Colic is a condition where there are repeated bouts of excessive crying in a baby who is otherwise healthy.
The definition doctors use is: a baby crying for more than three hours a day, for more than three days a week, for at least one week. While it is common, it can be really distressing for parents.
Here are some old-fashioned remedies that are worth a try:
Dill Water
1 handful fresh dill
1 handful fresh mint
½ tsp fennel seeds
250ml boiling water
1 tsp honey
Put dill, mint and fennel seeds in a small bowl.
Pour boiling water over these, add honey, mix and cover with a plate to cool.
Strain and then bottle.
Use one teaspoon of this mixture to 120ml slightly warm, boiled water in a bottle for baby to drink.
Barley water
2 tsp barley
600ml cold water
This is an old remedy for many complaints and could be helpful for colic, but it does contain gluten. These days, we don’t like babies having gluten until they are more than six months old so you will need to use at your own discretion. Talk to your Plunket nurse if you are worried.
Put 2 tsp of washed barley into 600ml of cold water.
Boil it on the stove until you have about two-thirds of the liquid left and strain.
