Colic is defined as repeated episodes of excessive and inconsolable crying in a newborn baby who otherwise appears perfectly healthy. It is a cry that cannot be calmed by anything and because of that parents feel great helplessness because they do not know well how to comfort their little one or what to do to reduce their discomfort. They can certainly be very stressful times and it is essential to remain calm.
The condition can affect up to one in three babies. Like any parent with a distressed baby, colic can be really frustrating as well as annoying. It is a time of great stress and tension that can affect the whole family. For all this, it is very important to know how to survive the colic season so that both parents and the baby are in the best possible way.
Create a crying journal
The use of a crying diary is very suitable to be able to know the frequency and intensity of the crying episodes of the little one, so you can predict when the baby is most likely to cry. In this way, parents can be more attentive and identify possible triggers. Writing down the crying times will also help prevent sleep deprivation because knowing which is the baby's crying pattern you can prepare in advance options to comfort the baby and avoid possible tummy aches caused by colic.
In addition, in this crying diary you can also record a follow-up of other comfort needs that the little one needs at different times of the day, such as changing the diaper, sleeping hours, etc. Remember that a baby cannot stop crying on his own, he needs you to calm down. The intensity of crying may decrease if he notices you nearby ... that will certainly be beneficial to all.
Mental preparation for crying from colic
A colicky baby does not cry to irritate you, it is his way of communicating that he is not well and that something is hurting him. Colic is related to crying more often especially in the afternoon and evening. When your baby is crying because of colic, do not try to do anything other than take care of your baby while he cries at that moment. he needs you and he needs your warmth to calm him down.
Use those times of the day to make sure your child is okay and feels close to you. You can focus on her needs and give her all your love. Give him belly massages and proper movements to reduce the pain of colic. Colic is nothing more than gas in the tummy that must be expelled, so slow and gentle leg movements and small tummy massages can soothe the little one.
Find a solution for colic
If you see that your child is suffering a lot from colic, it will be important that you go to the pediatrician to find a solution that suits your baby's needs. Colic is believed to be caused by the sensitivity of milk in the little one's stomach. In the first few months of life, some babies are unable to break down lactose, a complex sugar in breast milk and formula. This is called temporary lactase deficiency.. It can produce painful gas, bloating and cause discomfort ... one of the main symptoms is inconsolable crying, also known as colic.
The pediatrician can send you some drops to add to the milk and to greatly reduce the level of lactose, which is why it is broken down into glucose and galactose before feeding the baby. Clinically proven studies have shown that crying hours are greatly reduced when a baby's normal milk is treated with drops to lower lactose levels.
Unconditional love never fails to decrease the pain of colic
Colicky babies need the unconditional love of their parents to help them recover faster. They will need the physical contact, the hug, the rocking, and the love they feel. These soothing techniques simulate the environment of the uterus and therefore the little one will feel much calmer and calmer. If he has colic, do not leave him in the crib or in the hammock crying, waiting for it to pass alone ... Babies need their parents to enjoy soothing unconditional love.
Many fathers and mothers can feel isolated from the world when their children are colicky, because crying can upset other people. If you've been through the same thing, help that mother or father who needs the support of their closest social network. There are many new mothers who go through this same situation on a daily basis. There are online groups or support groups. Although not always the advice or tricks of other people can help us, what will always work will be the support between one another. Not feeling alone in motherhood / fatherhood is a great tool to draw strength in times of stress or weakness.
Take care of your emotional health
If at any time you feel that you are too irritated or tired to attend to your baby's cries, then do not hesitate to seek help from family or friends to care for your baby while you take a break, even if it is 20 minutes . It is necessary that to take care of your baby you feel good emotionally, If you are tired or moody while caring for your baby, you will infect him with that negative state and it will be much more difficult for him to get better.
If you think that your baby is suffering a lot from colic and you think that it may be something more serious than just gas, then go to your pediatrician for help and to give you some guidelines to improve and alleviate the suffering of colic in your little one . It can tell you how you can perform belly massages.