Remedy for colic for newborns
Infant colic is a problem faced by over 80% of parents. In most newborns, they begin at about two weeks of age and last up to 3-4 months, until the baby's digestive system reaches the required maturity. Despite the fact that colic is a physiological phenomenon that does not have any organic cause, in some cases, medical intervention may be required, since the movement of gas in the small intestine causes severe painful sensations and can cause disturbances in stool, sleep and appetite. Many methods are used to combat infant colic, but carminative agents and probiotics remain the most effective. If you have already encountered such an unpleasant problem or are just preparing for the birth of a child, we offer you a rating of the best colic remedies for newborns, which includes the most prescribed drugs and methods.
Rating of the best pharmacy remedies for colic in newborns
If you have already tried all the alternative methods of dealing with colic, but they turned out to be ineffective, you cannot do without pharmaceutical preparations. Special carminative agents based on simethicone destroy intestinal gas molecules and turn them into water, herbal preparations - soothe the intestines and improve its motility, and probiotics colonize the child's immature gastrointestinal tract with live microorganisms that improve digestion and help fight bloating, colic and various disorders chair.
Herbal preparations
Preparations based on medicinal plants are safe (provided that your child is not allergic to the ingredients), taste good, and are a source of flavonoids and other substances that soothe the baby's intestines and help improve digestion. If you are faced with a problem such as colic, you should start with this particular group of drugs, after consulting a pediatrician.
"Plantex"
This is a fairly well-known herbal preparation, which is in granules for preparing a solution (in fact, it is just herbal tea). One package can contain 10 or 30 sachets of granules, and the product itself belongs to the category of phytopreparations that stimulate the digestive function and improve the passage of gases. The main active ingredient is fennel in the form of powder and essential oil. Fennel fruits increase gastrointestinal motility, stimulate gastric acid secretion and help relieve painful cramps by accelerating the elimination of gas from the intestines.
Basic information:
- name - "Plantex";
- form of release - vegetable granules for the preparation of an aqueous solution;
- active ingredients - fennel fruit powder and essential oil;
- availability of a prescription - no;
- age restrictions - from the first days of life;
- the average cost in pharmacies is 330 rubles for 10 sachets.
pros
- good composition with natural herbal ingredients;
- if the instructions are followed, it helps to fight colic and digestive disorders;
- can be used from the first days of life.
Minuses
- the finished solution does not have a very pleasant taste, therefore it is difficult to give it to young children (you cannot add sugar and other sweeteners);
- the composition includes lactose, therefore, in children with lactase deficiency, the drug can provoke an increase in intestinal colic and spasms;
- there are cases of an allergic reaction (possibly to the auxiliary components of the drug - acacia gum or anhydrous dextrose).
"Plantex", although it has a fairly high cost for herbal antispasmodics, is not a highly effective drug to combat infant colic. When using this product, parents should remember that it is forbidden to add any sweeteners to it, as well as store the prepared solution for longer than 20-30 minutes.
"Baby Kalm"
"Baby Kalm" is probably the most famous herbal preparation intended for the treatment and prevention of intestinal cramps and colic in infants of the first year of life. It has a classic composition for this category of products (mint, anise and dill oils) and effectively and quickly eliminates spasms of smooth muscles of the digestive tract, relieving pain and relieving irritation in the intestines. Symptomatic drug therapy gives the same results in infants who are breastfed or artificially fed, that is, the components of the solution act in a complex way regardless of the etiopathogenesis, clinical and morphological features of gastrointestinal pathology. If necessary, it can be used by women during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Basic information:
- name - "Baby Kalm";
- form of release - concentrate for the preparation of a plant emulsion;
- active ingredients - a complex of natural essential oils of anise, dill (fennel) and mint;
- availability of a prescription - no;
- age restrictions - from the first days of life;
- the average cost in pharmacies is 330 rubles for 15 ml.
pros
- begins to act within 5-7 minutes after application;
- copes well with colic and facilitates the passage of intestinal gases;
- natural composition;
- tastes good;
- convenient pipette dispenser.
Minuses
- with continuous long-term use (more than 30 days), it can cause allergies in the form of a pinpoint rash on the abdomen and buttocks;
- high price.
