Colic is believed to affect about 20% of babies. A baby is described as having colic if he or she has episodes of uncontrollable, extended crying over three hours a day and at least three days a week.
Every baby cries, but if your baby is otherwise healthy and well fed, then he or she may have colic. Often the stomach pain is the result of crying rather than the cause. In general, babies start with colic around three weeks old, reaching its worst at around six weeks old and then usually stopping around three or four months old.
The exact cause of colic is still unknown but there are many theories on why a baby might have colic. Some of the many possible causes include:
Each of these theories, along with many others, are still being researched today. Since there is no factual evidence on what the exact cause of colic is, there is no one easy solution to help parents ease or comfort their baby through an episode of crying.
How and why does baby massage work?
Infant massage helps in a number of ways:
Using infant massage to help relieve colic is just one its many benefits. You can take a look at some of the others here.
Thinking of learning to teach baby massage and share the benefits with others?
We offer face-to-face courses (twice yearly; get in touch for our next dates), online via Zoom, and our online distance learning option. All provide the same excellent course content and fantastic support from our team. Take a look here to browse the options.
Every baby cries, but if your baby is otherwise healthy and well fed, then he or she may have colic. Often the stomach pain is the result of crying rather than the cause. In general, babies start with colic around three weeks old, reaching its worst at around six weeks old and then usually stopping around three or four months old.
The exact cause of colic is still unknown but there are many theories on why a baby might have colic. Some of the many possible causes include:
- An immature digestive system
- Overstimulated senses
- Acid reflux
- Food allergies or intolerances
- Exposure to tobacco
Each of these theories, along with many others, are still being researched today. Since there is no factual evidence on what the exact cause of colic is, there is no one easy solution to help parents ease or comfort their baby through an episode of crying.
How and why does baby massage work?
Infant massage helps in a number of ways:
- It helps to eliminate wind from baby's body
- It can help to produce "feel good hormones" helping baby to relax and reducing levels of stress hormones
- Baby massage can help to mature the digestive and nervous systems by helping to tone the digestive tract and aid the process of myelination of nerve cells for better brain body communication.
- Most importantly, baby massage offers the opportunity to listen, observe and communicateIt makes the baby feel secure and comfortable outside the womb
- Skin to skin contact may be able to soothe and reassure baby
Using infant massage to help relieve colic is just one its many benefits. You can take a look at some of the others here.
Thinking of learning to teach baby massage and share the benefits with others?
We offer face-to-face courses (twice yearly; get in touch for our next dates), online via Zoom, and our online distance learning option. All provide the same excellent course content and fantastic support from our team. Take a look here to browse the options.
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