There are some things you can do to make your visit to the doctor more fruitful. Keep a record of the baby's habits, when it cries, when it sleeps, when it has a bowel movement and when it eats. Any pattern may help the doctor make an informed decision as to what is bothering the baby. If the doctor says your baby has colic don't despair, there are things you can do to make the baby's life - and yours - easier over the next few months.

Doctors or researchers have not found a cure for colic, but trial and error has shown that some measures work for some babies and other measures work for others. For example, if your baby is bottle-fed, try a new formula. There may be something in the existing formula that doesn't agree with her. Breast-feeding mothers should not consider switching to formula as one of many potential colic remedies because weaning the baby may make the colic worse.

Try Removing Foods

If you are breast-feeding you may find that some foods you are eating cause distress to the baby. Possibilities may include cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts and parsnips, beans, onions, garlic, apricots, melon, spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol. The only way to find out is to remove the foods one at a time and to reintroduce them the same way.

Breast-feeding mothers could try removing cow's milk from their own diets as a colic remedy if there is a family history of lactose intolerance. Babies having trouble digesting lactose usually outgrow the difficulty. Parents who bottle-feed can switch to a soy-based formula, and many do, but there is no evidence soy-based formula cures anything.

Burp Baby Often

Burping the baby is something you should be doing often, during and after each feeding. Babies can swallow air from a bottle and you can make that easier on the baby by changing the feeding position or by using a bottle and nipple designed specifically to help reduce the air inside and, in turn, the air swallowed by a baby. There are different nipple types on the market, with bottles with a collapsible bag inside being a popular choice, along with curved bottles or bottles that are vented to draw out air.

There are a few things you can do to make your baby feel better. Carrying her in a front sling or backpack often helps, as babies l ike the motion involved. You will often find them sleeping in that position. You can try swaddling the baby in a blanket, giving her a feeling of security.

Another way to provide motion is to put the baby in a baby swing. Some mothers find placing the baby near a household appliance such as a dishwasher or washer-dryer comforts the baby with the continuous noise. A method that many find works is taking the baby for a walk or a drive. Again, it's the motion that seems to quiet them down. Pacifiers and tummy or back rubs are other methods worth trying. Some babies will spit a pacifier out every time you introduce it, while others will take to it and refuse to give it up.

Gripe Water May Help

Medicines may bring comfort to your baby. While they are not considered a remedy they can ease the baby's distress. Gripe water or colic drops are available without a doctor's prescription and may be helpful.

Any parent who has experience a colicky baby will tell you it is a stressful experience. I t's even worse when it's the first child, because you may think you are doing something to cause the problem. The second time around you know what to expect and are better equipped to deal with it. The best way to cope is to schedule time for yourself. Take a break away from the baby and do something you enjoy. Whether it's simply going for a quiet walk, or taking in a movie, make some time for yourself.

Support is available online through numerous websites, such as www.essentialbaby.com and www.babyreference.com

The best thing to know is that if it is colic, it will come to an end. Colic remedies work for some and not for others; so if your family is suffering through baby colic, keep trying!

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