The herbal remedy for flatulence and bloating "Baby Kalm" is a widely used drug in pediatrics, but parents who are faced with the problem of infant colic should know that pharmaceutical equivalents can be found on sale that are 1.5-2 times cheaper, while having such the same effectiveness and composition. One of these drugs will be discussed below.
"Cook la Cook"
"Kuk la Cook" is a brand under which biological active and food additives are produced, one of which is dill water for babies. All products are manufactured in Armenia and do not contain harmful artificial additives that could negatively affect the health of children or cause an allergic reaction. Dill water "Kuk la Cook" is indicated for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract in children of the first year of life, accompanied by increased gas production, flatulence, intestinal spasms and impaired peristalsis of the small and large intestines. It contains a mixture of natural essential oils of fennel, mint and anise, as well as glycerin, which is necessary to give the drug the required consistency.
Basic information:
- name - "Cook la Cook";
- form of release - a concentrate for the preparation of a plant emulsion;
- active ingredients - a complex of natural essential oils of anise, dill (fennel) and mint;
- availability of a prescription - no;
- age restrictions - from the first days of life;
- the average cost in pharmacies is 170 rubles for 15 ml.
pros
- copes well with colic and increased gas production;
- helps to adjust the chair;
- tastes good;
- convenient dropper dispenser;
- cheaper than similar drugs, on average, 1.5-2 times;
- there are no dyes and flavors in the composition.
Minuses
- not identified.
The herbal concentrate for the preparation of the “Kuk la Cook” emulsion is an excellent inexpensive remedy for combating colic and preventing their appearance, which can be given to a newborn from the first days of life (a complete analogue of the more expensive and advertised “Baby Kalma”).It deserves to take the top line of our rating, but the leader today is a drug with a more complex composition and the presence of an additional component that helps fight not only colic, but also infant insomnia.
"If a crocodile"
The herbal remedy "Koli Crocodile" is a specialized food product for children's preventive nutrition. It contains glycerin and oils of medicinal plants that help fight disorders of the gastrointestinal tract: anise, dill, mint and lemon balm. The concentration of oils is selected in such a way as to have a pronounced therapeutic effect in infantile colic caused by gastrointestinal cramps, gastroesophageal acid reflux and mild to moderate intestinal atony. The drug facilitates the elimination of excess gas, reduces pain, normalizes the peristalsis of the small and large intestines, helps to improve sleep and eliminate the causes of increased anxiety in the child in the first weeks of life.
The bottle comes with a special syringe-dispenser, which must be thoroughly rinsed with boiled water after each use.
Basic information:
- name - "Koli crocodile";
- release form - plant drops;
- active ingredients - a complex of lemon balm, anise, dill and mint oils;
- availability of a prescription - no;
- age restrictions - from the first days of life;
- the average cost in pharmacies is 480 rubles per 20 ml.
pros
- the most important advantage of the drug is its high efficiency (colic weakens, and the child becomes calmer from the first days of admission);
- natural composition without dyes and flavors;
- mint and lemon balm in the composition help to improve sleep and cope with insomnia;
- pleasant taste;
- do not cause allergies;
- convenient syringe for dispensing.
Minuses
- the relative disadvantages of the drug can be called the small volume of the bottle (20 ml) and the relatively high cost, although these drops are still much cheaper than many similar drugs.
Koli Crocodile herbal drops for the fight against intestinal colic in babies are produced in Israel and meet all the quality standards established in this country for this product.
According to mothers and pediatricians, they very quickly help to cope with the problem and rarely cause allergies, therefore, among herbal remedies, they occupy a leading position in our rating.
Carminative drugs
Carminative agents, which directly destroy intestinal gas bubbles and turn them into water, contain simethicone. Simethicone is an organosilicon compound and is used to treat increased gas formation and the accumulation of intestinal gases in the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract (it is the gas bubbles, acting on the walls of the stomach and intestines, press on them and cause painful spasms that accompany colic in infants).
Antifoam drugs are prescribed by a pediatrician in case of ineffectiveness of other measures to combat colic (massage, gymnastics, laying on the tummy, heating pad, etc.) as the most effective and fast-acting means for relieving pain syndromes and improving the digestive, as well as motor-evacuation function of the intestine.
