It can make your baby really inconsolable: those annoying cramps. Often these are intestinal cramps. Where do these cramps come from? What can you do about it and when will it get better? We gladly provide you with more information about your baby’s cramps.
Symptoms of cramps in your baby
Cramps are very annoying for your baby. It hurts and your baby does not feel well. It’s nice to know that you’re not alone with this problem. Many babies between the age of six weeks and four months suffer from this complaint. Often, the cramps disappear once your baby is six months old. How can you recognize that your child is suffering from intestinal cramps? This is apparent from the following symptoms:
- Frequent and inconsolable crying during and after feeding
- Increased problems in the late afternoon and the early evening
- A swollen, tight belly
- Clenched fists, overstretching, kicking or pulling up their legs, waving arms
- Bubbling intestines and frequent breaking of winds
- A flushed, red head
- Poor sleeping
What can cause cramps?
Why does your baby suffer so much from cramps? What’s causing this complaint? This can have many different causes and it may be difficult to define exactly what causes it. The most common reasons why babies suffer from intestinal cramps are:
- Maturation of the gastrointestinal system
- Air in the intestines (for example, by drinking too greedily or insufficient burping)
- Drinking too much at a time
- Allergy to cow’s milk
- Mother’s nutrition
- Incidentally, scientists do not always agree on the impact of what you eat as a mother and on the influence of the maturation of the intestinal system. Of course, it can’t hurt to
- change your diet if your baby suffers a lot from intestinal cramps!
What can you do about intestinal cramps in your baby?
Cramps are certainly not always preventable. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to relieve the pain: We will gladly give you some tips:
- Make sure your baby can burp properly after feeding. This may take some time. It’s best to hold your baby with his or her belly to your shoulder.
- Don’t let your baby drink too quickly. If you notice that your baby frequently drinks very quickly, you can first let your little one suck on your pinky or a pacifier before feeding to slow down your baby’s sucking. That can help to make your baby drink more calmly. You can also take breaks between drinking or try a teat with a smaller opening. Feel free to try out what works for the two of you!
- Are you bottle-feeding? Then make sure that there is no air in the teat. Make sure that the teat is completely filled with milk. Air causes cramps!
- Is your baby suffering from a cold? Then he or she may find it difficult to breathe while feeding. Give your baby a saline solution about fifteen minutes before feeding to help your baby breathe more freely during feeding.
Of course, there are many more tips that can help if your baby suffers from cramps. Download our app and chat about it with other parents, exchange tips and experiences and help each other!
