Family Life Resource

As adults, we often take digestive functions for granted, unless a spicy burrito sends us running for the TUMS or Alkaseltzer. For newborn infants, feeding isn’t as simple. Their systems aren’t fully formed to digest the complex sugars that are found in milk and they’re often filled with too much gas. As parents, there’s very little we can do during these colic crying fits, but there are several products on the market to help with colic relief. Understand that after four months, most babies grow out of this stage and it’s not your fault.

During feeding, many babies accidentally suck in too much air, resulting in “gas pockets” in the stomach and intestines. Also, gas-producing vegetables, like broccoli and cabbage, can pass on their effects through breast milk, causing excess bloating in the baby as well. Toxins like caffeine are easily transmitted this way too, making it difficult for the baby to digest. The more the colicky baby cries, the more the gas builds up and more cramping ensues from tensing the stomach muscles. To ease the baby’s discomfort, many people turn to homeopathic medicines to treat colic.

Newborn babies have a deficiency of the lactase enzyme needed to digest milk sugar (also known as lactose), which means that undigested lactose must be broken down by the intestines and bowels, leading to an overproduction of lactic acid and hydrogen gas. Transient lactase deficiency may be something that causes colic, since this enzyme fully develops around 3-4 months (when most cases of infant colic stop). Colief Infant Drops can provide homeopathic colic relief for the baby with digestive troubles. This food supplement contains Lactase to help the baby break down the Lactose in milk. Just two drops in a bottle or on a spoon (for breast-feeders) can help ease colic caused by feeding too fast or not digesting properly. While this is perfectly safe for babies, note that it will likely give your infant a runny diaper.

Do you suspect that your baby is hypersensitive to lights and sounds? Is bedtime always a nightmare for you? Slumber Sounds offers a “complete colic relief kit” that includes: Baby Bliss gripe water, lullaby and heartbeat baby music CD, and fennel and chamomile baby bath oils. Bathing your baby in essential oils before bed and putting on a soothing CD can sometimes lull a colicky baby right to sleep. The gripe water should be used for colic relief around feeding time, which is another ideal time to encourage your baby to sleep restfully. Maybe you can even sneak in a nap!

Filed under: Colic, Family Life Resource on November 24th, 2007