Dealing with Colic

The bad news is there isn’t much you can do for a colic baby. The good news is they will grow out of it. They will. It just takes time. The key is calming yourself (or your partner). Pediatricians from the Portland Clinic (and the parents at NW Kids☺) recommend reading or viewing the DVD, The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp. His strategies include swaddling the baby and emulating the womb environment as closely as you can. The tricks really do work for many babies.

Another remedy to try is homeopathic gripe water, long been rumored to help soothe fussy babies. Gripe water is believed to help colic, infant gas, stomach pain, hiccups, teething and even reflux. It also is supposed to help baby’s digestive system adjust to new foods and relieve the stomach upset that is accompanied by infant teething.

Have questions for a local pediatrician? Send them to askthedoc@nwkids.com

* Source: The Portland Clinic.