Infant colic is very common and parents often feel helpless when faced with the inconsolable crying and discomfort of their baby. Indeed, more than one in five babies suffers from colic. What is infant colic ? How to relieve your baby who suffers from colic? Does baby massage help reduce pain?
In this article, we present to you the certified organic Care and Bath Oil , ideal for massaging your baby!
What is infant colic ?
Despite its name evoking diarrhea, infant colic is quite different. These are crises of excessive and inconsolable crying generally occurring in the evening after the bottle or a feeding.
There is no known and identified cause of the origin of colic in infants. Infant colic is not considered a disease because it disappears on its own. What we do know, however, is that the digestive system and the intestine in a newborn are immature and could therefore be linked.
Symptoms to recognize infant colic
Infant colic appears after a meal (bottle or feeding) and more particularly in the evening.Crying being one of his means of communication, your infant will express his pain by intense and sudden crying . This crying can also be accompanied by flatulence and gas emissions. His face may be tense, he squirms, closes his fists and folds his legs over his abdomen.
If in doubt, do not hesitate to consult a health professional to rule out any pathology.
The duration of infant colic
Infant colic can appear as early as the third week after birth, but most babies occur between their sixth and eighth week .
Infant colic generally follows Wessel's "rule of 3". Indeed, the attacks last at least 3 hours a day, 3 times a week and for a duration of about 3 weeks.
Although only lasting three weeks, these episodes are very intense and exhausting for parents. Do not hesitate to ask for help from those close to you.
How to calm and relieve infant colic?
There is no drug treatment that would provide immediate relief from infant colic. Only patience and a few tender gestures could help your baby spend these weeks more serenely.
1- Reassure your baby: take him in your arms, do some skin-to-skin contact and talk to him.
2- An osteopathy session : through gentle manipulations, the osteopath will be able to relax your baby and relieve his ailments.
3- Prioritize breastfeeding and if you bottle-feed your baby, use anti-colic bottles instead. These bottles limit swallowed air.
4- Give "anti-colic" massages to your baby to prevent and relieve pain
What is baby massage?
For years, baby massage has been a widely used treatment process. Through some studies, health professionals claim that it is a practice that contributes to the development of the child while strengthening the interaction links between the baby and his parents.
Baby massage is ideal for reducing colic
In newborns, baby massage can relieve and reduce colic. Indeed, massage improves transit and reduces bloating. Beyond reducing pain, baby massage will soothe your baby.
Your osteopath can show you several techniques that you can repeat at home independently.
To massage your baby in good conditions, lay your baby down on a very soft towel in a heated room. Above all, avoid massaging him when he is in a crying fit.
In a clockwise direction, gently massage her belly starting from the navel outwards. In general, babies enjoy massages. Watch your baby's reactions and face. You should see and feel if he enjoys special moments with you.
Other benefits of baby massage
Massaging baby has several advantages, both physical and psychological, but also in terms of communication. Touch through the massage practiced on babies and young children contributes to giving them a harmonious physical development. It also helps prevent constipation. Massage is also an effective way to provide relaxation and well-being to the baby, through muscle relaxation. At the psychological level, the fact of massaging baby gives him a feeling of comfort and security. Indeed, massage is a gesture of tenderness, showing the baby all the love his parents have for him. And finally, through this soft touch, the baby comes into contact with the outside. In this way, the baby constructs his own identity and identifies himself as a person. Indeed, the skin is an active sensory receptor thus effectively opening communication with baby.
Anti-colic baby massage: which products to use?
To respect the sensitivity of your baby's skin, it is essential to choose massage products specially designed for babies. Generally, care products containing various chemical substances can have harmful effects on baby's skin: allergies, rashes, etc. These types of products are not recommended. Be sure to preferably choose natural and organic products that respect your child's skin.
Care and Bath Oil from Téane Laboratories
To perform massages that respect your baby's skin, Les Laboratoires Téane offer you its Care and Bath Oil for the little ones, certified organic. Designed to soothe baby, Téane massage oil is recommended for baby massage. It is hypoallergenic and tested under dermatological control. It is enriched with essential fatty acids to deeply nourish your baby's skin. You can also use it as a protective oil by applying it before the bath.
More peaceful, your infant will be able to live these few weeks with more serenity.
