Treating Infant Colic

Infant colic is when a baby cries for more than three hours at a time, more than three days per week, for more than three weeks straight. New parents may feel alarmed, but it is not as serious as it sounds. While doctors disagree over the exact cause of this frustrating condition, they generally agree that there are certain remedies that may soothe the colicky baby.

One theory for the cause for colic in babies is that there is trapped gas in the stomach and intestines. The baby experiences sharp pain shortly after feeding because he or she is unable to breakdown the milk sugar properly, and therefore experiences unpleasant stomach acids and a bloated feeling. Some babies also swallow too much air while feeding, also contributing to the overall discomfort. For these babies, it's recommended that a homeopathic remedy be administered - something like Colic Calm gripe water, a blend of peppermint, chamomile, fennel, caraway, ginger, lemon balm and aloe. These natural ingredients stimulate the body's digestive processes, while providing calming relief. Similarly, a colon massage or burping the baby may help ease the symptoms too.

Another theory for the root of baby colic is the lack of "gut flora," which are the healthy microorganisms that assist in digestion. The average human body has anywhere from 300 to 1000 species of gut flora living in the stomach. Infants have been found to lack the microorganism that assists in milk sugar breakdown specifically, which can be a huge problem considering a baby's early diet consists of milk. In this case, Pro-biotics like a Lactobacillus acidophilus supplement or Lactase have been known to help.

Others claim that infant colic results from having a sensitive disposition and the nervous system has difficulty processing all the lights and sounds of the new environment. At about twelve weeks of age, the baby's pineal glands start secreting Melatonin, the natural chemical associated with circadian rhythms and normal sleeping patterns, as well as detoxifying the cells / transporting free radicals from the body. For these babies, minimizing external distractions can treat symptoms of colic. For instance, play a special "baby heartbeat" CD to lull the baby to sleep. Lullaby songs, washing machines, a car ride or an infant swing have been known to relax colicky babies to sleep and prevent frequent awakenings throughout the night.

While some infant colic cases are treated with dicyclamine (an anti-spasmodic drug found in anti-diarrhea medication), other doctors say the "Five S" treatment is a more naturally effective solution. With this remedy, Swaddle the colicky baby, place the infant on his or her side or stomach, make a "shhhh" sound in the baby's ear and give the baby something to suck on (like a pacifier).