There's a lot of speculation about colic in newborn babies. Doctors are still unsure about what causes colic and often prescribe medications which may, or may not work. Your doctor may tell you that colic is not a cause for concern as it is a temporary disorder and will usually disappear after three months. However that's little consolation if you're a baby in intense discomfort or a parent who's at their wits end trying to stop their baby's suffering.



What is colic? And what are the causes?

One of the definitions of colic is crying for no apparent reason for lengthy periods of time. 'The Rule of Three' is used for diagnosing colic. This rule states "A baby that cries for three or more hours per day, at least three times per week and within a three month period" must have colic. Although there are many reasons that babies may cry, pediatricians still base their diagnosis on this rule.

Watch your baby closely if you think he may have colic. If he raises his legs and appears to go into a spasm then it's a good indicator of abdominal discomfort and you can be pretty sure that colic is the cause.

Colic may be caused by the following: excess gas in the stomach, an undeveloped digestive system, low tolerance for formula or acid reflux. Acid reflux in babies has recently been proven to be a major cause of colic. Reflux means stomach acid and undigested milk flows back into the esophagus.

What can you do for a baby with acid reflux?

There are a few ways of treating acid reflux naturally. There are specially designed beds which elevate the baby's head slightly making it harder for stomach acid or undigested milk to flow back up into the esophagus. These beds can also have a rocking motion which settle baby down faster.

Place baby on your lap facing down. This places pressure on his abdomen which helps to relieve the discomfort. Using a warm hot water bottle on his abdomen or trying a gentle abdominal massage can help as well.

Motion can ease the discomfort and help baby relax. Carrying your baby around in a baby sling or just rocking him will offer some distraction.

Gripe water has been around for about 100 years and is thought of as one of the oldest colic home remedies. If you decide to give gripe water a try, look at the ingredients first. Some brands may contain alcohol or sugar. Gripe water is mainly used for treating excess gas and probably not useful for acid reflux in a newborn baby.

Breast fed babies suffer less colic than bottle fed ones. This may be because breast milk is easier for baby's immature digestive system to cope with, or perhaps an intolerance for cow's milk. In any case breast milk is more easily tolerated than formula so, if possible, try breast feeding to see if the situation improves.

So as you can see colic describes a group of possible complaints. Obviously it's vital to get your baby some help, but it's also important not to just give him medication which may not help his particular type of colic. Whatever the cause, a natural homeopathic remedy is a much more gently way to soothe colic. Herbs such as chamomile can soothe colic safely and effectively without any side effects.