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Some Facts on Food Allergies and Food Intolerence for Kids Which All Mothers Should Know
By Susan Carey

True food allergies affect a relatively small percentage of the population. It may be hereditary as it is found to occur most frequently in children with family histories of allergies. The term ‘food allergy’ is sometimes confused for ‘food intolerance’, but they are in fact different. The difference is in the way the body handles the offending food. Here are some facts on food allergies and food intolerance for kids which all mothers should know.

Food allergy, or hypersensitivity, is an abnormal response to a food that is triggered by the immune response. The most commonly affected organ systems and their symptoms include:

• Skin: hives, rashes, eczema
• Mouth: swelling of mouth, tongue
• Digestive tract: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps
• Respiratory tract: wheezing, asthma

In contrast, food intolerance is more common and the immune system is not responsible for the symptoms even though the symptoms resemble those of a food allergy. The problem lies with the body’s ability to digest the food, usually due to a chemical deficiency.

For example, difficulty digesting milk (lactose intolerance) due to lactase deficiency. Lactase is the enzyme required to digest milk sugar (lactose), hence deficiency causes abdominal discomfort and diarrhea after taking milk. However, people with food intolerance often can still tolerate some amounts of the offending food without experiencing symptoms.

To reduce the risk of your child developing food allergies, do not introduce solid foods till four months of age unless medically indicated, eg; if your baby has failure to thrive or has iron deficiency anemia. Some may even encourage introducing solids to baby at 6 months. It is prudent that a limited variety and quantity of the least allergenic foods are introduced first in the following progression.

1. Rice based cereal,
2. Pureed root vegetables (potatoes, pumpkin, carrots)
3. Pureed fruits (apple, pear, banana),
4. Other vegetables (spinach, broccoli),
5. Meat (pork, beef, lamb).

Only one new food should be introduced at a time and wait a few days before introducing another food. This is to enable identification of the offending food should there be any adverse reactions.

For more cooking, health fitness articles, resources, tips and recipes from around the world:

http://www.101vegetarianrecipes.com

http://www.101cookingrecipes.com

http://www.desserts-recipes.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Carey
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Head injuries fall into two categories:

1. external (usually scalp) injuries
2. internal head injuries, which may involve the skull, the blood vessels within the skull, or the brain
3. Fortunately, most childhood falls or blows to the head result in injury to the scalp only, which is usually more frightening than threatening. An internal head injury could have more serious implications because the skull serves as the protective helmet for the delicate brain.

External (Scalp) Injury

The scalp is rich with blood vessels, so even a minor cut there can bleed profusely. The “goose egg” or swelling that may appear after a head blow is the result of the scalp’s veins leaking fluid or blood into (and under) the scalp. It may take days or even weeks to disappear.

What to look for and what to do:

• Call the doctor if your child is an infant; has lost consciousness, even momentarily; or if a child of any age has any of these symptoms:
  • won’t stop crying
  • complains of head and neck pain
  • becomes difficult to console
  • isn’t walking normally
• If your child is not an infant, has not lost consciousness, and is alert and behaving normally after the fall or blow:
  • Apply an ice pack or instant cold pack to the injured area for 20 minutes. If you use ice, always wrap it in a washcloth or sock; ice applied directly to bare skin can cause frostbite.
  • Observe your child carefully for the next 24 hours. If you notice any of the signs of internal injury (see below), call your doctor immediately.
• If the incident has occurred close to bedtime or naptime and your child falls asleep soon afterward, check in every few hours to look for twitching limbs or disturbances in color or breathing.
• If color and breathing are normal, and you observe or sense no other abnormalities, let your child sleep (unless the doctor has advised otherwise). There’s no need to keep a child awake after a head injury.
• If color and/or breathing are abnormal, or if you aren’t comfortable with your child’s appearance (trust your instincts), arouse your child partially by sitting him or her up. Your child should fuss a bit and attempt to resettle. If he or she doesn’t protest, try to awaken your child fully. If your child can’t be awakened or shows any signs of internal injury (see below), call the doctor or an ambulance.

