The use of an anti-colic bottle is essential in the fight against this scourge that plagues your child's daily life from birth. But in this article, Elhée has chosen to compile for you 20 additional tips to help relieve your baby of these digestive ailments and minimize the risk of colic.
1. Massaging the stomach to reduce colic
To relieve your baby of his tummy aches, you can describe small circles with your fingertips around his navel, after lying him on his back. To facilitate the massage, use organic oils such as coconut, olive, calendula or sweet almond.
2. Hold baby upright after each meal
To enable your baby to burp, it's best to hold him upright in your arms for at least 20 minutes. This technique also helps limit regurgitation and the development of internal reflux, which is very painful for your little one.
Cradle his head high enough in your neck so that his belly can rest against the hollow of your shoulder, at the level of your collarbone. The pressure exerted will facilitate the evacuation of digestive gases.
3. Use a slow-flow physiological teat with your anti-colic bottle
When using your anti-colic bottle, check that the nipple has a slow flow rate to limit the flow of air into your baby's mouth. It is often said that breastfeeding reduces the risk of colic in infants.
This is because breastfeeding enables your baby to regulate the flow on his own. However, some breast-fed babies still suffer from colic, while others who are bottle-fed do not.
Grâce à son design naturel, tout en rondeur et, à la douceur et la souplesse de ses composants, semblables à ceux du sein maternel, le biberon physiologique et anti-colique Élhée vous permettra de conjuguer au choix allaitement maternel et biberon.
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4. A hot water bottle on your baby's tummy
While keeping an eye on the temperature (neither too hot nor too cold), make sure you don't flood your baby's bodysuit with a poorly closed cap. You can warm the contents of a hot-water bottle and apply it to baby's tummy to relax his abdominal muscles.
This trick is also very popular with women during their period, particularly when suffering from endometriosis. You can also calm post-partum contractions in this way.
5. Lay baby on your arm during colic attacks
This technique, well known to grandparents, involves laying baby flat on your forearm. This makes it easier for baby to move his legs and pelvis, helping to relieve pain and expel air from his intestines.
Don't hesitate to walk around the house singing lullabies. If the atmosphere is slightly subdued, this will help your child to relax. But be careful not to get your feet tangled in the carpet!
6. Eat well when breast-feeding
When breastfeeding or using a breast pump, certain foods should be avoided as they increase the risk of colic. Coffee, cow's milk-based dairy products and spices should be avoided...
Limit excessively fatty foods, such as French fries and sauces, and opt for green vegetables (beans, peas, spinach, salads...).
If you get the munchies, don't hesitate to eat dried fruit. As well as reducing your deficiencies in vitamins, fatty acids and trace elements, they are a much healthier alternative to cakes and cookies.
7. Use a baby carrier or sling
All over the world, babywearing is a widespread technique.
The benefits are many: they reduce your baby's anxiety and help him relax. This significantly reduces the risk of colic. What's more, your baby can sleep curled up next to you and have the breast at his or her disposal on demand, which encourages breastfeeding and lactation. There's no need to chase after your child, he's right under your nose...
Babywearing is also an excellent means of transport! Say goodbye to the clutter of a stroller that constantly has to be folded, unfolded and lifted because of steps, and where it's not always easy to see what baby is doing.
8. Osteopathic treatment
Osteopathy, which is highly recommended for women who have just given birth, helps to reposition certain parts of the body, whether muscular or bony, in order to correct its position and reduce any pain.
It can also work wonders on the baby. Baby's prolonged position in your belly doesn't always allow his digestive organs to settle properly, and air can have difficulty circulating correctly.
Sometimes, it's the passage during childbirth itself that causes upheaval to your child's skeleton. The use of suction cups or forceps can also be traumatic, both for you and for your baby's body.
Through gentle manipulation, an osteopath can help your child release tension by correcting his or her posture.
9. Homeopathic advice
Whether you believe in it or not, homeopathy for babies comes in the form of small beads to be dissolved in a little water or in a baby bottle, preferably made of silicone.
