The belly is bulging and hard
The legs are drawn into the belly, and the feet are cold. (The legs can also be straight out when the baby cries especially hard.)
The fingers are clenched shut
The arms are stiff, tight, and straight. (The elbows can also be bent.)
The back is arched
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Try these interventions first:
Change your baby's bottle or nipple. Feed him or her in a sitting-up position and burp him or her often.
Carry your baby more during the day in your arms, a sling, or a front carrier
Put your baby in his or her car seat, and put the car seat in a safe place near a dishwasher, clothes dryer, or other source of "white noise"
Take your baby for a ride in the car
Give your baby a pacifier
Put your baby in a baby swing
Massage your baby's belly
Swaddle your baby
Put a white noise or heartbeat machine near your baby
Put a warm water bottle on your baby's belly (make sure the water is not too hot)
Give your baby a warm bath
If the above interventions do not work, you can try:
Changing your baby's formula from cow's milk to predigested
If you breastfeed, try avoiding certain food groups, such as dairy (milk-based), eggs, nuts, and wheat. To do this, stop eating one of these types of foods for 1 week, and see if your baby's colic improves. If it does, keep that type of food out of your diet. If the colic does not improve, you can restart that food and try stopping another one.
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How to swaddle a baby
Swaddling a baby can help stop crying or fussing. To swaddle a baby:Put your baby on a large blanket that has the top corner folded down (as shown in A).
Bring the left arm down (as shown in B). Wrap the cloth over the arm and chest and tuck it under the right side of the baby (as shown in C).
Bring the right arm down. Wrap the cloth over the baby's arm and chest and tuck it under the left side of the baby (as shown in D).
Twist or fold the bottom end of the cloth and tuck it behind the baby, ensuring that both legs are bent up and out (as shown in E and F). It is important to leave room for the hips to move.
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View Originalfigure 1How to swaddle a baby
Swaddling a baby can help stop crying or fussing. To swaddle a baby:Put your baby on a large blanket that has the top corner folded down (as shown in A).
Bring the left arm down (as shown in B). Wrap the cloth over the arm and chest and tuck it under the right side of the baby (as shown in C).
Bring the right arm down. Wrap the cloth over the baby's arm and chest and tuck it under the left side of the baby (as shown in D).
Twist or fold the bottom end of the cloth and tuck it behind the baby, ensuring that both legs are bent up and out (as shown in E and F). It is important to leave room for the hips to move.
Graphic 57880 Version 7.0
View OriginalMeasuring rectal temperature
Lay your child face down across your lap. Put a dab of petroleum jelly (sample brand name: Vaseline) on the end of the thermometer. Then gently insert the thermometer into the child's anus until the silver tip is not visible (1/4 to 1/2 inch [6 to 12 millimeters] inside the anus). Hold the thermometer in place. A glass thermometer takes about 2 minutes. Most digital thermometers need less than 1 minute.
Graphic 74460 Version 7.0
View Originalfigure 2Measuring rectal temperature
Lay your child face down across your lap. Put a dab of petroleum jelly (sample brand name: Vaseline) on the end of the thermometer. Then gently insert the thermometer into the child's anus until the silver tip is not visible (1/4 to 1/2 inch [6 to 12 millimeters] inside the anus). Hold the thermometer in place. A glass thermometer takes about 2 minutes. Most digital thermometers need less than 1 minute.
Graphic 74460 Version 7.0
View Original