3 Techniques To Prevent Baby Cramps

Nothing makes a mother more desperate than her child’s crying. And this is one of the most immediate effects when the baby feels colicky. A discomfort that manifests itself through continuous crying with no apparent cause.

One of the main myths is that a baby’s colic occurs when he takes formula milk from a bottle. The truth is that they can also appear with breast-feeding, although cow’s milk causes more gas than breast milk.

Apart from the type of milk, cramps occur when the baby is feeding and swallows air. This air stays in the baby’s stomach and can cause a lot of pain. In addition, this malaise tends to increase at night, which can make any first-time mother nervous.

Baby cramps are very common

Pediatricians’ statistics claim that the cause of 30% of colic cases is gas. And between 15 and 40% of babies suffer from this condition in the first four months of life. But this situation resolves itself after the fourth month.

The way to feed the baby is one of the decisive factors for the occurrence of this discomfort. That is, the posture of the mother and the child, as well as the way of giving the breast or the bottle. “Ideally, the woman should be calm and comfortably seated while the baby should be semi-sitting,” explains pediatrician Libia Segura in an article.

Libia defines cramps as an inconsolable cry that becomes more pronounced in the afternoon and is accompanied by abdominal distension, flexion of the legs, flushing of the skin and clenched fists. All of these symptoms are clear indicators of the baby’s colic.

3 Techniques to Prevent Baby Cramps

The routine of caring for a newborn can be tiring. For this reason, many parents, when they have finished feeding the baby and the baby falls asleep, do not want to do anything other than put the little one in the crib or bed. Here is the first mistake. Even if the baby is sleeping, it is essential to expel the gases. For that, we present you three possible techniques that can be very useful.

Pat the baby on the back

To help your baby expel gas, it is important to hold him in your lap so that his belly rests on your shoulder. When in this position, with your hand slightly bent, pat the child on the back to help expel the gas.

It’s also good to make upward motions with your hands while patting. This way the baby will expel gas and will be relaxed in this position, making it easier to burp even while sleeping.

move the legs

After patting the back, if when you feel the baby’s belly it seems to be empty, that is, full of gas, it is more appropriate to lay the baby on a flat surface, such as a bed, and stretch and flex both legs at the same time approximately 10 times. You can also stretch one leg while flexing the other, as if your baby were on an imaginary bicycle. Another option is to move both legs in a circular motion like the hands of a clock.

This bending motion stimulates the bowel and helps to expel the gas that builds up when the baby feeds. It has the same effect as when adults do light exercise after eating to help lower the food.

stomach massages

Stomach massage also helps your baby to expel the gas that causes cramps. You can caress his belly with gentle upward or circular motions. In fact, clockwise massages are proven to alleviate cramps.

Medicines

If you can’t make your baby’s pains go away even by applying these techniques, then you may need to resort to medications indicated for these cases. Ideally, the pediatrician prescribes these medications for your baby. Generally, these are medications that must be administered before the child takes the milk. This will help to expel gas and prevent cramping.

All these techniques to prevent the baby from suffering from colic should be applied periodically. You’ll notice how the results show up and help your little one sleep better. Thus, you will be able to face the daily tasks with good humor.