Colic

Colic is defined as sharp tummy pains or cramps and can cause much consternation to both mother and child. Usually accompanied by persistent ’hard’ crying and stiffening of their little bodies, they often curl up as if in pain. They may cry so hard that they don’t seem to even know that you are there. This hard crying makes them take in lots of air, which creates gas and more pain, making them cry even more. There is nothing worse than your child being in pain and feeling helpless.

Here are some things you can do that often make a huge difference.

Bottle-fed babies with colic may show improvement if switched to a different formula, such as goats or soy formula. These are available from supermarkets. Breastfed babies can react to the diet of their mother so you should start by investigating any patterns between your meals and snacks, and your childs colic. You may find it helpful to keep a food diary and write down the colic symptoms alongside. If you can’t see any patterns you might try eliminating the most common culprits (below) and see if there are any signs of improvement.

Dairy, caffeine, wheat, chocolate and gas-producing foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, peppers, melons, tomatoes, citrus fruits, beans and peanuts.

There is a great natural medicine called Weleda Baby Colic Powder which contains herbs that have been used for centuries and is very effective in simple cases of colic. It is available at most health stores. If you have tried this to no avail, find a naturopath with experince in herbal paediatrics for stronger formulas, I have been working in this area for a while now with great results.

Something else that can be helpful is adding 2 drops of lavender oil to a tepid bath and following with a massage. Focus massage on the tummy area moving in a clockwise direction to relieve painful trapped gas. If you want to learn more about baby massage check out the book ‘Healing massage for babies and toddlers’ by Julia Woodfield. Aswell as helping with colic it is a lovely bonding activity for you and your baby.

It may be that your child has been born with sensitivity to a certain food such as dairy, gluten or soy, or that your baby’s digestive system needs more specialised support. Give us a call or find a naturopath/herbalist in your area that specialises in childrens health, if you suspect this may be the case.

Recipes

Thai red curry fish with lime and asian vegetables

This recipe is very simple but I love it because it can be done in 10 mins from start to finish. It is actually a recipe from my weight loss programme, so just goes to show you don’t have to sacrifice taste when eating well.

Ingredients:

• 2 medium size white fish fillets (120 g each – cooked weight)
• Red curry paste (no added sugar)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil for cooking
• 2 cups of bean sprouts, broccoli, onion rings or cabbage strips
• 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
• Squeeze of fresh lime juice
Method:

1. Heat oil in a fry pan. Cut the fish into small portions, about the size of half the palm of your hand. Rub the fish with red curry paste so it is lightly coated. Shallow fry the fish lightly on both sides.

2. While fish is cooking, lightly steam vegetables until tender. Put mixed vegetables on a plate, top with sesame oil and lime juice. Serve fish to side of vegetables. Serves 2