To know how to settle a colicky crying baby, one must first understand

that there is a real reason for the baby crying. According to the

American Heritage Dictionary Online colic is: Severe abdominal pain caused

by spasm, obstruction, or distention of any of the hollow viscera,

such as the intestines; or a condition of unknown cause seen in infants

less than three months old, marked by periods of inconsolable crying

lasting for hours at a time for at least three weeks.

It’s the second type of colic that can be a trial for parents of

newborns. There is nothing more frustrating than to have your baby crying

continually. Not only does your baby’s distress tear at your heart, but it

can be mentally and physically draining.

We asked a group of parents who had experienced a colicky crying baby.

Here, sometimes in their own words, they share the various methods of

settling a crying baby.

Remain Calm

"One of the most important things and often the most difficult is for

the parent or caregiver to try to stay calm, as the baby can feed off of

the tension or negative vibes from the parent. If it gets to be too

much, see if you can take a break (even a few minutes can help you

refocus)."

White Noise

Many parents have found that soft background sound seemed to have the

most effect; not only does it soothe the baby, but it also helps calm

the parents. Often soft soothing music combined with the movement of a

rocker or baby swing worked perfectly to settle a colicky crying baby.

Some parents discovered that running the vacuum cleaner was the perfect

noise to quiet their crying baby. Another woman discovered that if she

would place her baby in a baby seat and then set it on top of the

clothes dryer. Then keeping the heat off, she would turn on the dryer. The

combination of sound and vibration worked every time.

Keep Moving

"Babies can detect up/down, left/right and forward/back and are

comforted when some combination of two of these movements. Rocking the baby in

your arms while cradling him/her and going up and down on your toes

will activate all three. This seems to soothe them, but be prepared to be

doing this for a long time!"

Another mother found that it helps to sit on one of those exercise

balls and gently bounce up and down, especially when the baby is naked and

has skin-to-skin contact with you. Other parents swear by the rocking

chair, a drive in a car, the baby swing or being pushed in the stroller.

Holding or Swaddling

Swaddling is done by wrapping a small blanket firmly, but not too

tightly, around the body, this seems to comfort the baby. Another type of

swaddling is accomplished by holding the baby close against your chest.

Massage/Warmth on the Tummy

Gently massaging the baby’s belly with a little almond oil in a

clockwise motion has proven to sooth the baby. It also serves to relax the

overstressed parents as well.

As one parent reported, "I have found from dealing with a colicky

crying baby, that warmth on the tummy works wonders. I have done the warm

rice pillows and a swing at the same time. He slept so wonderfully. It

lasted until the swing stopped anyway."

Peppermint

One parent suggested: "Give them peppermint water. Put one peppermint

candy in a baby bottle filled with water. Then let the baby drink it.

This works very well."

Of course, before trying any of the suggestions above, one would want

to make sure that the baby’s basic needs of a dry diaper and a full

tummy have been taken care of. If those don’t settle a colicky crying

baby, then try one, or all, of the suggestions above. Just remember you

must be calm first. If it’s been going on too long, get someone to watch

the baby and get away for an hour or two. Not only will the break help

you, but it will help the baby to have a relaxed parent.