Most babies suffer from digestion issues, from general wind or constipation, to the more severe colic and reflux. It is a common topic of conversation amongst parents in my Baby Yoga and Baby Massage classes.

What is Colic?

According to NHS online information , colic is when a baby cries a lot but there is no obvious cause. “All babies cry, but your baby may have colic if they cry more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week for at least 1 week.” https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/colic/

Colic can start at between 2 and 4 weeks and usually passes by 4 months. It can continue to around 6 months and can be very distressing for parents as a baby often cannot be soothed. Babies with colic are not in pain. There is no cure for colic, but there is no evidence that colic has any long-term effects on a baby’s health. Babies with colic will feed and gain weight normally. Some babies will be diagnosed with Reflux (gastro-oesophageal reflux - GOR - when a baby vomits back up milk and stomach acid after a feed) which can be treated with medication.

Signs of colic include bringing the knees up to the chest or arching the back, clenched fists, red face, tummy rumbles or they are very windy. Frequent, intense, uncontrolled crying. They may cry more often in the afternoon and evening. These of course can be the same for a baby with wind or constipation, so it can be very difficult to tell.

How to ease your baby’s digestion issues

For parents, learning to recognise a baby's cry and responding quickly is important to help soothe a baby as quickly as possible. Soothing methods for digestive issues include, feeding as normal and winding after feed. Trying to keep a colicky baby upright for feeds and ensuring babies don't swallow too much air when feeding. Soothing and cuddling your baby a lot when they are crying will help of course.

How Baby Massage and Baby Yoga can be especially helpful for babies with digestive problems.

Here are 4 ways to help your baby to pass wind and ease their little tummy using Baby Massage and Baby Yoga techniques - useful to have in your parenting toolbox :)

They are all suitable to do from birth.

Ensure that it is at least 30-40 minutes past a feed when you try any of these techniques. This will help to ensure food doesn’t come back up.

Always make sure that your baby is happy whilst doing these techniques, stop if they are distressed and try again later. Don’t massage your baby for at least 24 hours after vaccinations.

1. Simple tummy massage:

Lie your baby on their back on the floor on a mat or blanket. You can massage your baby’s tummy over their clothes or skin to skin. If you wish you can use an oil to massage your baby but make sure you use a safe oil for your baby’s skin (read my guidelines on massage oils here)

Massage your baby’s tummy around their tummy button in a CLOCKWISE direction. Clockwise follows the path of the digestion system so will ensure you are helping wind or blockages to move the right way. Use two or three fingers and use enough pressure that it is not just a tickle. Take your cue from your baby as to how much pressure to use, but always be gentle and stop if your baby is unhappy.

You can sing a song to your baby whilst you do this – ‘Round and round the garden, like a teddy bear’ is a simple one to do here.

Try to do this every day to soothe your baby and to keep their digestion healthy.

2. Knees to chest leg movements

This is a really popular and really effective way to ease your baby’s tummy and parents in my classes find it invaluable for their babies.

Again, with your baby lying safely on the floor, hold your baby's legs around the calves just under the knees and bend them open slightly wider than the hips. Bend your baby's knees firmly up onto the sides of the abdomen just under the rib cage. Release the pressure and gently allow baby to straighten their legs and repeat two or three times.

If baby resists or seems uncomfortable there may be wind. Slightly wiggling the leg may ease this and enable you to bend the leg. Otherwise stop and wait until later.

You can sing a song here too as you do these movements, maybe ‘If you’re happy and you know it bend your legs’ or ‘The doors on the bus go open and shut’

Try to do this every day to soothe your baby and to keep their digestion healthy. A good time to do this is after every nappy change.

3. Tummy time

Building up tummy time for your baby is an important part of their natural physical development. Some babies take longer to become happy lying on their tummy but tummy time is really helpful for soothing digestive issues.

Lie your baby on their tummy. This could be on the floor safely or across your lap as you are seated on the floor with your legs stretched out straight ahead of you. If baby is on your lap try to sit tall and straight to protect your back and help your posture. If baby is on the floor a rolled up towel under their armpits with their arms over the top resting forwards can help them to feel more comfortable.

You can gently stroke down your baby’s back either side of the spine as they are on their tummy. You could add gently bending your baby's knees, holding the calves, moving the soles of the feet towards each other making a butterfly shape. Gently move their heels towards their bottom. Only go as far as baby can reach with their heels. Hold for a second or two and then release. Repeat two or three times.

Don’t forget to sing a song - your baby loves to hear your voice ‘You are my sunshine’? And if you really don’t like singing you could hum or just talk to your baby as you work gently with them.

4. Tiger in the Tree hold

A great alternative tummy time movement.

Hold baby with their head nestled in the crook of your arm, facing down, or facing out. Your arm should come over the top of baby's shoulder, diagonally across their body. Hold baby's opposite thigh gently.

Try walking slowly around the room. You can also make gentle swings with baby in this hold. Standing straight and bending your knees up and down gently making little dips helps to ease colic, digestion issues and helps you and your baby relax (it also helps supports your lower back). Try to keep your shoulders relaxed and your jaw soft to encourage your own relaxation. Your baby will respond if you are relaxed as they will feel secure and safe and begin to relax themselves.

The gentle pressure on their tummy will help to ease your baby’s tummy and parents time and time again tell me how helpful this has been particularly for colic and reflux.

A lovely lullaby would be great here so that your baby can hear your voice and be soothed- how about ‘Twinkle twinkle little star’?

Please Remember

Don't practice yoga with your baby if they or you are tired, unwell or upset. It is best not to practice straight after a feed. Never force any movements for baby. Watch and listen for your baby's cues and if they are not happy stop and try again later. Always get the advice of your doctor or health professional before undertaking any physical activity. Please read the medical disclaimer here

How Baby Yoga and Massage can help digestion, colic and reflux