Group Two: Fretful, cry-baby colic

15:52 (GMT+2), Wed, 04 July 2012

Sister Lilian gives moms advice on how to cope with their crying, colicky babies.

This baby has a peevish, fretful temperament and whines a lot. She seems impatient and irritable, has red cheeks and her crying spells last for a long time and come at any time of day or night. Her stools are on the loose side with a tendency to burn her bottom. Baby seems to be in incessant if not severe pain or discomfort. She breaks wind quite easily but without prolonged relief. She could be described as a high-need baby from birth and does not sleep very well at all.

Tips to help:
Helping this baby centres on soothing methods and improving coping strategies for high-need babies.

• Bath with baby in deep, warm water laced with lavender and feed baby in the bath, by breast or bottle
• Walk while latching baby to the breast and only sit down once you feel the tension leaving her body
• Carry baby in a pouch or wrap often as movement comforts and helps breaking of wind
• Place baby under a tree where she can see the moving branches – it’s not always mom that must move!
• Arrange a sleep-in morning once each weekend as this can help you cope much better for the next week
• Give baby 25 ml Rooibos or Chamomile tea twice daily for their digestive soothing properties
• Give baby homeopathic Chamomilla tablets three times a day for almost instantaneous improvement of symptoms
• Crying like this can easily drive moms to the brink of despair and they should take Rescue Emotion to help them cope

Group Three: Spasmodic colic