Does your baby cry a lot? He could be suffering from colic. If you are on the lookout for a way to give your child relief from colic pain, try the home remedies listed below.
Your baby boy or girl may develop many disorders or conditions which may lead to physical discomfort- leading to chronic periods of crying. Sometimes, an infant may cry when he or she is hungry, feeling cold or uncomfortable. This is quite natural and happens to all kids- more or less. However, you need to watch out if your infant is colic or not. If a well fed infant keeps crying over 3 hours a day, 3 days per week and it goes on over 3 weeks – it is a case of colic.
Ways to treat colic in infants
Exact reason of colic is yet to be figured out but it is possibly caused by trapped gas in the baby’sabdominal cavity. Symptoms include chronic crying, cramps,moaning,unstable body temperature etc. While it is not a disease and in many cases colic in infants reduce without medical intervention gradually, you should not sit idle. You can resort to various tried and tested natural and home remedies to reduce colic symptoms in your baby.
Natural and Home Remedies to Treat Colic
Below listed are top home remedies to help your infant cope with colic:
1. Warm bath
It is believed that giving the child affected by colic warm bath can be quite effective and comforting. You can fill a bathtub with lukewarm water and pour a few drops of baby oil in it. You may use lavender oil as well. Put your baby in the bathtub and apply gentle massage on tummy and later put him/her to sleep.
2. Warm compress
It is said to be a useful and simple remedy to offer relief to a baby afflicted with colic. Heat up water in a bowl and soak a soft towel in it. Wring out the water and put wet a warm towel on baby’s tummy part. This can be done twice a day.
3. Mint tea solution
Mint has proven antispasmodic properties that aid in reducing intestinal spasms caused by colic in infants. You need to boil mint leaves in water and strain it well. Then let the temperature reduce and pour strained water in sipping bottle. Feed the water to baby daily to reduce pain of colic.
Read More: Health Benefits of Mint in your Child’s Diet
4. Chamomile extract
Chamomile is known for its natural antispasmodic properties and sedative properties and its application may relive colic pain in infants. Boil chamomile flowers in water and strain the solution. Feed the solution using a feeding bottle to the kid afflicted with colic.
Read More: Health Benefits of Chamomile Tea for Children
5. Olive oil massage
Using warm olive oil massage can give the colic affected infant relief. Take some olive oil and warm it lightly. Massage it using your palms on the baby’s tummy. This can reduce pain and induce sleep.
6. Help the baby burp
It is okay to let your baby burp to reduce the chance of developing colic pain. For this, make the baby sit in upright position and massage tummy section slowly. This can be done after feeding.
7. Asafetida
Asafetida is a powerful natural anti-flatulent gannet and it has been used since ages to aid digestion in humans. Mixing asafetida in water and heating it is what you will have to do. Then, let it cool and rub the solution around the baby’s navel. This can be done daily.
8. Peppermint oil massage
The oil has calcium channel blocker and that aids in easing abdominal pain. Mix a few drops of this oil with coconut oil and massage it on baby’s tummy and legs well. Later, bathe the baby well in lukewarm water.
Read More: 11 Must Know Benefits of Peppermint Oil for Kids
9. Fennel
Fennel is a natural herb with proven stomach relives properties. It can be boiled in water and strained solution can be fed to the babies with colic. In fact, breastfeeding mothers can drink this too.
10. Massage with mustard oil
Massaging the tummy with small amount of warm mustard oil with garlic extract mixed can be of help to relieve colic pain in infants.
11. Basil
The eugenol content present in basil is packed with antispasmodic properties that soothe pain and give instant relief from colic. Boil a cup of water with a tsp of dried basil leaves. Steep for 15 minutes, strain and give your baby.
Read More: 11 Health Benefits of Basil Seeds in your Child’s Diet
These simple remedies will help in treating colic in babies almost instantly. They are safe, they are effective and they work like a charm. Try them today and give your child instant relief from colic. These remedies can also be used in conjunction with conventional medication.