Health encyclopaedia

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Treatment of Colic

There is no treatment to prevent colic, but there are things you can do to reduce the distress to your baby that is caused by colic. For parents, it is important to try to remain calm and take regular breaks. If you are tired and stressed, you may find it harder to cope with the situation. The following measures may help to soothe a crying baby:

• Prevent your baby from swallowing air by sitting them upright to feed
• Some babies are intolerant to lactose, which is found in cow’s milk. Although babies under twelve months should not be given cow’s milk without first consulting your doctor, most formula milk is based on cow’s milk. Try giving your baby a low-lactose or lactose-free formula for a week, to see if the colic improves. If you are breast-feeding, try avoiding dairy products for week, as some evidence suggests that traces of lactose may be present in breast milk.
• Avoid drinking too much tea, coffee, and other caffeine containing drinks if you are breastfeeding. Some women also find that spicy food and alcohol in their diet can aggravate colic.
• Breastfeeding mothers can also try cutting down on cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. These foods encourage the production of wind, and may aggravate colic. As with dairy products, you should resume your normal diet if there is no improvement. It is important that breastfeeding mothers have a balanced diet with plenty of calcium.
• Holes in bottle teats that are too small may cause babies to swallow air along with their feed. ‘Fast flow’ teats with larger or several holes are available and may be a good alternative.
• Always burp your baby after a feed. Sit your baby upright or hold it up against your shoulder to do this. Then gently rub their back and tummy until they burp – sometimes they may vomit a small amount of milk when you do this, this is normal.
• Some evidence suggests that ‘over-stimulating’ a baby by continually picking them up and putting them down may aggravate the crying. Gently comforting your baby in a quiet, darkened room may be more beneficial. If you are satisfied your baby is not hungry, tired, in need of a nappy change, or at an uncomfortable temperature, it may help to leave them in their cot for a short while.
• Let reliable friends and family look after your baby from time to time to ensure you get a break.
• Babies like movement, so pushing them around in their pram or pushchair, or going for a drive can be comforting. Rocking them over your shoulder or carrying them around the house may also be helpful.
• Some babies find ‘white noise’ soothing. This may be the background sound of a washing machine or vacuum cleaner. Gentle stomach or back rubs may also help to relieve colic, as can a warm bath.
• Colief and Infacol are two useful preparations that may ease the symptoms of colic. Colief is a food supplement that can be added to formula or breast milk. It contains the enzyme lactase, which breaks down lactose. This may relieve wind and bloatedness that can cause discomfort in the baby’s intestines. The active ingredient in Infacol is an anti-flatulent. It works by changing small bubbles in the intestines into larger ones that are easier for the baby to burp. You should give your baby Infacol before every feed. It usually takes a few days to become effective.
• Your pharmacist can advise you on simple medicines and/or gripe water that will help prevent colic. Lactase and simeticone (for example Colief and Infacol respectively) are two useful preparations that may ease the symptoms of colic. Lactase is a food supplement that can be added to formula or breast milk. he enzyme lactase, breaks down lactose. This may relieve wind and bloatedness that can cause discomfort in the baby’s intestines. Simeticone is an anti-flatulent. It works by changing small bubbles in the intestines into larger ones that are easier for the baby to burp. You should give your baby Simeticone before every feed. It usually takes a few days to become effective.
• Having a colicky baby can be stressful and your partner or family or a reliable friend may need to give you a few hours break from the your baby so that you can rest or sleep.

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