pediatrician has ruled out other health issues such as fever, lethargy, abnormal eating or trouble breathing, your baby may simply be colicky. The good news about colic is that what you see is what you get – a fussy, crying but otherwise perfectly healthy baby. The bad news? A fussy, crying baby! Dr. Russell Greenfield suggests the following for dealing with colic – and with the frustration it can elicit among parents:
- Try massage therapy, a great way to enhance bonding between parent and child at a time when colic may be interfering with the bonding process.
- Rock your baby slowly and rhythmically.
- Turn on music or try the clothes dryer or vacuum cleaner. Sometimes the white noise they produce helps.
- Try cranial osteopathy or homeopathy; both may help and are safe forms of treatment.
- Try herbal remedies such as cooled chamomile or fennel tea. You can get tea bags at the health food store. Give the baby one to two ounces at a time, no more than three to four ounces per day.
- Switch to a dairy-free formula, or, if breast feeding, change the mother’s diet to affect what is entering her breast milk (in some cases, a food sensitivity may play a role).
- Swaddle your baby – it provides a nice snug feeling.
- Chill – find a way to relax; try breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques to lower your frustration level.