"Bobotik"
"Bobotik" is a Polish-made carminative drug produced in the form of a thick cream-colored emulsion with a raspberry flavor. 1 ml of the drug contains more than 60 mg of activated dimethicone, which destroys intestinal gas molecules, accelerates their release from gastrointestinal mucus and intestinal contents and prevents the formation of bulky conglomerates of gas and mucus, which cause painful swelling and spasms in children of the first year of life ...Dimethicone in the emulsion does not in any way affect the enzymatic activity of the intestine and its microflora, does not change the reaction and composition of gastric juice and is completely excreted from the body unchanged along with feces.
Basic information:
- name - "Bobotik";
- release form - thick, heterogeneous emulsion with raspberry flavor;
- active ingredients - activated dimethicone;
- availability of a prescription - no;
- age restrictions - for children over four weeks of age;
- the average cost in pharmacies is 250 rubles per 30 ml.
pros
- relieves an attack of intestinal colic 7-10 minutes after application;
- has a pleasant taste, so it is easy to give it to children of any age;
- does not affect the enzymatic activity of the intestine and its microflora;
- is not absorbed into the blood and does not form metabolites;
- does not contain sugar;
- is cheaper than analogs.
Minuses
- raspberry flavor can cause allergies;
- not suitable for children under 28 days of age;
- less effective than Espumisan.
Bobotik is a good, inexpensive drug for relieving colic attacks in infants between 1 and 4 months of age.
Parents of children prone to allergies should take into account the presence of a fragrance in the composition.
"Espumisan Baby"
"Espumisan Baby" is by far the best drug for the relief of intestinal colic attacks in newborns and infants of the first year of life. Unlike "Bobotik", it contains 100 mg of simethicone in 1 ml (in "Bobotik" it is only 66.6 mg), therefore it acts much faster and more efficiently compared to all known analogues. Within a few minutes after ingestion, the agent reduces the amount of gas in the intestinal mucous contents, neutralizes intestinal foam and stimulates the natural excretion of gas under the influence of intestinal peristalsis.
Basic information:
- title - "Espumisan Baby";
- release form - thick, heterogeneous emulsion with banana flavor;
- active ingredients - simethicone;
- availability of a prescription - no;
- age restrictions - for babies in the first year of life;
- the average cost in pharmacies is 390 rubles per 30 ml.
pros
- today it is the most effective antifoam and carminative drug for the fight against infant colic;
- if necessary, it can be given to children during the neonatal period (after consulting a doctor);
- has a pleasant banana taste, so it is easy to give it to children;
- does not affect the intestinal microflora, its digestive and enzymatic activity;
- does not form metabolites and is excreted from the body along with fecal matter.
Minuses
- banana flavoring is more likely than others to cause allergic reactions (although cases of allergies while taking "Espumisan Baby" are extremely rare - no more than 1.8%);
- contains sorbitol.
"Espumisan Baby" is the most effective carminative drug tested by more than one generation of parents. It quickly relieves an attack of painful colic, helps to improve gas flow and eliminate the cause of anxiety, allowing both the baby and his parents to sleep peacefully all night. The only drawbacks - the presence of a strong flavoring agent and sorbitol in the composition - slightly limit the possibilities of its use, but, in general, the remedy has no significant contraindications and can be used as first aid for colic in infants of any age.
Probiotics
If carminative agents, defoamers and herbal preparations based on oil and fennel seeds are used only as symptomatic therapy, then digestive enzymes and probiotics form the basis of complex treatment of digestive dysfunction and inorganic gastrointestinal pathology. Preparations from the group of enzymes help to compensate for the enzymatic immaturity of the stomach and intestines, and probiotics - to populate it with beneficial microorganisms that support its work and help normalize digestion. Such drugs can only be taken with the permission of the pediatrician who is observing the child, since in some cases they may be contraindicated.
"Bifiform Baby"
"Bifiform Baby" is an oil solution (stabilizer) and powder that contains live bifidobacteria and thermophilic streptococci.To prepare a suspension, you need to open the lid and pour its contents into a bottle with an oil solution (in total, about 10 servings of the drug are obtained). "Bifiform Baby" is considered one of the most effective means for normalizing intestinal microflora in infants and solving a number of problems that parents face during the newborn and early postnatal period.
Living beneficial bacteria colonize the intestines of the child, increase its maturity, normalize stools, reduce colic and regurgitation (by stimulating the digestive function). Thermophilic streptococci reduce the risk of acute diarrheal syndrome in healthy children and acute necrotizing enterocolitis in debilitated and premature infants.
