A baby is considered to have colic if they cry for over three hours per day, over three days a week, for more than three weeks, and if the crying isn’t from hunger or some other obvious problem.

Something many aren’t aware of is that chiropractic care for colicky infants is a very successful treatment. Parents can also complement this care with comforting strategies to take at home that are helpful in relieving a baby with colic.

Dr. Jacob Holdren has helped many babies — and their tired parents — get relief from the misery of colic using chiropractic methods. Fortunately, most babies’ colic concludes as mysteriously as it started, when babies are about three months old.

What causes colic, and what symptoms should I watch out for?

Unfortunately, the exact cause of colic has mystified the medical community for decades, and continues to.

Theories abound about what fuels the condition, including the thought that certain babies’ digestive systems endure muscle spasms while developing, a theory that hormones are to blame for stomach discomfort, and the idea that colic is related to stimulation from excessive noise and light that overwhelm colic sufferers.

The colic symptom no parent can miss is their baby’s prolonged crying, distress, and crankiness. The crying isn’t mild, either. Your baby might cry to the point of turning bright red, becoming stiff, or writhing in obvious pain. Since the intense crying makes your baby take in more and more air, this can exacerbate the gassiness they may already be experiencing.

How can chiropractic treatment help my baby?

Studies have been performed to assess the effectiveness of chiropractic care on infants and babies for over 20 years, and many positive results have been noted in them around symptom alleviation and the ability of the subjects to sleep more consecutive hours at night and have fewer long bouts of daytime crying.

Before performing any treatment, Dr. Holdren gathers as much information as he can from you about your baby, such as the history of their pain, the length and frequency of the crying fits, your baby’s feeding and sleeping habits, and how you, as parents, are coping.

When treating a baby for colic, Dr. Holdren makes his adjustments very gently, which is reassuring to parents. He uses only the lightest pressure when performing his treatment, and you notice not only that your baby’s symptoms lessen, but they also ease the stiffness in their joints, which is a major characteristic of colic.

Patients are the focus of the Regenerative Health & Wellness Center, and they receive the same amount of tender care and attention whether they’re two months or 92 years old. Our goals are to give comfort to your baby, bring them back into a state of equilibrium, and relieve your stress.

What can I do at home to relieve my baby’s colic distress?

To complement the care your baby receives from Dr. Holdren, there are steps you can take to soothe your colicky baby at home, too:

• Movement can be soothing, so a vibrating seat or a ride in the car sometimes helps
• Swaddling your baby can be comforting
• Switching up your baby’s position and rocking or stroking them can cause a shift in their distress level
• Trying a pacifier may provide some support to your baby, too

Finally, we know that even though your baby is the one who’s suffering through colic, it takes much out of you as well. It’s awful to see them suffer and then feel helpless about what to do. Take comfort in the fact that chiropractic care can benefit your baby and that it’s a condition that does end.

Call either our Holly or Colorado Springs, Colorado, office to set up an appointment for your baby, or connect with us through our website.