JULY 2021 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 43
COLICLY BABIES SIGNS AND STEPS
BY DONNA DUARTE-LADD
For parents who are home with
a new baby, while the time is
joyous it also can be a bit of a fog.
Tired parents who are adjusting
to their new baby have a lot on
their plate so when the baby
starts to cry a lot, it may take
a bit of time to know when it is
caused by colic.
We asked Dr. Smita Malhotra,
pediatrician and mindfulness
expert about what is colic and
tips on how parents can help
with the fussiness and also support
both baby and their mental
health.
In layman’s terms, what exactly is
colic? Colic is defined as frequent
crying in a baby that is otherwise
healthy. Babies with colic cry for
three hours a day for more than three
days a week, and this can last three
weeks or more. Colic can start in the
first few weeks of life and while there
is no established medical treatment
for colic, it usually resolves by about
3 or 4 months of age.
Seasoned parents may know when
their baby has colic, but for a new
parent, what are the signs and steps
to take if you think your child has
colic? When you become a parent,
you’d be forgiven if you didn’t know
that “mind reader” is part of the job
description. Essentially, that’s what
you have to be when you’ve got a fussy
baby on your hands. But
here’s a little secret: Once
you’ve ruled out hunger,
a dirty diaper, and sleepiness,
you’re left with three
likely culprits: colic, gas,
or tender gums.
A fussy baby and a tired
parent: It can be a rough
time. How can a parent
get through this period?
Meditation is a practice
that helps us to calm and
focus our minds, and can
take on a variety of different
forms during the day.
One of the most important
parts of the practice of
meditation is consistency.
Whether it is reading an inspiring
book or practicing deep breaths, a
nighttime routine helps to keep children
and parents grounded. Incorporating
meditation into your day might
be easier than you think!
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