Suspected Internal Injury

The brain is cushioned by cerebrospinal fluid, but a severe blow to the head may knock the brain into the side of the skull or tear blood vessels. Any internal head injury — fractured skull, torn blood vessels, or damage to the brain itself — can be serious and possibly life threatening.

Different levels of injury require different levels of concern. It can be difficult to determine the level of injury, so it’s always wise to discuss a head injury with your doctor. A clear indicator of a more serious injury is when a child loses consciousness or has signs of confusion.

What to Look for and What to Do

Call an ambulance if your child shows any of these symptoms:

• unconsciousness
• abnormal breathing
• obvious serious wound or fracture.
• bleeding or clear fluid from the nose, ear, or mouth
• disturbance of speech or vision
• pupils of unequal size
• weakness or paralysis
• dizziness
• neck pain or stiffness
• seizure
• vomiting more than two to three times
• loss of bladder or bowel control

If your child is unconscious:

• Do not try to move your child in case there is a neck or spine injury.
• Call for help.
• If you’ve been trained in CPR, follow the recommendations if they’re appropriate.
• Turn a child who is vomiting or having a seizure onto his or her side while trying to keep the head and neck straight. This will help prevent choking and provide protection in case of neck and spine injury.
• If there’s swelling, apply an ice pack or cold pack.

If your child is conscious:

• Do your best to keep your child calm and still.
• If there’s bleeding, apply a sterile bandage.
• Do not attempt to cleanse the wound, which may aggravate bleeding and/or cause serious complications if the skull is fractured.
• Do not apply direct pressure to the wound if you suspect the skull is fractured.
• Do not remove any object that’s stuck in the wound.

Concussions

Concussions are also a type of internal head injury. A concussion is the temporary loss of normal brain function due to an injury. Repeated concussions can result in permanent injury to the brain. However, it’s possible to get a concussion that’s mild and just requires observation.

One of the most common reasons kids get concussions is through sports, so make sure they wear appropriate protective gear and don’t continue to play if they’ve had a head injury.

If your child sustains an injury to the head, watch for these signs of a possible concussion:

• “seeing stars” and feeling dazed, dizzy, or lightheaded
• memory loss, such as trouble remembering what happened right before and after the injury
• nausea or vomiting
• headaches
• blurred vision and sensitivity to light
• slurred speech or saying things that don’t make sense
• difficulty concentrating, thinking, or making decisions
• difficulty with coordination or balance (such as being unable to catch a ball or other easy tasks)
• feeling anxious or irritable for no apparent reason
• feeling overly tired

If you suspect a concussion, call your doctor for further instructions.

Preventing Head Injuries

It’s impossible to prevent kids from ever being injured, but there are ways to help prevent head blows.

Make sure that:

• your home is childproofed to prevent household accidents
• your kids always wear appropriate headgear and safety equipment when biking, in-line skating, skateboarding, snowboarding or skiing, and playing contact sports. Wearing a bike helmet, for instance, reduces the risk of concussion by about 85%.
• kids always use a seat belt or child safety seat
• your child takes it easy after a head injury, especially after a concussion, and doesn’t go back to rough play or playing sports until the injury has healed. (If your child reinjures the brain while it’s still healing, it will take even more time to completely heal. Each time a person has a concussion, it does additional damage.)

Source: http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/head_injury.html

Eleven-year-old Cait was trying to fall asleep when her 8-year-old brother, Doug, came into her room. He looked around a bit, but seemed really out of it.

Then Doug went back into the hallway and stood there staring up at the hall light.

Little brothers can be weird, but this was really strange. Cait didn’t know what to do. Just then, Cait’s father appeared and explained that Doug was sleepwalking.

What Is Sleepwalking?

Not all sleep is the same every night. We experience some deep, quiet sleep and some active sleep, which is when dreams happen. You might think sleepwalking would happen during active sleep, but a person isn’t physically active during active sleep. Sleepwalking usually happens in the first few hours of sleep in the stage called slow-wave or deep sleep.

