Healthy infants cry one or two times a day without an explainable reason. These crying bouts last for a couple of hours every day. The crying might, however extend to a prolonged period and that can be dangerous of the baby. No, you don’t have to worry. Today we will help you with 10 home remedies for colic in babies.

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Colic usually starts in infants who are 2 to 3 weeks old. As the months pass, the problem gradually resolves. In some cases, the problem persists in babies over 6 months of age.

What causes colic well the reason is not yet known. However, experts suggest that one of the reasons could be the air that gets trapped in the baby’s abdominal cavity. This air causes pain and a great deal of discomfort. Moreover, if you smoked when you were pregnant, your baby runs a greater risk of getting colic.

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Symptoms of colic

The general symptoms of colic are,

• Pain
• Crying
• Moaning
• Finicky behavior
• Cramping

The baby might develop other symptoms if the colic is really severe. These include,

• Frequent vomiting
• A change in stools
• Unstable body temperature
• Poor weight gain
• Fatigue

Colic not only harms the baby, but also the parents. If your baby is colicky, then chances are you and your partner are suffering for a relationship stress and postpartum depression. You might even have problems breastfeeding your child. With these natural remedies, you can treat your baby’s coli effectively and save yourself from all these troubles.

Home remedies for colic in babies

Here are the 8 best natural treatments to get rid of colic in babies.

1. Warm Bath

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The first remedy is a simple yet effective treatment that helps calm a baby almost instantly. You your baby a warm soothing bath. This will help you distract their attention from the crying, and also induce sound sleep.

For the treatment, fill the baby’s tub with soothingly warm water. Now add about 5 to 6 drops of lavender oil to the water and mix it well. Give your baby a calming bath in this water, and while doing so, lightly massage their tummy area. This will help relieve the trapped gas, which otherwise can cause them pain. Now dry your baby, and put them to sleep.

2. Warm Compress

The next remedy is warm compress. It helps relax a colicky baby quickly and effectively. You need to apply the warm compress gently on your baby’s tummy area. It will help get rid of the gas and also lull them to sleep.

Warm sop water. Dip a soft, clean washcloth in it and wring out the excess water. Now gently place the cloth on your baby’s abdominal area, and rub it lightly in circular motion. You need to do this for a few minutes.

Repeat the treatment twice every day to help your kid with the gas movement.

3. Oil Massage

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The third remedy is oil massage. Massages help relieve colic in babies and keep the baby’s body warm. This, in turn, improves their digestion, thus preventing gas. Also, after each feeding, your baby is likely to sleep immediately if you massage its tummy well.

For the remedy, heat some olive oil. Once it is soothingly warm (apply some on your elbow to check), massage it onto your baby’s stomach. Be gentle with your strokes. Also, you need to massage your baby’s rib cage area, his or her pelvis, hands and feet.

You need to follow this treatment thrice every day.

4. Knee Pushing Exercise

Yes, you read that right! 😀 Gentle exercise for babies is as vital as it is for adults. This will help ensure proper digestive functioning in your baby. There is a particular exercise that helps colicky babies, and we will be sharing that with you.

First, put your baby in a lying down position. Now hold his or her knees together. Do it lightly. Make sure you do not exert force. Now bend the legs slowly, at the knees pushing them toward the tummy. Hold them in that position for 4 seconds. Now straighten the legs again. Repeat this ten times. If you notice any discomfort in your baby, the stop immediately.

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5. Burp Your Baby

Helping your baby burp after you have fed them, is the best way to avert chances of colic. The burp/s will help the baby release gas. This will prevent formation of air pockets in his or her stomach, which otherwise causes discomfort and pain.

For the remedy, after feeding your baby, sit it in upright position. You can also hold them against your shoulder to provide support to their neck and back. Now gently rub their baby and tummy area. You are likely to hear small burps. Now lay them down.

You need to do this treatment every time after you feed your child to prevent colic.

6. Asafetida

The next remedy on our list is asafetida, which is an anti-flatulent that helps with digestion. It relieves gas, thus preventing colic in babies.

For the remedy, you need to mix a pinch of asafetida powder with a tablespoon of water. The solution has to be heated and then allowed to cool. Gently, rub the solution around the navel of the baby. Be sure not to put the oil in the navel.

This treatment should be repeated two times a day.

If your baby has started eating solid food, then you can mix a pinch of the powder in their food, and then feed it to them.

7. Fennel Seeds

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This is the wonder herb that treats colic in babies, in a jiffy. Fennel seeds relieve gas, thus comforting your baby.

For the remedy, you need to crush some fennel seeds. Add this powder to a cup of warm water. Cover the cup and let steep for about 15 minutes or so. You need to strain the water in case the powder isn’t that fine. Now drink this tea thrice a day. When you breastfeed, the goodness of the seeds will reach your baby. Also, you can give a teaspoon of the tea to your baby, three times every day.

The treatment needs to be followed on a daily basis, for positive results.

8. Peppermint

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The last remedy on our list of natural treatments for colic in babies is peppermint. Owing to its antispasmodic qualities, peppermint calms the baby. It helps reduce flatulence and other problems with digestion that are common among infants.

For the treatment, you need to mix peppermint oil and baby massage oil in the ratio of 2:1. Now gently apply the oil on your baby’s abdominal area, and massage in circular motions. Be gentle.

This treatment should be done two times, every day.

The other option you can try is bring a cup of water to boil. Ass a teaspoon of dried peppermint leaves to this water. After a minute, remove the container from the heat, and cover the container. Let it steep for at least 10 minutes. Now strain the tea. If you are breastfeeding, then drink this tea thrice a day to cure the colic in your baby.

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Additional tips for colic in babies

Here are some extra tips that you can try to treat your baby’s colic.

• You need to let your baby lie on its tummy for 15 minutes, at least, every day.
• If you are breastfeeding your baby, then you need to add probiotic yogurt to your diet. This will help your and the baby’s digestive system.
• To calm your baby, play soothing music.
• To stop your infant from crying, keep rocking them or keep them in motion by walking around with them
• You can also change your baby’s milk formula and see if you are noticing any changes
• Try putting your baby down to sleep.
• Changing your baby’s milk formula can also help.
• Feed your baby more often, but also help them burp by lightly thumping on their back.
• If you are breastfeeding your baby, then you need to follow a very healthy diet style. You cannot indulge in stimulants such as chocolate and coffee.
• You should consult your baby’s pediatrician and change your diet for at least two weeks and observe changes in your baby’s crying patter. Sometime getting rid of dairy products or nuts from your diet for a while might help your colicky baby as they might be allergic to these products.
• As soon as you feed your infant, hold her or him upright.

If despite these remedies or tips your kids colic does not get cured, then you need to visit your doctor immediately.

That is all we have on today’s post on home remedies for colic in babies. Was this helpful? Will you be recommending it to others? If you have some remedies that you would like to share with us, then please do so in the comment section below.

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