Winding a colicky baby

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

Different babies respond to different ways of winding, but these are popular and successful:

• Hold baby upright over your shoulder and pat his back
• Walk with baby and gently jiggle to free trapped airbubbles
• Hold baby's back against your tummy with your forearm around baby's tummy, exercising slight pressure
• Lie baby over your lap, one leg raised so that baby’s head is higher than his buttocks; pat his back to release air
• Winner’s position!
Sit baby on your lap with his jawline resting in the angle between the index finger and thumb of your right hand. Lift baby's left upper arm with the other fingers of your right hand. Rub baby’s back with your left hand, from his bottom toward his shoulders, fairly firmly – this often dislodges stubborn winds.


colic, winding, baby, sister lilian