Not all sleepwalkers actually walk. Some simply sit up or stand in bed or act like they’re awake (but dazed) when, in fact, they’re asleep! Most, however, do get up and move around for a few seconds or for as long as half an hour.

Sleepwalkers’ eyes are open, but they don’t see the same way they do when they’re awake and often think they’re in different rooms of the house or different places altogether. Sleepwalkers tend to go back to bed on their own and they won’t remember it in the morning.

Researchers estimate that up to 15% of kids sleepwalk regularly. Sleepwalking may run in families and sometimes occurs when a person is sick, has a fever, is not getting enough sleep, or is stressed.

Is Sleepwalking a Serious Problem?

If sleepwalking occurs frequently, every night or so, it’s a good idea for your mom or dad to take you to see your doctor. But occasional sleepwalking generally isn’t something to worry about, although it may look funny or even scary for the people who see a sleepwalker in action.

Although occasional sleepwalking isn’t a big deal, it’s important, of course, that the person is kept safe. Precautions should be taken so the person is less likely to fall down, run into something, or walk out the front door while sleepwalking.

What Will the Doctor Do?

There’s no cure for sleepwalking, but the doctor can talk to you about what’s happening and try to find ways to help you sleep more soundly. Most kids just grow out of sleepwalking.

For kids who sleepwalk often, doctors may recommend a treatment called scheduled awakening. This disrupts the sleep cycle enough to help stop sleepwalking. In rare cases, a doctor may prescribe medication to help someone sleep.

Here are some tips to help prevent sleepwalking:

• Relax at bedtime by listening to soft music or relaxation tapes.
• Have a regular sleep schedule and stick to it.
• Keep noise and lights to a minimum while you’re trying to sleep.
• Avoid drinking a lot in the evening and be sure to go to the bathroom before going to bed. (A full bladder can contribute to sleepwalking.)

How Do I Take Care of a Sleepwalker?

One thing you can do to help is to clear rooms and hallways of furniture or obstacles a sleepwalker might encounter during the night. If there are stairs or dangerous areas, a grown-up should close doors and windows or install safety gates.

You also might have heard that sleepwalkers can get confused and scared if you startle them into being awake. That’s true, so what do you do if you see someone sleepwalking? You should call for a grown-up who can gently steer the person back to bed. And once the sleepwalker is tucked back in bed, it’s time for you to get some shut-eye, too!

Source:

http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/body/sleepwalking.html

Teaching Food Hygiene: Safety On The Syllabus
Source: raisingkids.co.uk

My friend’s son refuses to eat eggs because they come out of chickens’ bottoms!

At the other end of the spectrum are students who eat fortnight-old leftover baked beans from the tin and believe antibacterial chopping boards will protect them from all ills.

Now Food Technology inhabits the place cookery and domestic science once occupied in the curriculum, many parents are concerned their children are growing up without learning the basics of food hygiene and preparation.

What can you teach at home?
With many families relying on pre-packed meals, the traditional way of learning how to handle food safely and sensibly through experience is less common and schools have been forced to cut back on practical cookery through lack of resources.

Let your children get involved in making family meals. Little ones can help buttering bread and enjoy splashing about, washing up safe, plastic items. By the time they’re in their teens, some children are better chefs than their parents – just think how nice it will be to have dinner cooked for you!

Lessons in food hygiene
What are the most important points for food hygiene in the kitchen? Set a good example and start teaching the basics early. Follow these rules and even small children will soon be learning by example:

• Always wash hands, with soap (water alone will not do) before handling food, particularly if you have been to the bathroom previously. Ensure that the rest of the family also wash their hands.
• Store raw meat at the bottom of the fridge where liquids can’t drip onto other foods.
• Make sure meat and fish is thoroughly cooked to destroy bacteria such as salmonella and parasites. Chilled cooked foods, such as pre-prepared chicken, were recently found to have the highest amounts of listeria and salmonella of all foods – these should be heated until piping hot before serving.
• Small children are more susceptible to salmonella poisoning so cook eggs until the yolks are hard.
• Never cut any food (bread, fruit, vegetables) on a board that has had uncooked meat on it previously. Also use separate knives.
• Scrub wooden chopping boards scrupulously and let them air dry, and ideally use rigid plastic chopping boards.
• Defrost any foods from the freezer completely and then heat until piping hot.
• Babies’ bottles and feeding equipment should be properly sterilised until your baby is 6 months old.