Basic information:
- name - "Bifiform Baby";
- release form - oil solution and powder with live bifidobacteria for suspension preparation;
- active ingredients - live bifidobacteria, thermophilic streptococci;
- availability of a prescription - no;
- age restrictions - for babies in the first year of life;
- the average cost in pharmacies is 510 rubles for 7 ml of the finished suspension.
pros
- reduces the intensity and frequency of infant colic;
- prevents the development of diarrheal syndrome and necrotizing enterocolitis in newborns;
- increases the physiological maturity of the gastrointestinal tract;
- has a convenient dispensing nozzle;
- neutral taste;
- does not cause side effects (in individual cases, intolerance phenomena are possible).
Minuses
- not the most affordable cost;
- rarely can cause urticaria (this is not a side effect, but poor tolerance of the auxiliary components of the drug).
"Bifiform Baby" is an excellent source of probiotic microorganisms, safe to use even in deeply premature babies. Of course, it will not relieve the baby of colic in a couple of days, but with use, the attacks will be more rare, shorter and less painful, since the remedy acts precisely on the cause of infant colic.
"Primadophilus for children"
Unlike "Bifiform Baby", "Primadophilus for children" contains not only bifidobacteria, but also lactobacilli, which are part of the natural intestinal microflora of humans. It is very important that the concentration and forms of microorganisms are selected taking into account the age group for which the drug is intended (the drug is used from the neonatal period to the age of five). The product contains various strains of bacteria with increased adhesive properties, due to which they quickly cling to the intestinal walls and become part of the intestinal flora, which is responsible for digestive processes.
"Primadophilus for children" increases the number of living bacteria in the intestines, inhibits the growth and activity of harmful microorganisms (including yeast), increases the body's resistance to stress and stress, participates in the formation of the child's immunity and stimulates the synthesis of certain vitamins, in particular, B vitamins.
Basic information:
- name - "Primadophilus for children";
- release form - powder for solution preparation;
- active ingredients - lacto- and bifidobacteria (probiotics);
- availability of a prescription - no;
- age restrictions - for babies in the first year of life;
- the average cost in pharmacies is 520 rubles for 50 g.
pros
- contains not only bifido, but also lactobacilli, which improve digestive function and help fight colic, bloating, and upset stools;
- does not cause allergies and side effects;
- does not contain lactose, whey, corn starch, soy and other components that can disrupt digestion;
- strengthens the immune system and increases the body's ability to withstand stress factors;
- has a neutral taste;
- it is enough to take once a day.
Minuses
- no shortcomings were identified.
"Primadophilus for children" copes well with various gastrointestinal disorders caused by physiological immaturity of the digestive tract in newborns. In addition, the drug is a hypoallergenic agent, therefore it is suitable for almost all children for the complex treatment of colic, regurgitation and other intestinal disorders during infancy.
Lactase preparations
Drugs in this group are prescribed to children as compensatory and replacement therapy in cases where the cause of colic and bloating is a lack of lactase. It is an enzyme involved in the breakdown, processing and digestion of milk sugar, which is found in both breast milk and artificial substitutes (formula). If a child with lactase deficiency is artificially fed, the problem of infant colic is solved by selecting special adapted lactose-free formulas. The rest require therapy with drugs containing lactase, which we will talk about below.
"Baby-Doc lactase"
"Baby-Doc lactase" is a drug for eliminating the cause of intestinal colic in infants with lactase deficiency. It can be used from the first days of a baby's life without interrupting breastfeeding. 1 ml of drops contains about 600 units. the enzyme lactase, which helps to break down and digest lactose and eliminate flatulence, colic, increased gas production and other problems arising from the fermentation of milk sugar with a lack of necessary digestive enzymes.
The drops are completely safe for babies, do not contain sugars, alcohol, preservatives and dyes, have a neutral taste and smell, and do not cause allergies. The dosage form (drops) allows the active substance to be absorbed faster and more actively by the body, and it is much more convenient to use them than similar drugs in the form of capsules.
