Colic occurs when a baby is crying excessively and frequently, though he or she might seem to be rather healthy. It is not an illness but a situation of baffling behaviors when babies wail for a substantial period of hours. Colic cries can be really loud and high pitched while babies might also tense up, squeezing eyes shut and clenching fists. But the good news is, colic is not a permanent condition and is not harmful to your baby in the long run. This condition is common and can happen to any babies, but there are some who are more prone to get it than others.

Well, there is still no clear idea of how colic is caused in babies. Some doctors see it as a natural developmental period when babies adjust to new sensations and experiences, while some believe it is due to an immature digestive system and an imbalance of bacteria in the gut. Experts also discussed that it could be an allergy reaction for lactose intolerant babies or even allergy reaction to food that mothers intake for breastfed babies.

Before getting all anxious wondering whether your baby might be prone, let us look at the symptoms leading to a colicky baby.

SYMPTOMS OF COLIC

Usually, doctors based on the “rules of three” to determine whether the baby has colic. Firstly, your baby has been crying for at least three hours long. Secondly, this crying period happens three days a week. And lastly, this continues for at least three weeks in a row.

In addition to the rules of three, there are some further symptoms you can take note of:

Crying seems to occur for no reason

Crying occurs roughly at the same time of the day

Extra active bowel activity and gassiness might increase

Babies getting all tensed up, curling up with their knees close up to their stomach, arching their back and clenching their fists

Most often, colic in babies shows up when the baby is 2 or 3 weeks old. According to BabyCenter, the 6 weeks mark is when colic gets most intense. It will then begin to improve over the period of 3 to 4 months time. With that being said, babies should still be fed like usual and gain a healthy weight despite having colic.

REMEDIES TO CURE COLIC

At this point in time, parents must be wondering how to console a colicky baby during these periods then? There are several techniques and actions parents can take, but of course, different babies have different preferences as well. Here are some tips and tricks parents can try:

Hold your baby against your shoulders and gently rock them during their crying period

Hold them to an upright sitting position when holding or feeding them to prevent excessive intake of air

Give your baby a warm bath to calm him/her down

Massage your babies tummy to let out excess gas

PRODUCTS TO HELP WITH COLIC

Besides such techniques, there are products that aim to help soothe colicky babies. Understanding this common situation that a lot of parents have to face, Twinkle came up with the Multi-Purpose Baby Balm. The specific blend of essential oils in this balm aims to ease colic, stomach discomfort and even travel sickness for babies who are prone. It consists of whitewood oil that soothes babies’ sense and promotes calmness and encourages restful sleep.

The best way to use the baby balm on a colicky baby is to apply on baby’s chest, stomach and on the soles after a bath to keep the baby warm and comfortable. It will encourage a restful sleep for the baby, which allows parents to have longer sleeps too! Without further ado, check out Twinkle’s Multi-Purpose Baby Balm here!