Sleepless nights, dirty diapers, and continuous tears – all parents have experienced both the joys and challenges of raising a newborn. Yet it can be shocking for most – particularly first-time parents – to learn that your baby is not a little happy bundle of joy, but instead an inconsolable crying nightmare. You begin to wonder: does my baby have colic?

What is colic?

Colic refers to the persistent and uncontrollable crying that an otherwise healthy infant undergoes, starting from two weeks after birth and possibly lasting to the fourth month. Babies with colic often have crying ’sessions’(usually at the same intervals during the day, such as in the mornings and evenings) that can last up to three hours. The colic stage very rarely persists after the fifth month, and many infants are reported undergo this stage. 10-15% of all infants get severe colic, whereas mild colic is more common at 40%. But do not fret: all colic cases, both mild and severe, are only temporary.

Causes

Although professionals are not certain as to the exact causes of colic, some evidence suggests that the disorder is related to digestive problems. Some professionals claim that colic is caused as a result of the baby’s intestines working too hard, resulting in painful cramps. Other doctors argue that the disorder is based on slow bowel moves which result in gas being trapped in the intestines, which can be very painful and leads to inflammation. Many osteopaths and other medical professionals still dispute the causes of colic, but where research has been conducted, it has emerged that there is no known definitive source.

Common symptoms

Now you are probably wondering, ‘how do I know if my child has colic?’ There are a couple of key symptoms that can help you distinguish the disorder: The infant cries for long periods of time (up to three hours sessions) without being comforted by anything. This process repeats itself for days or weeks. Some infants release a lot of gas, which can be very painful The child is restless or visibly uncomfortable The baby pulls their thighs up to their abdomen and clenches their fists

Treatment & Prevention

There are several techniques that you as a parent can employ to make your child feel more comfortable. Osteopaths recommend the following: Try carrying the infant on a sling on your stomach. Your heartbeat, body heat and movement might make them feel more at ease. Gently massage the infant’s belly in slow circular movements.

If the problem continues to exist, you are advised to visit an osteopathic clinic. Here your precious baby can be examined more closely for any tensions in body, and can be given the extra attention it needs.

Seeing your child suffer is agonizing for any parent, especially when you do not know how to help them. However, with today’s effective osteopathic techniques, and with the knowledge that colic is only a fleeting stage in a child’s development, both you and your baby can finally get the full night’s rest that you desire and deserve.

If you’re a mom-to-be, already a mother but planning to redecorate or simply preparing for the coming of a baby in the future, this article is the right fit. Here, you’ll get some ideas on how to decorate a nursery.

A boy’s theme usually makes use of the blue color. If you want something different, you can paint the room a shade of green, violet, yellow and even orange. These are cheery colors that can keep up with a boy’s high energy.

There are many different nursery themes available for little boys today. You can choose from, sports, trains, bears and zoo animals. All of these themes are very cute and your baby boy is sure to be delighted with any of them. Some first time parents choose to avoid the cute little patterns and go with something more neutral that the child can grow with. This is a great idea as well. Try sprucing up the room with photographs, a snazzy rug and window treatments.

For girls on the other hand, pink still reigns supreme. Other colors that come close are yellow, pastels, lavender, peach and orange.

The girl themes are mostly based on fairy tales like Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Little Mermaid, Goldilocks and Alice in Wonderland. Cartoon characters are also a big favorite among girls. Suffice it to say, book characters are favored for a girl’s nursery, especially fairy tales. Perhaps it’s because of the presence of beautiful and brave heroines, potential idols for young girls.

When you are creating a neutral nursery, try using pastel colors. You can use yellows, greens and blues. Wall and window treatments should remain neutral as well. An area rug with a cute theme can be a nice touch to neutral nurseries as well.

If you want a theme for your neutral nursery you could go with baby animals, a seaside theme or even an alphabet theme. These types of themes will be sure to delight little girls as well as little boys.

There’s no need to spend an arm and leg for spicing up your nursery. Save the expenses for the years down the road when your child will get to choose his/her own theme. For now, keep the nursery simple but fun. Cute but comfortable. And of course, a safe haven for your little angel.