Did you know . . .

Health insurance helps parents know that their child will get the medical care they need—when they need it—no matter what the cost!

A great deal of public attention has been given to the gains in children’s health insurance coverage made in recent years. But while public program expansions have driven a significant increase in the number of children who are insured, more than 9 million still lack health insurance—that’s one out of every eight children.

Children who have health insurance generally have better health throughout their childhood and into their teens. They are more likely to:

Stress during pregnancy could cause children to have mental and behavioural problems like ADHD?

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6298909.stm

Stress ‘harms brain in the womb’

Children whose mothers were stressed out during pregnancy are vulnerable to mental and behavioural problems like ADHD, mounting evidence suggests.
Latest UK research by Professor Vivette Glover of Imperial College London found stress caused by rows with or violence by a partner was particularly damaging.
Experts blame high levels of the stress hormone cortisol crossing the placenta.

Professor Glover found high cortisol in the amniotic fluid bathing the baby in the womb tallied with the damage. The babies exposed to the highest levels of cortisol during their development had lower IQs at 18 months.The same infants were also more likely to be anxious and fearful, she told a conference of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Professor Glover said: “We looked at what stresses were most harmful. We found that if the woman had a partner who was being emotionally cruel to them while they were pregnant it had a really significant effect on their baby’s future development. It really shows that the partner has a big role to play.”

The work suggests maternal stress is a true risk factor in its own right, although Professor Glover acknowledged that genetic factors and home environment after birth would also have an impact on a child’s development. She said most babies grow up unaffected by a stressful womb environment.

Big impact

However, she said maternal stress increases the risk of a range of problems – it doubles the risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), for example.

“We should be screening women in pregnancy for stress and intervening. It has big public health implications. About a million children in the UK have neurodevelopmental problems – ADHD, cognitive delay, anxiety and so on. About 15% of this might be due to antenatal stress. If we could reduce the mother’s stress while she is pregnant we might be able to potentially improve the outcome for about 150,000 children,” Professor Glover said.

Dr David Coghill, senior lecturer and honorary consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Dundee, said pregnant women should not be “unduly concerned” by the findings.
He explained: “We are talking about here is extremely high levels of stress and distress. Stress is a normal factor of daily life and is something that the body copes with very well. However, it is a warning for people who may be facing more severe stresses and for those around women who are pregnant that increasing stress levels above what is normal for a person is not a good thing to do at that time.”

Professor Glover has submitted her work for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Hypertension in Children – Related to Poor Diet?
By Kristi Patrice Carter

Hypertension is chronic high blood pressure. In the past, this was a condition usually only seen in older adults. However, an increasing number of children are being diagnosed with hypertension. What is the cause of this alarming trend? According to the majority of leading researchers, the cause for this trend is diet.

Because more parents work outside of the home, more families consume prepared food on a daily basis. While these foods are easier, they are not better for you in terms of health. These foods can be filled with hidden calories, fat, sodium, and cholesterol. All of these contribute negatively to the health of a human heart. While it may take more time and effort, it may be in your child’s best interest to limits the amount of these foods your child consumes on a regular basis.

Children are also eating higher amounts of fast food than they have in the past. Decades ago, a trip to a fast food restaurant was an occasional treat for children. This is no longer the case. Many children eat at least five fast food meals a week, which has a significant impact on their health. These children are often obese, and recent studies indicate that these children develop chronic health conditions later on in life, such as diabetes and hypertension.

