Colic is a term used for frequent or intense crying or fussiness in a healthy baby. This excessive crying usually will subside over time as your baby’s digestive system develops. One possible reason for Colic is excess gas which may be from poorly ventilated bottles.

Avima Baby’s special patented Duo-Flo™ nipples have valves that flex and adjust the flow of milk according to your baby’s feeding pace, so your baby drink without interruption or nipple collapse. This minimizes the air going into your baby’s stomach which can reduce gas, spit-up, and colic.

The Duo-Flo™ nipples are made from high-quality food-grade silicone. It is soft and durable. Its shape was designed to help ensure a secure latch for a wonderful feeding experience.

All Avima products are made to the highest safety standards and are free of BPA, PVC, phthalates, and polycarbonate.

 Being a new mother is such an exciting time in your life, but what happens when you have a baby who is fussy and cries all the time? If your baby is under 5 months old and cries for over 3 hours in a row, for 3 days or more a week, for at least 3 weeks, your baby is colicky. Although colic isn’t a disease and your baby will be fine, it is usually a very difficult time for babies and parents.

If a baby develops colic, it’s usually between 2 and 3 weeks old. Some symptoms to look out for are:

• Excessive crying — your baby is crying at the same time of day, usually in the late afternoon or evening
• Cries that are louder and higher pitched than normal
• Inconsolableness
• Episodes of crying that happen out of nowhere for no reason
• Signs of a gassy tummy

If your baby is colicky, you may notice that they clench their fingers, arch their back, become flushed, pulls their legs, and pass gas as he/she cries. Your baby might actually feel better after they pass gas or have a bowel movement. 

Some Tips on How to Soothe Your Colicky Baby:

• Massage. Giving your baby a gentle massage may be soothing. However, be careful with how your baby responds, they might not like the massage and could feel overstimulated.

• Noise/Silence. It may be soothing for your baby to hear similar noises he/she heard in the womb, such as a rhythmic heartbeat. However, your baby may feel more comfortable in silence. He/she may feel calm and comfortable when it is quiet, still, and dark.

• Go for a Walk. If you have been indoors for a while, it might help your baby is you go outside. The different atmosphere may distract your baby from crying and may even put him/her to sleep.

• Swaddle/Stomach Position/Shush/Swing/Suck.
  • Swaddling helps your baby feel less out of control. Try wrapping them up before their usual colicky period or before it’s time to go to sleep.
  • Hold your baby on their side or stomach to relieve stomach pain.
  • Shushing can mimic the sounds of the womb and soothe babies.
  • Likewise, swinging can also feel like the womb and be soothing.
  • Sucking on a pacifier or even fingers can help calm your fussy baby.

• Warm bath. If you give your baby a warm bath while they’re crying, it may distract them enough that they become relaxed.

• Warm water bottle. You can place a warm water bottle (wrapped in a towel) on your baby’s belly.

• Ease Gassiness/Probiotics. Some babies are colicky because they’re gassy from swallowing air while crying or feeding. You should keep your baby upright during feeding, as well as burping them often to ease the pain. You may also want to ask your baby’s doctor about relieving gas with a probiotic. 

Luckily, colic goes away on its own by 3 or 4 months, but these tips will help soothe your baby while both of you are going through this tough time!

Thought you were done eating for two? Think again! Just like during pregnancy, you need to be nutritionally balanced to give your baby the right nutrients when you breastfeed. Like any nutritious diet, you need a combination of protein, carbohydrates, and fat to supply nutrients to keep you and your baby feeling fuller, longer.

In order to get the right nutrients for you and your baby you should aim to eat daily:

• 3 servings of protein (meat, poultry, eggs, cheese, cottage cheese, beans)
• 5 servings of calcium (milk, yogurt, hard cheeses, tofu)
• 1 or more servings of iron rich foods (meat, poultry, dried beans, dried fruit, egg yolks)
• 2 servings of Vitamin C (citrus fruits, broccoli, cantaloupe, bell peppers, tomatoes, kiwi, cauliflower, cabbage)
• 3-4 servings of green leafy and yellow vegetables and fruits
• 1 or more servings of other fruits and vegetables
• 3 or more servings of whole grains and complex carbohydrates (oats, brown rice, anything labeled ‘whole grain and ‘whole wheat’)
• Small amounts of healthy fats (olive oil, olives, avocados, nuts, or seeds)
• 2-3 servings per week of Omega-3 (8-12 oz. of low mercury fish, like salmon or sardines)

Additionally, you should aim for about 8 cups of water a day. If you’re worried that you aren’t drinking enough water, you can drink a cup at every nursing session.

Vitamins

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin for you and your baby for healthy bones. We usually get Vitamin D from sun exposure, but if you live in a place that doesn’t get much sun, you may want to ask your doctor about taking Vitamin D supplements.

Foods to Avoid/Limit

• Excessive caffeine. One or two cups of coffee, tea, or soda a day won’t affect your baby. However, anything more than that may lead to both of you feeling jittery and may keep you and your baby up at night.
• High Mercury Fish. Avoid high mercury fish and limit tuna to 8-12 oz. a week of canned light tuna or no more than 4 oz. of albacore tuna.
• You can have a couple of alcoholic beverages a week, however it’s best if you do drink, drink after nursing and to wait at least 2 hours before beginning to nurse again.

Following these tips will keep and your baby healthier and satisfied! Mix it up from day to day to ensure you and your baby are getting the nutrients you need!