You can ask your midwife or early childhood consultant for advice on which plants can relieve baby's colic. (Chamomilla Vulgaris 5CH, Colocynthis 5CH, Lycopodium 5CH)
These natural treatments are both preventive and curative: they can be used before a long car journey that may stress baby, or in the event of a digestive crisis, insomnia, separation anxiety, shock or haematoma.
10. Giving baby herbal tea with its anti-colic bottle
Infusions aren't just for old ladies! Fennel and lemon balm are plants that calm your baby's digestive spasms. If your baby doesn't like the taste of this decoction, try adding it to a little milk. You can also grow and dry your own herbs.
11. Start diversifying before six months of age
But not before asking your pediatrician's advice! Introducing solid food can reduce your baby's colic. As young parents, it's a real relief when the crying stops and the nights get better.
12. Green clay juice in your anti-colic bottle
But did you know that letting a tablespoon of clay settle in a glass of water for 24 hours produces a juice that is highly effective against colic?
The amount ingested by your baby should not exceed a few milliliters. Otherwise, it could cause constipation, as it is also an excellent remedy for diarrhoea.
You can use a pipette to give your baby a drink. The powder must not be absorbed. Choose a clay, preferably organic, from a herbalist.
13. Order gummy julep
Gummy julep is an ancient preparation made from limewater and gum arabic. You can give a spoonful to your baby before each feed.
Gummy julep can be ordered from a chemist or prepared yourself. It can be kept for a week in the fridge, and is also effective against your baby's reflux.
14. Obtain a prescription for probiotics
The aim of probiotics is to rebuild the intestinal flora. However, in babies born by caesarean section or prematurely, for example, this flora has not had time to be colonized by the mother's vaginal flora. If you find yourself in one of these situations, it may be worth asking your nearest PMI.
15. Orange blossom in an anti-colic bottle
If you're not convinced by the above methods, perhaps a few drops of orange blossom in your child's bottle will give you hope! Its pleasant scent and comforting properties also encourage children to fall asleep. Don't exceed half a teaspoon a day.
16. Skin-to-skin contact
Skin-to-skin is one of the first situations you encounter when you become a mother. Most often in the maternity ward, skin-to-skin contact establishes the first extra-uterine bond between child and mother. Body heat instantly soothes intestinal pain. Snuggled up against his mother, baby almost forgets his pain! And that's the whole point, isn't it?
17. Change infant milk
Sometimes, powdered milk just doesn't cut it. It may be necessary to test several brands before finding the one that's right for you. Or your child may be intolerant to cow's milk protein (CMMP). In this case, you'll need to opt for a different milk after consulting your doctor.
18. Anti-colic reducers
Some brands offer anti-colic reducers with a belly belt system. This device acts as a massager, exerting pressure on baby's tummy as he sleeps, relieving him of these pains. Some models feature pockets for a hot water bottle. Baby's legs are usually raised by a foam roller.
However, these reducers are regularly criticized by health and early childhood professionals. They claim that the risk of SIDS is increased by the use of these accessories. Elhée therefore advises you to use these systems only under constant supervision.
19. The "little Buddha" position
This position consists in "gathering" baby by cradling him in your arms, facing the world. With one hand tucked under his bottom and the other against his chest, your thumb and forefinger hold his chin and shoulders to prevent his head from moving forward. The rest of your fingers can gently massage her tummy.
This position reminds newborns of the fetal position and reassures them. For curious babies, it's also a great way to distract them by bringing them face to face with the new.
20. Equip with an antion bottle
This is the key to reducing your baby's colic. But if you don't already have one, there's still time to invest in an anti-colic feeding bottle, preferably made from medical-grade silicone (BPA- and Phthalate-free).
Different sizes are available to suit different ages. It is dishwasher-safe and can withstand bain-marie temperatures. Thanks to its excellent grip and anti-colic system, Elhée's innovative bibRond prevents your little one from swallowing air.
Its nipple imitates the shape of your nipple, reproducing the sucking action of breastfeeding. Its ergonomic design also helps to awaken your baby.
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By opting for an anti-colic bottle, you can significantly reduce the risk of colic in your child. As a second choice, remember to use all the tricks mentioned in this article to get rid of colic! These tend to dissipate as soon as food diversification begins. Of course, if you have any doubts about the cause of your child's symptoms, seek medical advice as soon as possible.