These foods are replacing healthy food choices like fresh fruits and vegetables in many homes. Instead of making processed snacks available to children, parents should encourage their children to snack on fruits and vegetables instead. Put healthy snacks on the shelves in the pantry and refrigerator that your children can reach. Place “sometimes” foods in places where your children cannot reach them. This may take some parental monitoring, but this change can be accomplished with a little bit of work and perseverance.

This problem is compounded by the fact that children spend more time in front of a television or computer screen than they have in the past. Instead of going outside to play and get exercise, children are becoming more sedentary. As a result, their health is suffering. Parents can help by sending their children outside to play every day and by limiting the amount of time children spend watching television or playing on the computer.

In conclusion, there are many steps you can take in order to maintain the health of your child. Your child may protest these changes at first, but you must stand firm. Your child will thank you later on in life for your efforts now.

Hypertension is a serious medical condition that affets children and adults. To earn more about hypertension and how to cure it with diet and exercise, please visit http://www.dashdiethypertension.com

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The decision to wean your baby from the breast and onto solid foods is a big one. It stands as a hallmark for your child as well for you. Your “baby” is still a little one, but she is no longer that utterly dependent soul that looks to you for every need, and that, as a mother, can be disconcerting.

Knowing when to wean your child off of breast milk and onto solid foods is really an issue that is decided based on the child’s development and their own rate of physical, emotional and mental growth. Some kids are ready early and others seem to take forever to get to the point where solid foods are their preferred method of eating. The following tips will help you decide what to do about this very big milestone in your child’s life.

1. Do not rush it – The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies not begin eating solids until they are at least four to six months old. At this time, most infants will start to show signs that they are ready for solids. They will be able to sit up unsupported, will be able to pick up small items and will show an interest in what is on your dinner plate. Watching for the arbitrary signs of readiness will help you decide when the move is right for

2. Take your time – The tendency is to rush the baby to this point, but your baby needs time to adjust and to explore this new world. Gradually increase the amount of solid foods until your baby is eating the equivalent of one quarter cup of food at a sitting.

3. Food progression depends on the baby – There is no “guide” to offering your child solid foods. In fact, health history and their own likes and dislikes will determine what they are ready to eat and when.

4. Expect a mess – They are still learning how to coordinate their actions and what is supposed to go where. Plus, throwing food and getting attention is fun. If everyone learns to duck fast or wear protective gear, this phase will go much smoother. Most of their food is not going to end up in their mouth, so do not get upset. They will learn, eventually.

5. Do not overload your baby with options – The best time to introduce new foods to your baby is in the morning. This allows you to watch for signs of an allergic reaction, such as a rash, runny nose or congestion, and will allow you to modify their eating habits accordingly. Offer them one new food each week. Taking your time in offering food will allow you to pinpoint the exact food that caused the reaction and will also allow you to avoid those foods in the future.

6. Make meals social – Babies typically enjoy the time spent at the table with family. Make this an event that they will always look forward to. It teaches them social interaction and allows everyone to dote on the infant, which will make them feel wanted and loved.

Pretty soon, your child will develop into a bottomless pit that will scarf just about anything down. Enjoy this period when they are learning this new skill. If you plan it right and allow them to develop it slowly, you can also teach them eating habits that will last them a lifetime.

Most parents have experienced this scenario: You wake up in the middle of the night to find your child standing by your bed, flushed, hot, and sweaty. Your little one’s forehead feels warm. You immediately suspect a fever, but are unsure of what to do next. Should you get out the thermometer? Call the doctor?

In healthy kids, fevers usually don’t indicate anything serious. Although it can be frightening when your child’s temperature rises, fever itself causes no harm and can actually be a good thing — it’s often the body’s way of fighting off infections. And not all fevers need to be treated. High fever, however, can make a child uncomfortable and aggravate problems such as dehydration.

But it’s easy to learn how to correctly take a child’s temperature when it’s a little higher than usual. Read on for more about fevers, how to measure and treat them, and when to call your child’s doctor.

What Is Fever?