Basic information:
- name - "Baby-Doc lactase";
- release form - drops for internal use;
- active ingredients - lactase;
- availability of a prescription - no;
- age restrictions - for babies in the first year of life;
- the average cost in pharmacies is 610 rubles per 10 ml.
pros
- eliminate the cause of colic, regurgitation, flatulence and other gastrointestinal disorders in infants with various forms of lactase deficiency;
- do not contain sugar, flavorings, dyes and preservatives;
- have a neutral taste and smell, do not affect the taste of a child's usual food;
- can be used without interrupting breastfeeding;
- acts faster than similar preparations in the form of capsules;
- affordable cost (compared to similar drugs in the form of drops).
Minuses
- contains a small amount of acetic acid;
- may cause thinning of the stool.
In most cases, the drug is well tolerated, so it can definitely be included in the ranking of the best colic remedies in newborns and infants of the first year of life.
"Kolif"
This is a very expensive, but at the same time, very high quality and effective drug that allows you to solve the problem of colic in infants with various forms of lactase deficiency in just a few days. The product contains lactase isolated from yeast and passed international clinical trials. The drops are tasteless and odorless, so they can be added to the baby food bottle at the beginning of feeding - the drug does not affect the consistency and taste of milk or milk formula in any way. If you are breastfeeding, you should express a little milk before feeding, add the entire single dose of the drug to it and give it to the baby, after which you can start breastfeeding immediately (no need to wait for the drug to work).
Basic information:
- name - "Kolif";
- release form - drops for internal use;
- active ingredients - lactase;
- availability of a prescription - no;
- age restrictions - for babies in the first year of life;
- the average cost in pharmacies is 1400 rubles for 15 ml.
pros
- helps to cope with colic caused by lactase deficiency in a few days;
- simple and good composition without soy, gluten, dyes, flavors, GMOs and other harmful additives;
- has no taste or smell and does not affect the consistency and taste of a child's usual food;
- you can feed the child immediately after taking the drug, you do not need to wait for the drops to work;
- the drug has passed international clinical trials and meets all quality standards adopted in Europe for this group of food additives.
Minuses
- high cost and small volume.
Since lactase tends to break down under the influence of high temperatures, it is necessary to add drops to formula or breast milk just before feeding.
How to deal with colic without medication: a ranking of the best home remedies
In this section, we will briefly remind you of the best remedies for fighting colic without drugs, which were used by our mothers and grandmothers, when there was no such choice of drugs in pharmacies. They may well help to cope with a sudden onset of an attack, if you did not have the necessary medicine at hand, but most often they must be used in combination, and the effectiveness, of course, is significantly lower compared to medications.
Warmer
A heating pad (it can also be replaced with a flannel diaper ironed several times) is one of the quickest ways to calm a crying baby if he has colic. The heat relaxes the muscles, and the spasms ease and become less painful. The heating pad must be filled with hot water, wrapped in a towel or diaper (so as not to burn the baby's skin) and put on the stomach for 7-10 minutes.
Warm bath
If the heating pad does not work, you can bathe the baby in warm water. It is better to use a special circle on the neck for this purpose, so that the baby can make active movements in the water on his own. Exercise stimulates intestinal motility and natural gas release, while heat relieves painful cramps and relaxes the abdominal muscles.
Massage
Massage is an old and proven remedy for the rapid relief of pain caused by intestinal colic. It is necessary to massage the abdomen gently, but rather intensively, avoiding strong pressure. It is better to do this in a clockwise circular motion, complementing your movements with special gymnastics.
Gymnastics
To speed up the passage of gas and reduce intestinal discomfort, it is recommended to perform special exercises. The child should be put on the back, bend his legs at the knees and bring them to the stomach in such a way that they lightly press on the navel area. This exercise helps to cope with a mild to moderate attack of colic, but if there is no effect after 7-10 minutes, then it does not help your baby.
Laying out on the stomach
The gases go away more easily and faster if the baby is lying on his tummy, so after all the measures listed above, the baby should be laid out on his stomach. It's great if you put it on your belly and provide skin-to-skin contact. This not only provides additional massage and warms the muscles, but also soothes the baby, helping him to cope with the painful attack more easily.
Colic is a rather difficult period not only for the child, but also for his parents. If home remedies for colic do not give the desired result, do not despair. Talk to your doctor for help in choosing a medication to relieve the condition and eliminate its causes. Modern pharmacy products are safe, effective and affordable, so many pediatricians recommend always keeping them in your home first aid kit if there are newborns or babies at seven.
