Having a colicky baby is the nightmare of every new parent. Even though the baby feeds and is otherwise healthy, a baby with colic is defined as one who cries for no apparent reason, for three hours a day, three days a week, for three weeks. Among doctors, this is known as the “rule of three.”

There are a few different causes for baby colic, all having to do with the digestive system. Baby colic is usually caused by gas, by an immature digestive system, by the baby swallowing air or by trace substances passed through the mother’s digestive system and into breastfed milk.

Here are a few tried and true methods to remedy baby colic:

Colic Calm Gripe Water

This is the main product on the market. It is completely homeopathic, meaning that it doesn’t contain any unnatural chemicals; its primary ingredients are baking soda and essential oils. Mothers who have used grip water have found its success rate to be quite high. Gripe water can relieve your baby’s discomfort in just a few minutes after ingestion. Keep in mind that it should only be used when necessary, as baking soda can upset the acidity balance of your baby’s stomach.

Cleaning Up Your Own Diet

If your baby is breastfeeding, try cutting dairy, cruciferous vegetables, nuts and chocolate from your diet. Your baby could be intolerant of cow’s milk or other forms of dairy products. Trace amounts could be making their way to your baby through your breast milk. The same applies to cruciferous vegetables, nuts and chocolate, which can turn into gas in your baby’s stomach, causing distension and discomfort.

Switch Baby Formulas

If you are using baby formula for your baby, consider switching formulas. Make sure to talk to your doctor before making any decisions.

Give Your Baby a Massage

Get a book on administering baby massages. Giving your baby’s tummy a nice, relaxing massage can really help calm your baby down. Also try giving your baby a warm platypus to hold. Put warm to hot water inside the platypus, wrap them in soft blankets and let it lie next to your baby’s stomach. This should always, always be done with adult supervision. Platypuses aren’t baby-safe, and can leak and be toxic if chewed. The warmth can help relieve your baby’s discomfort, but never leave a baby unattended with it.

White Noise CD

Get a white noise CD, which is basically a recording that sounds like what your baby heard while it was in the womb. This will help calm your baby down. These CDs can be purchased online, or at a baby store.

Any one of these techniques can help to alleviate your baby’s colic; however, it is also possible that none of them will work and you will have to wait it out. Start by trying gripe water; if that doesn’t work, experiment with some of the other techniques.