How to Soothe Your Baby's Crying with Probiotic Way?

It’s 11 pm and your baby has been crying for two hours, you have tried to soothe him/her. But the crying continues for no apparent reason. You keep guessing the reasons. And now, seeing the baby crying non-stop, you want to cry too!  If you are a mom going through a similar scenario, your baby may have infantile colic.

Your baby cries excessively, often at the same time of the day in the evenings. This crying tends to be louder than usual and seems to start and stop suddenly. Infantile colic is technically defined as episodes of crying for more than three hours a day, for more than three days a week, for three weeks in an otherwise healthy child. [Check Expert's Live-chat answers here - How L.reuteri Probiotic Helps Prevent Colic?]

What Happens During Episodes of Colic?

During a typical episode of colic, the baby appears to be in some sort of tummy pain or discomfort, which is often thought to be due to ‘gas’. With crying, there may be arching of the back, flushed face and constantly pulling up of legs. If you try feeding at this time, the baby may seek the nipple but will hardly take an actual feed. Colic can start when a baby is 2 or 3 weeks old and tends to improve spontaneously by 4 months of age.

Reasons For Colic in Your Baby

It is believed that colic is caused by an imbalance of bacteria in your baby’s gut (stomach). We know that the human gut has a number of naturally occurring healthy bacteria that help in digestion. Babies’ digestive system is immature and possibly has more of the gas-forming bacteria in it. As the gut matures, the bacterial flora changes and balance is restored.

Having said so, no one knows why some babies are more prone to it than others. It is not a genetic trait. Colic is common in males and females alike and occurs both in breast or bottle fed babies. It can be quite distressing to see your baby crying or in pain. A mom can try to calm the baby by doing the following:

• Try to calm the baby at that time by cuddling and carrying them around or walk outside to distract by the change of location.
• Some colicky babies find relief when placed face- down on your lap or upright with the tummy against your shoulder.
• You should also try burping the baby.

However, L.reuteri, a probiotic, has proven to be helpful in preventing & managing a baby’s colic. Hence, reducing the crying time as well. Recently, there has been a lot of research into the use of probiotics for colic.

What Is L.reuteri Probiotic?

Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) is a probiotic that controls the intestinal bacteria, helps maintain digestive balance and supports immune health. L.reuteri bacteria live in the mouth and gut (stomach). It helps to prevent many health issues in babies and children. The most notable benefit of L.reuteri is that it’s effective in preventing colic in babies.

How Does L.reuteri Probiotic Provide Relief to Your Baby?

Probiotics are live organisms, often bacteria that provide a health benefit. Controlling the gut by these healthy bacteria helps to reduce the concentration of gas-forming bacteria. This results in relief from tummy discomfort and colic pain. One such probiotic is,  Lactobacillus reuteri, L.reuter, which is also naturally present in breast milk. It has been found to be of benefit in treating colic mainly in breastfed babies. [Know - How L.Reuteri (Probiotic) Helps In Keeping Colic Away?]

Is L.reuteri Effective in Preventing Colic?

Research has shown that giving colicky babies a supplement of “good bacteria”—specifically, the strain Lactobacillus reuteri—can significantly reduce crying time. 

According to J Fam Pract. 2011 research findings and as quoted in The Journal Of Paediatrics, 2012, L.reuteri may drastically reduce the crying time by more than 50% in breastfed babies.  The researchers say that in adults, probiotics have known to improve intestinal function, boost the immune system, and reduce inflammation. This could also be true for babies. 

While L.reuteri has proven to be beneficial in breastfed babies, in absence of breast milk, you may consult your baby’s pediatrician for a recommendation on any suitable alternatives with L.reuteri probiotic. While the studies may be reassuring to tell us that colic in babies can be prevented through probiotics, it is always advisable to consult your baby’s doctor before you start to use them. [Know - Why Your Baby Needs L.reuteri Probiotic?]

Disclaimer-L.reuteri (Lactobacillus reuteri) is a healthy probiotic culture naturally occurring in breast milk, which has been found to be especially effective in reducing crying and colic. Talk to your child specialist/ doctor to know more about the right milk with L.reuteri.