Pharmacy Corner - Colic - Management Strategies

Pharmacy Corner

Colic and Teething: Irritable, crying, fussy baby and it’s not a fever! Colic - Management Strategies

6. How can I soothe my baby’s colic?

The techniques can be categorized into five methods: physical, behavioral, environment, dietary and parental support.

Physical¹	Gentle pressure to the belly Carrying Rocking Swaddling Skin-to-skin contact Use of infant carriers and massage Warm baths Here is a holding technique that may help for colic.¹ Example: Belly massage – infant facing downward in one hand, parent starts from the navel and messages abdomen in left to right circular motion
Behavioral¹	Start a colic diary which includes⁷: Crying and fussing periods Who was present when the baby was crying? What comfort measures were used? Was the baby being held when the crying began? Sleeping periods Was the baby sleeping alone or in the caregiver's arms? Awake times Was the baby alone and happy or being held? Were bathing, changing, or other activities taking place? Feeding times How much formula was taken? How long did the baby breastfeed? What position was the baby in during feeding? How was the baby burped? Did the baby spit up or vomit after a feeding? If you are breastfeeding, the health professional will want a record of your diet during this period of time. Stool pattern What is the amount, colour, consistency, and odour of the baby's stools? Number of wet diapers What is the colour, estimated amount (small, moderate, or large), and odour of the baby's urine? Weight When during the day was the baby weighed? Did the baby have the same amount of clothing on each time they were weighed?
Environmental¹	“White noise” machine Apps are also available to download (e.g. white noise free) Change of scenery Car rides Baby swings Crib vibrators⁸
Dietary¹	Breastfed babies: Continue breastfeeding Maternal consumption of hypoallergenic diet¹⁰ Remove cow’s milk and dairy products from mom’s diet for 1-2 weeks Remove soy, wheat, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts and fish, cabbage, broccoli, caffeine, citrus fruit and chocolate from mom’s diet for a period of time Formula-fed babies: If formula changes are made and symptoms do not improve after 1 week, don’t continue it Don’t frequently change their formulas Feeding techniques: To prevent spitting up and reduce the amount of air swallowed during feeding: Position infant vertically Use correct bottle and nipple size for infant’s age Use curved bottles or bottles with collapsible bags Burp infant frequently in an upright position [baby held over the shoulder or in a gentle chin grasp]: Every 5-10 min or 30-60 mL formula
Parental Support¹	Take breaks to relieve stress/anxiety Receive expert opinion/support (ex. counsellor) in parent-infant communication skills³

Note

Get advice from a healthcare professional first before you try any of these methods, as there is not enough evidence to show they will work.

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