A new mom’s biggest fear is that her child will develop colic. However, colic is not linked to any condition. Colic is said to be when a baby is crying uncontrollably for 2-3 hours, usually later in the day. Many moms are told by health professionals that there is nothing they can do. In my experience treating babies for 20+ years, I have found that to be incredibly shortsighted. My simple secrets to biohacking colic should be used by every Mom, and I can’t wait to hear how they work for you!
Simple Secret #1 Checking The Latch
Checking the latch is one of the first steps I always take when biohacking colic.
When a baby improperly latches while breastfeeding, they may consume a lot of air. Throughout the day, this air builds up in their belly, and by mid-afternoon or early evening, they become distended. Hence, your baby begins to cry.
When breastfeeding, you shouldn’t hear any clicking or see any milk dribble out of your baby's mouth while they are nursing. If your baby is slipping off the latch or biting you a lot, it could be related to a tongue tie. At this point, it is important to use a lactation consultant or health professional for support to address the tongue tie and latching.
If you have a baby who is bottle-feeding, the same thing can happen. When you tilt your bottle at too high an angle, your baby may be guzzling the milk and getting too much air. Make sure you are taking regular breaks and burping your baby to avoid this.
Simple Secret #2 Gassy Foods & Formulas
When you have a breastfed baby, there are specific foods that are known to make babies gassy. However, there is more to be aware of! It is important to consider if there are foods that are making you gassy. Any foods that are causing you gas will be doing the same for your body. It is time to bring some awareness to what you are consuming and cut out those gassy foods.
Dairy and cruciferous veggies are my top foods to avoid during breastfeeding that may be causing uncomfortable gas. In my practice, avoiding these foods has relieved many babies (and parents) of the dreaded colic.
When your baby is bottle-fed, it is important to check for the ingredients in your formula. You may want to switch the formula you are using. The top two ingredients I recommend avoiding if this is the case, are dairy and soy-based formulas.
Simple Secret #3 Proper Napping
My napping rule for new babies is that sleep begets sleep. If your baby is not getting the appropriate amount of naps during the day, they may be cranky and irritated later on.
It seems intuitive to keep them up in the day so that they will sleep more soundly at night. Unfortunately, this is not the case with a baby. During the first 8 weeks, it is important to make the baby’s environment conducive to napping every 45-60 minutes. When you give the baby an opportunity to have a nap, and avoid overstimulation, you will have a baby that is less cranky at night. This will allow them to sleep soundly and avoid the hours of crying before bedtime.
These are the 3 simple and powerful steps to biohacking colic have been the secret to my success as a pediatric practitioner. I look forward to learning what worked best for you!