Fever occurs when the body’s internal “thermostat” raises the body temperature above its normal level. This thermostat is found in the part of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus knows what temperature your body should be (usually around 98.6° Fahrenheit, or about 37° Celsius) and will send messages to your body to keep it that way.

Most people’s body temperatures even change a little bit during the course of the day: It’s usually a little lower in the morning and a little higher in the evening and can fluctuate as kids run around, play, and exercise.

Sometimes, though, the hypothalamus will “reset” the body to a higher temperature in response to an infection, illness, or some other cause. So, why does the hypothalamus tell the body to change to a new temperature? Researchers believe turning up the heat is the body’s way of fighting the germs that cause infections and making the body a less comfortable place for them.

What Causes Fever?

It’s important to remember that fever by itself is not an illness — it’s usually a symptom of an underlying problem. Fever has several potential causes:

Infection: Most fevers are caused by infection or other illness. Fever helps the body fight infections by stimulating natural defense mechanisms.

Overdressing: Infants, especially newborns, may get fevers if they’re overbundled or in a hot environment because they don’t regulate their body temperature as well as older children. However, because fevers in newborns can indicate a serious infection, even infants who are overdressed must be evaluated by a doctor if they have a fever.

Immunizations: Babies and children sometimes get a low-grade fever after getting vaccinated.

Although teething may cause a slight rise in body temperature, it’s probably not the cause if a child’s temperature is higher than 100° Fahrenheit (37.8° Celsius).

When Can a Fever Be a Sign of Something Serious?

In the past, doctors advised treating a fever on the basis of temperature alone. But now they recommend considering both the temperature and the child’s overall condition.

Kids whose temperatures are lower than 102° Fahrenheit (38.9° Celsius) often don’t require medication unless they’re uncomfortable. There’s one important exception to this rule: If you have an infant 3 months or younger with a rectal temperature of 100.4° Fahrenheit (38° Celsius) or higher, call your doctor or go to the emergency department immediately. Even a slight fever can be a sign of a potentially serious infection in very young infants.

If your child is between 3 months and 3 years old and has a fever of 102.2° Fahrenheit (39° Celsius) or higher, call the doctor to see if he or she needs to see your child. For older kids, take behavior and activity level into account. Watching how your child behaves will give you a pretty good idea whether a minor illness is the cause or if your child should be seen by a doctor.

The illness is probably not serious if your child:

• is still interested in playing
• is eating and drinking well
• is alert and smiling at you
• has a normal skin color
• looks well when his or her temperature comes down

And don’t worry too much about a child with a fever who doesn’t want to eat. This is very common with infections that cause fever. For kids who still drink and urinate normally, not eating as much as usual is OK.

How Do I Know if My Child Has a Fever?

A gentle kiss on the forehead or a hand placed lightly on your child’s skin is often enough to give you a hint that your child has a fever. However, this method of taking a temperature (called tactile temperature) is dependent on the person doing the feeling and doesn’t give an accurate measure of temperature.

Use a reliable thermometer to tell if your child has a fever when his or her temperature is at or above one of these levels:

• 100.4° Fahrenheit (38° Celsius) measured rectally (in the bottom)
• 99.5° Fahrenheit (37.5° Celsius) measured orally (in the mouth)
• 99° Fahrenheit (37.2° Celsius) measured in an axillary position (under the arm)

But how high a fever is doesn’t tell you much about how sick your child is. A simple cold or other viral infection can sometimes cause a rather high fever (in the 102°–104° Fahrenheit / 38.9°–40° Celsius range), but this doesn’t usually indicate a serious problem. And serious infections may cause no fever or even an abnormally low body temperature, especially in infants.

Because fevers may rise and fall, a child with fever might experience chills as the body tries to generate additional heat as its temperature begins to rise. The child may sweat as the body releases extra heat when the temperature starts to drop.

Sometimes kids with a fever breathe faster than usual and may have a higher heart rate. You should call the doctor if your child is having difficulty breathing, is breathing faster than normal, or continues to breathe fast after the fever comes down.

