This is one of those problems that keeps moms and dads up at night along with their baby. It’s something that causes little ones a lot of pain, and the vast majority of babies go through this. I was one of the ‘lucky’ ones to go through it as a trial by fire, since I had never even heard of baby colic, and suddenly I found myself in a totally new situation I didn’t know how to handle. Now what?

When Joana was just 15 days old and had barely arrived home, this little problem was already looming. She spent most nights awake, crying, and even with the medication the doctor had already prescribed, the pain kept coming back and persisted in the middle of the night. So I was advised to take her to a specialist, because someone mentioned this thing called reflux. What is that, folks? A newborn having stomach problems? Yes!!

Most babies have reflux. Now with the specialist, I learned that newborns have immature digestive systems, and to digest the milk they’re given, they accumulate gases that cause pain, which is why baby colic happens. Another factor is the movement that comes from their bowels still maturing.

So what can be done about baby colic?

First of all, we have to be very patient, loving and caring to handle this situation because it is tough and tiring, but neither the baby nor the mom is to blame for this very common situation. So prepare a warm compress and start learning how to do shantala massage to help relieve baby colic!

I bought several books about baby colic, and whenever I had the chance I read them, hoping there would be some miracle recipe in one of them, but unfortunately all I found were tips, which are as follows:

  • If you breastfeed, watch your diet—avoid foods that can produce gas in the baby. Avoid beans, fava beans, lentils, and other legumes. Soda, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are also bad for this as they can cause gas.
  • Do not let the baby swallow air during feedings, whether from breastfeeding or the bottle.
  • Always burp your baby; this is essential!
  • Don’t let your baby be exposed to the cold! My mom always told me that cold gives you a tummy ache, but why is that? No one really knows for sure, but it’s true! With my kids I’ve already noticed that it’s true.
  • Try to keep the environment calm. Too much excitement can make colicky babies even more uncomfortable, making them cry even more.
  • If your baby is in pain, try warming their tummy; this usually helps get rid of the gas more easily and can relieve baby colic. Dads usually have a higher body temperature than us moms, and that can help during a colic crisis.

It’s completely normal to go through this. If you haven’t and you’re pregnant, it’s a good idea to include a warm compress as part of your layette! These days things are a little easier in this regard. I got a flaxseed heating pouch as a gift—you just heat it for 30 seconds in the microwave and it’s ready!

Remember, only give your baby colic medication as directed by your pediatrician. You never know if your child may be allergic to a specific drug. Not all newborns’ crying is caused by colic. In some cases, the baby may simply be hungry and cry because they want to nurse, not because of colic; that’s why on-demand feeding is important, and moms should watch out for this as well. To all the moms going through this phase, be patient and keep in mind that this stage will pass.

See also: Breastfeeding – Initial Difficulties and Solutions

Photo: Glauber Prates