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How To Soothe a Colicky Baby

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There's nothing more heartbreaking to new parents than hearing the uncontrollable cries of their colicky newborn. Whether it's your first child or merely the first time you're experiencing a fussy baby, the screams of a little one can be alarming for even the most optimistic parents.


What is colic?


Colic is a general label to describe a series of symptoms with no known cause in an otherwise healthy baby. In other words, if a baby appears to be fussy and crying a lot without any other explanation or symptoms of a more serious issue, it's referred to as colic.


There are many reasons babies will cry. Colic is extremely common affecting approximately 1 in 5 babies. Most of the time a baby's fussiness will peak around week 8 and begin to improve.


In the meantime, here are a few tried and true tricks that will help you get through the colicky phase of your little one's life with ease.


Nursing. If mom is breastfeeding, then the first step is to try offering baby her breast. In addition to feeding a potentially hungry baby (they cluster feed a lot during the first few months), the act of suckling triggers a baby's calming reflex. Follow the feeding by holding the baby upright against your chest and gently patting him on the back to burp.


Swaddling. Moms all the world over know the ancient practice of swaddling has roots in the wisdom that the warm, cozy feeling that baby had in the womb is the most comfortable way for him to sleep. Thankfully, nowadays parents don't need to use strips of cloth or clothing but can use blankets explicitly designed for swaddling, like this one here. Once you've got the hang of how to use one, you will be reaching for the swaddling blanket at the first signs of fussiness.


Rocking. After your baby is warm and cozy in a swaddle, gently rock him from side-to-side to continue soothing. Babies are used to the constant motion of their mothers inside the womb and stillness can be unsettling for newborns. A soft, swaying movement for a few minutes can calm the baby down. If tired arms bother you, try using a battered powered swing.


White noise. Another soothing technique that mimics the environment of the womb is playing static, white noise. The baby heard all the sounds of mom's body amplified by water when he was inside her, so re-creating that type of noise can be very calming. Some people swear that turning on a hair dryer or vacuum cleaner can put their baby right to sleep. However, there are white noise apps and machines available now if running appliances all night doesn't sound appealing to you.


Establishing a regular nap schedule. Probably the least discussed tip concerning colic is creating a consistent nap routine for baby. One of the most common reasons babies cry, that wouldn't occur to new parents, is tiredness. This explains why fussy crying increases in the late afternoon and evening. Newborn babies need to sleep a lot, around 4 to 6 naps throughout the day. They also don't know how to put themselves to sleep so when it's nap time, they cry. When it's past nap time, they scream. Follow all the previous tips to make baby comfortable and get him to sleep regularly during the day. A well-rested baby will be much calmer come evening time.


One or all of the suggested tips will be sure to give your baby his rest and you some peace of mind.