My youngest baby is ABOUT to turn seven years old on Sunday– I know I can hardly believe it as it feels like JUST yesterday we were praying, rocking, singing, cradling and doing everything just short of standing on our heads to get my then infant son to find some relief from his TERRIBLE colic. I honestly don’t know who was more traumatized by his colic him or me (I’m *guessing* probably me!)
In an effort to help educate and support parents of colicky babies, Born Free, a leader in premium infant feeding products, has declared March to be National Colic Awareness Month.Born Free has also created an online resource for parents. The Born Free Colic Awareness support site includes expert advice from renowned pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene and useful information about safe, soothing techniques You can check it out right here! Www.newbornfree.com/colicawareness
Lucky for us we had a chance to catch up with Dr. Greene a consulting pediatrician for BornFree and get the lowdown on this whole Colicky baby phenomenon (and of course I was wishing I had this man’s ear to chew off several years ago when my colicky son drove me THIS CLOSE to dropping him off on my neighbor’s doorstep in a basket worthy of Moses and hightailing it outta there.. anywhere away from the COLIC!)
The Staten Island Family: How did you get involved with Colic Awareness and BornFree– what is so unique about their line of products?
Dr. Greene: I got involved with Born Free because I was very concerned about BPA and other unhealthy ingredients in plastic, and Born Free was the pioneer in getting these chemicals out of the mouths of babies-before many people were even aware of the problem. Along the way I heard from many parents that colic symptoms had improved when their babies switched from other bottles to Born Free. A more formal survey and clinical study supported this observation.
In general, infants, whether or not they have colic, cry more during the first three months of life than at any other time. Severe prolonged crying is one of the most distressing problems of young babies. It’s distressing for the infant and to the parents — who often view it as an indictment of their caregiving ability. Colic can trigger
stress, fatigue, guilt, or even depression in parents.
The Staten Island Family: What is the one thing you want parents to know about taking care of their colicky baby?
Dr. Greene: Colic is a benign, self-limited condition that will end soon — and it’s not your fault!
The Staten Island family: What are TOP FIVE tips and tricks parents can keep in their arsenal to help them deal with a baby that’s colicky?
1. Swaddling Being wrapped snuggly comforts some babies.
2. Motion Some families report relief with gentle movement, whether from a swing, a car ride, a ride in a jog stroller, or a parent’s arms.
3. Changing feeding technique Switching from equal nursing at both breasts at each feed to prolonged emptying of one breast cut colic in half in one study. Sucking on a pacifier or thumb between feeds can help whether a
baby is breast or bottle fed. Frequent burping after feeding can also help.
4. Changing bottles For bottle fed babies, bottle changes are sometimes followed by big improvement in colic. For some babies, changing from a conventional formula to a hypoallergenic formula is very helpful.
5. Soothing noise Heartbeat recordings, white noise machines, recordings of babies yawning, or the gentle voices of parents sshhing, humming, or singing a lullaby.
For even more information about Colic Awareness month and how you help your colicky baby check out Www.newbornfree.com/colicawareness
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