I think my baby has colic.
What can I do?

If your otherwise healthy baby is younger than 5 months old and cries for more than three hours in a row on three or more days a week for at least three weeks (yes, that's a lot of crying!), then he probably is colicky. Check with your doctor to be sure. 

Read on to learn how to help a colicky baby while keeping your sanity. Try different strategies, because what helps one colicky baby might not do anything for another. 

Check the bottle.
If your baby's bottle-fed, it's important to find a bottle that won't contribute to gulping. The more air a baby swallows while feeding, the more likely tummy trouble will be.
The nipple should have a hole that's not too small, which could frustrate him and make him gulp for more food, or too large, which would cause the liquid to come at him too quickly.

Some bottles are specially designed to reduce air intake. Some are curved, while others have internal vents or liners, which prevent air bubbles from forming in the liquid and keep the nipple from collapsing.


Keep feedings upright.
You might try holding your baby more upright during feedings to help the formula or breast milk travel more smoothly to his tummy. If he's curled up or hunched over, he's more likely to trap some air in there with his food.

Eliminate frantic feedings.
Feed your baby before he's starving — if he's crying from hunger, he's more likely to gulp air along with his meal. Try to feed him in a calm environment: Turn down the lights, put on some soft music, and ask siblings to play quietly (you can always hope).

Burp him often.
Frequent burping will help get air bubbles out of your baby's tummy. Don't wait until he's finished a full-course feeding to burp him. Prop your infant up for a burping when you change sides during nursing or every few minutes when bottle-feeding.
 
Adjust your diet if you're breastfeeding.
If you think that your baby may be sensitive to something in your breast milk, try eliminating dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt) for a couple of weeks, which is how long it takes for the cow's milk protein to work its way out of your milk.

If that doesn't do the trick, you might take a look at spicy foods, wheat products, nuts, strawberries, cruciferous vegetables (such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower), garlic, caffeine, and alcohol. Stop eating likely offenders for a few days, then introduce them one at a time, waiting to see if your baby reacts to one item before introducing the next. The process may take a while, but if it saves your baby any crying time at all, it's worth it.

Ask about a formula change.
Formula doesn't often cause colic, but if your baby is colicky, a change may be worth a try. Ask your baby's doctor about switching to a formula that doesn't contain cow's milk protein.

Try an over-the-counter solution.
Some parents of colicky babies have great luck with gripe water (a preparation made from herbs and sodium bicarbonate) — although there's no scientific evidence that it works. 
If you think gas is what's bothering your baby, you might want to try over-the-counter anti-gas drops (simethicone). Make sure you're buying drops created specifically for babies, and — as with any medication — get your doctor's okay before using it.
 
Massage your baby.
A gentle belly rub might help dispel gas or at least help your baby's tummy — and psyche — feel better. You might also try placing your baby across your knees, tummy down, and rubbing his back. This sometimes helps release excess pressure.

Use a (warm) hot water bottle.
Some babies appreciate the feeling of warm water against their belly. Fill a hot water bottle with lukewarm water and wrap it in a towel. Place it on your belly and let your baby lie on top of you. Be very careful not to make the water too hot, though — what feels warm to your tummy may be too hot for your new baby's skin.

Get noisy.
Babies like sounds that remind them of the rhythmic heartbeat and whooshing noises they heard in the womb. Your baby might be comforted to sit in his infant seat near the clothes dryer as it's running or in a front pack while you vacuum. Or he might calm down when the exhaust fan is on in the kitchen.

Make music.
Sing to your baby or try a CD of lullabies or other gentle tunes. You can even find CDs of soothing womb sounds. On the other hand, some parents report that their colicky babies prefer loud rock!

Move it.
Babies are comforted by gentle motion of all kinds, so invest in a rocker, baby swing, or simple bouncer. Your baby might also find it soothing to be walked around the house in a front pack or sling. Keep in mind that he may prefer being held higher in the pack, close to your chest and your heartbeat. Try gently bouncing up and down in this position while hugging your baby close.
 
Do the baby bicycle.
Put your baby on his back. Hold his feet and gently move his legs in a bicycling motion several times a day.(nappy changes are a good time to try it.) For some babies this relieves gas and other tummy discomforts.

Get behind the wheel. Many parents find that a ride in the car — with its movement, noise, and vibration — is the best remedy for colic. Buckle your baby into his car seat and go for a drive to get a change of scenery for you and (possibly) relief for your baby.

Try a different atmosphere.
If you've been indoors, it may help to take your baby out for a walk, either in the stroller, a sling, or a front pack. The new sights, sounds, and smells may distract him, and the fresh air and rhythmic movement of walking may calm him and allow him to fall asleep. On the other hand, if you've been out and about with your baby all morning, some quiet time at home might be just what he needs.

Hush!
While some babies are comforted by motion, noise, and activity, others need less stimulation and respond better to quiet, stillness, and darkness.

Swaddle.
Think about how snug your baby was before his birth, and you'll have a good idea how wide the world seems to him right now. Swaddling — an ancient method of wrapping your infant in a blanket or cloth — can help a baby feel less out of control. You can try swaddling your baby during feedings if he has trouble focusing on his meal, or wrap him up before his usual colicky period or before you put him down to sleep.

Not only might swaddling help your colicky baby get to sleep, there's a good chance it will help him stay asleep, too. Researchers have found that babies who are swaddled sleep more soundly than those who aren't. That's because when a baby twitches during sleep, his own movements can wake him up. Swaddling keeps that little twitch from becoming a full-fledged flail he's unlikely to sleep through.

The swaddling technique is easy to master. Once you find that your baby loves to be swaddled, you may even want to invest in a special swaddling bunting.

Scent the environment.
Some babies respond well to scent. Aromatherapists develop specific essential oil formulas for a variety of problems and conditions, from headaches and fatigue to anxiety and fear.

You might try one developed for calming and soothing nervousness. (Some are made specifically to help calm babies.) A spritz of chamomile in the bedroom or a lavender-scented bath might also do the trick (if not for your baby, then for you).

Bathe your baby.
A warm bath in the middle of your baby's colic time might distract and relax him enough to help. Some babies also love to be held in the shower, with the spray on their back. Your baby may enjoy the rhythmic beating of the warm water as well as the sound.

Offer a pacifier.
Anything that helps your baby calm down is priceless right now. For some babies, sucking is the ultimate soother. So you might want to try offering a dummy, even if you ordinarily wouldn't. Or encourage your baby to suck on his finger by gently putting it in his mouth.

Stick to a routine. You'll want to feed your baby whenever he's hungry, but otherwise he might find some comfort in a set routine — baths, walks, naps at certain dependable times. Your baby isn't watching the clock, of course, but he does carry a sense of the rhythm of his days.

How to keep your sanity

An inconsolable baby is a tough trial for a new parent. It's enough to make you cry. Go ahead. Also keep in mind:

It's not personal.
When your baby spurns your attempts to console him or seems angry with you, remind yourself that he's too young to comprehend the concept of blame. And while there are things that you can do to try to console him, his having colic has nothing to do with your parenting skills.

You can't do it alone.
Share baby care with your partner. Have a friend or relative take over for you once in a while so you can take a peaceful walk or a refreshing shower.

If you find yourself becoming angry or frustrated with your baby, take a deep breath and gently lay him in his crib. Then call a friend or a relative to come and stay with your baby while you calm down.

You're helping your baby, even if he's still crying.
You may not be able to keep your baby from crying. In fact, it's possible that crying is exactly what he needs to do, and you can best help him by respecting and accepting that. Continue to hold him, rock him, whisper to him — and let him cry, all the while assured of your love.