A crying and anxious baby is something that robs first-time parents of their sleep. Sadly many babies have a colic which makes parents’ daily routine unpleasant and turns a family bliss into a true battle. This is because the baby’s belly is filled with food together with air bubbles that cause bloat. Yet there are effective methods of counteracting this problem.

Anti-colic baby bottle — which to choose?

There is a wide range of anti-colic bottles on the market, and they differ in terms of color, shape and size. Most of them are supplied with special valves which assure suitable air circulation while a baby is fed. Thanks to this, air bubbles do not enter the bottle. The anti-colic baby bottle is a true salvation to parents whose babies suffer from belly issues. What is the colic all about and how to be sure this is the reason why your baby is crying?

Colic is common in newborn babies and usually occurs up to the 3rd month of age. We still know little about its causes, but it is believed that it results from adaptation of the digestive system to feeding. Although it is very difficult to establish its causes, the colic always makes the baby anxious, irritated and weepy. How to know that this is the reason why your baby is crying? Colic-triggered crying is usually cyclical, and happens late in the afternoon or in the evening. It lasts a few hours and it is very hard to calm the baby down at this time despite use of various methods. While crying, the baby usually clenches its fists or pulls its legs up. Some infants flex their body too. This is all very stressful not only for the baby but also parents who happen to lack ideas for helping their offspring.

Please remember not to underestimate any symptoms and if the baby keeps on crying for a couple of days, you should visit your pediatrician. Symptoms may be similar, but it may turn out that the problem is of different nature, and that it is not the colic that results from lack of adaptation of the digestive system or wrong feeding position. The baby may also have a digestion disorder or allergy.

What to pay attention to while choosing the anti-colic bottle?

When you choose accessories for your baby, you should remember that they must be regularly cleaned and sterilized. This being the case, simple models without improvements prove best, that is the ones supplied with as few washable and scaldable elements as possible. This way you can guarantee hygiene. The baby bottle is frequently used and subject to wear, so it is advisable to make sure it is made of high-quality materials. It is also essential that you choose the model which goes together with a teat and does not require you to replace the entire bottle. When your baby grows or bites through the teat, you only need to replace this element.

 
 Anti-colic or regular variant – what to choose?

Parents who are about to make an important decision regarding their baby layette often wonder if an anti-colic baby bottle may prove useful. Below you will see a list of several advantages that may influence your final decision.

The anti-colic bottle does not disturb a natural sucking reflex

Aside from being designed in a way that it prevents air bubbles from entering the baby’s belly, the anti-colic bottle also takes care of a suitable sucking reflex. This is very important to all parents who intend to choose alternate feeding.

Posseting elimination

Posseting is common in infants. Thanks to the anti-colic baby bottle, it is easier to assimilate milk, thus posseting occurs a way less frequently.

Better safe than sorry

The anti-colic bottle may also be used for babies who do not deal with this problem. It is by no means worse than a standard bottle; contrary – it offers advantages that regular variants do not. This is why it is more advisable to choose an anti-colic product.

Suitable bottle is not everything

Even the best bottle on the market is not everything. To prevent belly aches, you need to take care of several other things.

Belching

This is a very important activity. Remember that the baby lies most of the time. Therefore you should support its digestion by helping it burp in its vertical position or on the belly.

Suitable feeding position

Feeding is an important family time. This is the moment that provides your baby with a sense of closeness and satisfies its needs. Aside from hugging, you cannot forget to position the baby for feeding in a suitable way. The baby’s head must be higher than its belly. When it is lying too flat, it may choke, which means swallowing extra air. 

Teat must be fully filled with milk

Always make sure the teat is fully filled with milk. Otherwise the aforesaid milk may go together with air bubbles into the baby’s belly.

Take care of milk

Sometimes the problem is not rooted in the bottle or baby’s position, but the food. If you feed your baby a modified milk, it may turn out that this specific type of food is not suitable. Try to find the one that proves better. If you still cannot see improvements, contact the pediatrician that may prescribe a milk replacement.