Food & Colic – A Tricky Combination

If colic can be understood as a condition that results from digestive issues or immaturity in an infant, then it makes sense that changing what you eat could solve some of the digestive problems. For mothers who breastfeed, what is consumed by the mother is then given to the baby through the mother’s milk.

A baby who has colic may have an easier time digesting their mother’s milk if the mother avoids certain foods that can be irritating, cause gas, or trigger an allergic reaction.

Some problem foods may include the following:

*  Dairy products. Lactose intolerance is a major issue in the adult population, and many infants are also unable to digest products that contain the proteins from cows’ milk. Cut out eggs, milk, and cheese to see if lactose intolerance is making your infant’s colic more severe.

*  Caffeine. This stimulant can be found in coffee, soft drinks, tea, and even chocolate.

*   Beans, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are all likely to cause gas in adults, so they may do the same in infants.

*  Soy, shellfish, nuts, and wheat can be allergens for adults and may be causing an allergic reaction in your colicky infants too.

If you decide to change your diet in the hopes of alleviating your baby’s colic, it is important to give yourself and your infant two weeks to get the food entirely out of your system. If the baby’s colic has not improved by that point, then that food group is not likely to be related to the crying.

> Learn more about what is colic by visiting our website

When the weather is warm, it can be hard to encourage your little ones to get outside. After all, who wants to walk into a wall of humidity and heat when the air conditioning and couch are available indoors? However, getting your kids active is a great goal to set this summer.

Make time for fun part of their daily routine

With so much free time, this is the perfect opportunity to work on developing habits that your child will be able to maintain for the rest of their lives.

Make fitness and healthy living fun by incorporating games. It is easy to forget that what you are doing is actually good for you if you are having a good time and competing against friends. During the warm months, it’s a good idea to involve water in the games because it is something that the kids can’t do during the rest of the year and it will keep them cooler despite the heat.

Here are some ideas for fun water games you can play this summer with your kids:

Marco Polo – with one child being “it,” keeping his or her eyes closed, and calling out “Marco,” the other kids respond with “Polo” and try not to be tagged. Once tagged, the next child becomes “it.”

Treasure Hunt – throw coins or other sinkable objects into the deep end of the pool and the older kids can compete to see who can collect the most.

Water Limbo – using a hose instead of a traditional limbo stick, the rest of the game stays the same. See how low you can go!

Bouncing is a common technique for calming a crying or upset baby and was the inspiration for our Bounce A Bye Ball. You have probably seen more parents than you could ever count pacing back and forth, doing a unique dance to bounce their infant into a calmer and quieter state. This technique is not limited to children without colic; parents of colicky babies can often help their child find relief and soothing by bouncing him or her gently.

Bouncing – fun and helpful!

Despite the fact that the exact cause of colic is not known for certain, there is a significant amount of anecdotal evidence to support the fact that bouncing is extremely helpful for colicky babies. Possible explanations for the effectiveness of this approach to soothing colic include the following three:

1. The baby may be able to release gas that has built up in the digestive system. For infants who are having trouble with digestion and gas, bouncing may be a necessary supplement to burping after meals to release pressure and alleviate pain.

2. Bouncing may also have a soothing sensation because it mimics the feeling of being carried in a mother’s womb. A child inside his or her mother’s body feels the sensation of bouncing as she goes through the running, walking, sitting, and standing of her daily routine. Bouncing may mimic this sensation in a way that is enjoyable and relaxing for your baby.

3.   Finally, bouncing may be a way to stimulate the development of the vestibular system, a part of the baby’s neurological system that supports coordination, gross motor skills, and balance.