How To Treat Colic

If you have an infant who suffers from colic, you are most likely desperate to learn how to treat colic and relieve the relentless crying. While you cannot treat colic because it is simply a condition the infant must outgrow, there are many things you can do to relieve the gas and fussiness that is behind the colic symptoms. While there are over the counter medications that claim to treat colic, most are ineffective, but there are things you can do at home that are much more effective than these over the counter remedies.

To treat colic, you may need:

• Easy to digest infant formula
• Over the counter colic medications

1. To treat colic, you may need to change your baby’s formula if they are formula fed. Soy formulas and those that are specially designed to ease the digestion process are gentler on the stomach and often cause much less gas than other forms of formula. By switching your baby’s formula to one that is easier to digest, you can make them much more comfortable after each feeding.
2. When you treat colic at home, you must feed your baby in an upright position. If you feed your baby while they are lying flat, air is more likely to become trapped in their stomach, causing painful gas and bloating. Make sure your baby is positioned upright when you feed your baby and keep your baby in an upright position for about twenty minutes after a feeding.
3. You can treat colic at home by assisting your baby with passing the painful gas. You can gently work your baby’s legs, in a circular motion or similar to if your baby were walking, to help your baby pass the gas. Movement allows air to pass through the intestines easier, relieving painful episodes of gas.
4. When treating colic, it is important to burp your baby during and after each feeding. By burping your baby frequently, you will reduce the amount of air that is trapped in their digestive tract. This will ease their pain and decrease the relentless crying.

Often, these tips are very effective for to treat colic at home without the use of medications. However, for some babies this may not be enough. If these methods have failed, schedule an appointment with your baby’s pediatrician to find out what else can be done to treat colic.