Source: http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/fever.html

It is normal for babies to cry, as that is how they communicate their needs to us. But is it normal for a baby to cry uncontrollably for hours on end without reason? Is something wrong with a baby that refuses to be comforted and screams almost into fits? According to the Encyclopedia of Children’s Health, 20-25% of babies meet the definition of colic, which is a healthy baby with no underlying medical condition crying longer than 3 hours a day and more than 3 times a week. A colicky baby is a parent’s dreaded nightmare. Undeniably, the baby is not the only one in pain as parents suffer from increased blood pressure and highly-strung nerves. Some may even come close to a mental breakdown and have evil thoughts against the baby.

The only thing that races through the mind of the parents is “how do I stop the crying?” The desperate search for a cure all only results in disappointment; as medically, there isn’t one definitive reason for colic. There are plenty of theories and a plethora of advice. Sadly, there is no “this-is-it” kind of solution. Therefore, to find the way to make your baby stop crying, you will have to go through the various methods and hopefully, find one that works. Here is a list of remedies many parents have tried that may work for you too:

1. Swaddling
Tightly wrapping the baby with a blanket is often soothing as it gives the baby a sense of warmth and security. Do not think that baby will be uncomfortable with this restriction. Swaddling brings back the snug, comfortable feeling of being in the mother’s womb.

2. Baby wearing
Many mothers worry that carrying baby often is going to spoil the baby. However, walking around with baby in your arms or in a sling can reduce crying spells. Baby is comforted by your closeness and also the motions of being in a sling.

3. Rhythmic rocking
I think this only comes naturally to all parents. Put a baby in their arms and they automatically start rocking. If your arms get tired, consider a baby swing. You can also put baby face down on your lap and gently sway your knees. This may help baby get rid of wind or gas in the tummy.

4. Stay in motion
Besides using a sling and rhythmically rocking your baby, you can take baby for a walk in a stroller or out for a drive. Sitting in a rocking chair while holding baby upright is also worth a try.

5. Baby massage
Most parents believe colic is due to gas trapped in baby’s tummy causing it to cramp. Baby massage can help the release of gas and trigger bowel movement. Some baby massage techniques are:
- putting your two hands on the tummy, one at 10 o’clock and the other at 4 o’clock, massage in a clockwise direction. Push down firmly, but gently.
- holding the baby’s knees, fold it up to the stomach and hold for 15-30 seconds.
- holding the baby’s feet, move the legs in a bicycle motion.
- bending baby’s legs at the knees, cross it and then rock from side to side.

6. Gripe water
Some grandmothers swear by gripe water. It contains herbs such as fennel, ginger or chamomile that help calm the stomach and relieves gas. However, beware that there are some gripe water that include artificial ingredients, preservatives and alcohol. So, do inspect the ingredients when you buy gripe water.

7. Diet check
If you are breastfeeding, check to see if the food you consume such as onions, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, spicy food, dairy, chocolate, caffeine, and citrus fruits is the one causing baby to react negatively. One at a time, eliminate one type of food for a week and monitor baby for signs of improvement. If baby is bottle fed, try formula milk that is easier to digest. Goats’ milk formula is said to have proteins closest to human breast milk.

8. Cranial osteopathy
Some mothers have found success with this treatment. The idea behind this is that the trauma of birth creates a neck restriction in baby. This affects other areas of the body. One of the results is abdominal pain. Cranial osteopathy aims at releasing the neck to relieve colic. Based on a recently published research, colic babies that underwent cranial osteopathy therapy cried 40% less than those that did not.

Colic can drive a parent crazy. After trying all the methods and failing to find a remedy, do not succumb to feelings of a useless parent. Sometimes, the only thing you can do is wait for it to end. This usually takes place when baby is about three months old. To keep your sanity, don’t hesitate in using earplugs. It will help keep you calm amidst the wailing. Also, don’t feel guilty in taking a break from baby. It’s okay to let someone else take over while you rejuvenate. If you get thoughts of harming your baby, walk away. Let baby cry a little while you regain your composure.