How to Help with Colic: Get Baby Relief with These 6 Soothing Techniques

Hands-on strategies for soothing an unsettled baby.

Strategies to Help with Colic: Soothing Techniques for an Unsettled Baby

Colic is a common, challenging experience for many parents, affecting about 10-40% of infants and typically peaking around six weeks of age. Symptoms include prolonged crying episodes without an obvious cause, often leaving parents feeling helpless. Here, we explore evidence-based strategies to soothe a colicky baby using physical therapy techniques designed to bring relief and comfort to your little one.

mom holding baby looking at her with sunrise behind

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Understanding Colic

Colic is defined by episodes of crying lasting over three hours a day, for at least three days a week, in otherwise healthy babies. Although colic is temporary and usually resolves by four to five months, it can cause significant stress. Possible causes of colic include digestive discomfort, gas, overstimulation, or an imbalance in the baby’s gut microbiome. Some parents may consider gut health factors during pregnancy, like a diverse diet and probiotics, to potentially prevent colic in newborns.

Be sure and also check out our other resources on managing colic, like our 5 Steps for Managing Colic Workbook (FREE).

Tummy Time for Digestion and Comfort

Tummy time isn’t just for motor development; it’s also helpful for soothing colic by encouraging digestive activity. The gentle pressure on your baby’s belly during tummy time can ease gas discomfort. Begin with short, frequent tummy time sessions each day. For extra comfort, place a rolled-up towel under your baby’s chest to create a slight incline, helping them relax and reducing colic symptoms. There are many other modifications for tummy time you can do to make baby comfy, including changing the surface, modifying the environment, and strategic toy placement.

Learn more about making tummy time peaceful in our post, “Tummy Time Hacks: Top PT Strategies for Tummy Time Haters.”

Infant Massage Techniques to Help with Colic

Infant massage is a proven strategy for soothing colicky babies by stimulating the vagus nerve, which regulates digestion. The “I Love You” massage is a popular choice for moving trapped gas through the intestines.

Draw an “I” on the left side of your baby’s abdomen.
Make an upside-down “L” across the belly.
Finish with an upside-down “U” on the right side of the belly.

Try incorporating regular massages into your baby’s routine to relieve colic symptoms. For added benefit, consider using baby-safe massage oil. I recommend this toxin-free baby massage oil.

For additional massage techniques, the book Infant Massage, is highly useful and walks you step by step through calming strokes. I love how she breaks down each technique and dives into why it is useful in each scenario.

Bicycling Legs and Pelvic Tilts

Bicycling your baby’s legs is another great technique to help release trapped gas and promote digestion. Lay your baby on their back and gently move their legs in a cycling motion. Another technique, pelvic tilts, involves gently raising and lowering your baby’s hips, which helps release tension in their lower back.

Positional Techniques and Babywearing

Positional adjustments like the “colic carry” can help alleviate digestive discomfort. Hold your baby face down along your forearm, with their belly against your arm. The slight pressure on the abdomen relieves colic-related distress. Babywearing is another useful technique for colicky babies. Baby carriers provide comforting pressure, and the gentle swaying motion helps prevent overstimulation, making babywearing effective for reducing colic symptoms.

Studies show babywearing can reduce colic crying by up to 43%. That’s a life changing difference!

Creating a Calming Environment

A soothing, calm environment is vital for colicky babies. Reduce sensory overload by dimming lights, using white noise, and practicing gentle swaddling. Sensory regulation can help your baby self-soothe, reducing colic-related stress and supporting better sleep.

Supporting Your Baby’s Gut Health

The infant microbiome is crucial to health and immunity. Evivo is the infant probiotic every breastfed baby should be taking, especially if mom has had lifestyle influencers like C-section delivery, taken antibiotics, or less than ideal nutritional habits. Evivo is made of the bacteria B. infantis, which is vital for breaking down breastmilk; this directly supports gut health and alleviates colic. A healthy gut can help reduce discomfort and prevent colic symptoms. I gave my son Evivo probiotics when he was little and suffering from colic, and it was a game-changer for us!

Colic E-Book: Get baby relief today!

By trying these techniques, you can help reduce colic discomfort and create a comforting environment for your little one. Remember, colic is temporary, and with patience and the right tools, you can help ease your baby’s discomfort and improve their well-being.

If you need more intensive support and want all of the evidence-based support on managing colic, check out our ebook Conquering Colic Mindfully. This comprehensive resource will give you all of the strategies for reducing colic and crying, calming your anxiety, and nurturing the bond between you and your baby.