When a baby has colic, his or her concerned parent is always looking for a tips
to help reduce colic whether they are bottle or breastfeeding that
will help their baby cry less often and feel better. Unfortunately, it is
hard to say what the perfect solution would be because no one is able to
say exactly what causes colic or what will make it better. Depending on each
child, the effectiveness of a given solution may vary.
Colic is a condition in which healthy babies cry with increased intensity
for more hours each day on a more consistent basis than babies without colic.
It is a normal condition that generally appears around the time an infant is
three weeks old and goes away on its own by the time the baby reaches 3 months.
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What is reflux?
Reflux is short for Gastro Esophageal Reflux, or GER. In infants, it is
a condition in which the sphincter that connects the stomach and the esophagus
is not fully developed and as a result the acid from the stomach is able
to come up through the esophagus. This is an uncomfortable feeling and if
it occurs with regularity, it can damage the esophagus and enamel of the
teeth. In infants, it can go away on its own and frequently does by the time
a child reaches one year old.
Colic vs. Reflux
There are several things that may tell you whether your child has colic
or reflux, including age and symptoms.
Age - One of the easiest ways to determine whether
your child is suffering due to colic or to reflux is to look at their age.
If the baby is over three months and you are noticing this problem, it is
probably reflux because colic would not start at this age.
Symptoms - When it comes to symptoms, making this
differentiation can be a bit more challenging. Many of the symptoms of the
two conditions overlap such as poor and interrupted sleep, crying, and pulling
one’s knees into their body while crying. However, babies who have reflux
will develop an aversion to food as they begin to link food to pain. This
will result in gaining less weight and only taking a small amount of food
during each feeding.
If you suspect that your child has colic or reflux, the best choice is to consult
your pediatrician who will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and suggest
the appropriate treatment.
Whether it’s colic or reflux, we can help
Whether your baby has colic, reflux, or neither, you can find great infant
soothing tools for parents at Luna Lullaby. We offer award winning products
of the highest quality that benefit both mother and child including:
