Unstoppable tears! Do not give up on your baby

Most of us ask the question 'What is Colic?' when we first hear the word. It is estimated that approximately 1 out of 5 babies has crying spells. This usually begins in the late afternoon and sometimes goes until bedtime. That is usually sufficiently enough to be referred to us as colic. Colic is different from ordinary crying because the baby seems inconsolable as the crying turns to screaming. This dilemma usually endures for at least two to three hours, if not longer. It can even go around the clock. These periods of colic recur on a daily basis.

The fact that the pediatrician assures a parent that the baby will grow out of colic doesn't offer much consolation for the misery of the parent as they wonder "what is colic?". There is no clear definition of what colic is or how it's different from other types of crying dilemmas. What causes colic remains an unsolved mystery, although theories are plenty. This condition is usually assoc iated with pains in the baby's abdomen.

Reasons for Baby and Infant Colic

Abdominal pain in the baby happens in the first four months of the infant's life. It usually vanishes spontaneously without treatment. Although the baby is in no danger with colic symptoms , the condition is distressing and unsettling. There is no proof that this is caused by spasm of the intestines.

When pediatricians refer to colic symptoms, the baby usually has an abdominal pain that is accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting and a temperature. A baby will have episodes of pain in which he or she screams and lifts the legs up toward the abdomen. The first colic baby symptom is usually poor appetite. No two babies endure the same pattern or intensity of crying and behavior. This goes for parents as well as they all respond differently.

How is Baby Colic Treated?

It is common for the miserable parent of a colic baby to seek an instant colic remedy to cure crying. Unfortunately, the truth is colic remedies doesn't completely cure the symptoms. Due to the fact that all medicines have side effects, most pediatricians avoid their prescription pads when treating baby colic. One particular variety in colic remedies is sold over-the-counter for gas which does help diminish or erase symptoms in baby colic.

Although there is no agreement that gas causes baby colic, it is revealed that many colic babies do seem to possess plenty of gas. Studies do show that reducing the gas does diminish the discomfort of the average infant colic sufferer. If your colic baby seems to have a lot of gas, it is advisable to ask the pediatrician about Simethicone drops. Mylicon and Phazyme are brand names that normally carry the drops.

Measures Parents Take to Prevent Baby Colic

There is a theory that infant colic is more common in babies whose mother suffers from complications in childbirth or even in pregnancy. There is a theory that babies have infant colic because their mothers are tensed. Many experts actuall y feel that it is more likely that the baby's cry causes tension to the mother. There are others who even insist that a mother is usually anxious and may unconsciously communicate these vibes to her infant, causing the baby to cry. Maternal anxiety may not cause infant colic. It is possible that it worsens the condition.

The reassuring fact about infant colic is that babies with these bouts of crying do not appear to be worse throughout the duration. It may be a different story for parents, emotionally and physically. Children who cry often as infants seem more likely to be active and vigorous problem solvers as toddlers than those with weak sobs. The condition will not last forever.

As we already know, there is no medication, pharmaceutical or herbal colic remedy, or even a treatment to cure this problem. A few may actually make it worse. However there are several approaches a parent can take to reduce the baby's crying:

Try Prevention

A recent U.S. study read that babies who were carried in the arms of a grown-up for at least three hours a day cried much less than babies who were carried for a lesser time.

Respond

It may appear that you are responding without avail, but the truth is that responding to a baby's call will even tually lessen the crying.

Assess the Circumstances

You must evaluate why the baby is crying. Before deciding whether the baby is sobbing for the sake of crying, determine if there's a remediable cause.

Fresh Air

A change of outdoors may be the answer to change a baby's mood instantly. Day or night, this natural colic remedy rarely, fails. Try a trip in the family vehicle, stroller or baby carrier for the best results.