Every new parent wants to be certain that their baby grows up
healthy, but conflicting information abounds. Whether it's well-meaning
advice from grandma, an article in the latest parents' magazine, or tips
from friends with children, there can be any number of differing
opinions as to what's best for baby. With so many choices out there, it
can be difficult to know what information is reliable, especially on the
topic of colic - a problem with no single fool-proof solution.
Fortunately,
even if your baby does develop colic, you can take solace in the fact
that newborn baby health is not severely impacted in most cases. With so
many babies having colicky symptoms at some point, doctors have
developed a set of criteria that defines whether or not a baby has
colic. It's called the "rule of three" and most pediatricians refer to
this rule when diagnosing excessive crying in an infant:
- Baby is at least 3 weeks old
- Baby cries for at least 3 hours at a time
- Crying occurs more than 3 days per week
- Crying pattern lasts for more than 3 weeks
This
"rule of three" is the typical pattern of the colicky infant, who is
otherwise well-fed and healthy. Other symptoms, such as gassiness or
reflux may occur along with the crying. For this reason, many parents
choose to treat their newborn with medications and remedies designed to
help digestion. As long as the pediatrician is made aware of these
treatments, it's generally a safe option.
But what about the
advice of just letting the baby "cry it out"? With colic, there is no
outward problem that the parents can alleviate, and the stress caused by
listening to an inconsolable infant for hours at a time can prove
extremely stressful for parents. While you can be sure that newborn baby
health is not negatively affected by colic, stressed-out parents can
and should seek some relief. This can be as simple as handling a tearful
baby in shifts, or taking a quick five-minute breather with baby in
another room.
Well-meaning advice from parents who have handled
colic in their own families should be considered as well. Parents who
have dealt with the issue before are usually more sympathetic and
understanding. While their advice may or may not work for your little
one, just having someone to talk to who understands can be a major
benefit.
While there is no one cure-all for colic, you can keep
your little one healthy by tending to his or her needs as always.
Regular immunizations should not be overlooked, and keep to a regular
feeding and napping schedule as much as possible. Soon enough, the
crying will be a thing of the past.
Is your baby crying nonstop for hours at a time? Are you looking
for resources to help stop your baby's colic for good? T. Steward is an
freelance Expert Author and a work from home dad who understands how you
feel. Confronted with a colicky baby and looking for answers to the
problem so that he and baby's mom could get much needed rest, T. Steward
did the research and came up with some effective methods to soothe
colicky infants that anyone can try. Learn more about newborn baby health,
and how to stop your baby's crying on his baby colic stop website. If
you want even more information, subscribe to the free 10-part baby colic stop email course at no cost.
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