Baby Colic

If you’re driven to tears by your child’s endless sundown cries, don’t fret. Colic is a common ailment which can be avoided and soothed by these helpful tips

My initial experience with baby colic was with my firstborn. At about a month old, he would have sudden outbursts of crying for no apparent reason. I noticed that these bouts would happen around sunset. Being a doctor, I suspected that it was colic, so I made sure that he was fed, his diapers were fresh, and most importantly, that he was burped. I would also hold him close, talk to him in a soft whisper, or rock him gently. If that didn’t work, I would put on my “dancing shoes” and swayed him tenderly until he was lulled to sleep.

 I thought that it would be different for my second child, but I went through the same arduous process. Apparently, my dad recounted that when I was a baby, I would also cry at the exact same time, and he would dance me to sleep too. These “sun down” episodes did not last long either. But what causes these unexplained crying outbursts, and what can we do to help soothe our babies?

Words by Barbara Ambrosio

To read the whole story, look back for a copy of BC Magazine's June-August 2011 issue on newsstands and leading bookstores. For more information, call 478-4172 or email info@bcmedia.ph