Baby is writhing in pain and you feel helpless, to say the least in the face of his colic attacks? Discover 5 easy-to-perform gestures that can relieve it.
Rest assured, you are not alone in the face of colic in your newborn! Most young parents have had to (survive) these demoralizing moments when a baby begins to twist in all directions, his face gradually becomes crimson and his crying seems inconsolable. It must be said that infant colic appears at a particularly delicate period, during the first weeks of life, when sleep is scarce for parents and fatigue accumulates. It then becomes even more difficult to manage these sometimes long crying attacks that nothing seems to calm. If the colic of the infant should disappear between 3 and 4 months (but sometimes well before!), the time that his brand new digestive system is perfectly in place, here are 5 gestures that can, in the meantime, do good to your baby.
Massage
To relieve the baby during a colic attack that seems to last, do not hesitate to offer him a massage that will allow him to evacuate any very annoying gases. For it to be done in the best conditions, settle in a warm room, and put your newborn on a stable but too-hard surface covered with a towel for example, to be sure that it does not get cold. And as his skin is still particularly sensitive and fragile, there is no question of using any product to massage it! Choose a massage oil like the Wonderful Oil developed by Cadum, composed of no less than 5 beneficial oils, without alcohol and parabens. Rub your hands with a few drops of oil to warm them up and let’s go! Put your hands on your baby’s belly for a few moments to calm him.
Then massage up and down with the palm of your hand, starting under the ribs and up to the bottom of the belly, and alternating your hands again.
Make sure to always perform very gentle gestures, massage lightly, and of course, adapt to your child’s reactions.
Bringing warmth
If you do not have time to massage your baby, you can relieve him a lot by bringing warmth to his belly. This can be simply your hands previously passed under hot water and placed on his skin or on the bodysuit, or a hot water bottle specially designed for babies, to use with caution of course – not too heated and always on a garment. This heat will both soothe the baby and stimulate the liver and gallbladder, for a transit that gradually learns to function well. You can also take the opportunity to perform a small skin-to-skin session, always pleasant, by placing your infant against your torso.
Do some gymnastics
Always to help baby evacuate annoying gases and to stimulate his transit, make him do some leg movements, always gently and without ever forcing. Put your newborn on his back, take one foot in each hand, and make him pedal by gently bending his legs towards his belly one after the other.
Finding the right position
When the colic attack begins and your infant starts to contort, your first instinct is to take him in your arms, and you are right! Go further in this comfort by finding a position that will relieve him. For example, you can fold his legs and place him against you, holding him under his feet and on his back: this will help digestion and will also remind him of his position in your belly. Ideal to soothe him! Also, take the opportunity to massage the lower back circularly and thus relax it.
Another position to reduce your infant’s colic: install him flat on his stomach on your forearm, with his head towards the elbow and his buttocks held in your hand, take a few steps in the room by rocking him gently and massage his lower back if possible. The combination of movement, massage, and warmth of your skin can be miraculous!
Free the belly
We do not always think about it, but the baby’s belly can sometimes find itself somewhat oppressed by diapers or clothes that squeeze it too much at the belt. We will try not to tighten the diaper too much – not always easy to dose when it is the first baby! – and not to choose clothes that are too tight to the waist. The best? Opt for combinations, which will not only allow him greater freedom in his movements but will also improve his breathing. You’ll fall for pants and skirts when her colic is over!
