How does massage help colic?

Colic can be a very stressful time, not only for baby who is crying from pains in the tummy, but also for mum, who can be feeling helpless or exhausted.

Although there are no universal agreements on colic causes and treatment, there are special abdominal strokes that you can learn which are specifically designed to ease symptoms of pain, wind, constipation and digestive disturbances.

Special techniques for massaging a baby with colic include:

Stroke the tummy gently in a clockwise circular motion, keeping your palms flat
‘Walk’ your fingertips clockwise in a circular motion on the tummy
Draw the ‘n’ letter on baby’s tummy
Bend baby’s knees to the chest and back

Repeat these strokes consistently, several times daily, for a period of at least three weeks. You will definitely see results at the third week, or earlier.

Get the most out of these strokes by applying warmth to the baby’s tummy to dispel the tightness. You can do this by putting your baby in a warm bath and then, once the muscles are more relaxed, repeat the massage strokes.

Don’t be afraid to put your baby into a warm bath, just the waist down, in the middle of the night, if that’s what you feel will help – just follow your instincts and you will find what works for you.

For a baby or toddler in good health, these strokes will quickly disperse gas, ease muscle spasm, tone the digestive system, and help to move food and expel waste efficiently.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.

23 Comments

- - ella12 said
  - 16 Jan 2018
    11:20 am
That’s fantastic, thanks for sharing this.

- - mom81879 said
  - 17 Nov 2015
    11:09 am
If only this information was available to me when my kids were babies, it would have helped immensely

- - mom67623 said
  - 10 Apr 2015
    3:23 am
MASSAGE GREAT FOR BABIES,ADULTS TOO.
FOR COLIC AND TUMMY DISORDERS YO CAN DO
MASSAGE GENTLY THE TUMMY IN CIRCULAR CLOCKWISE MOTION
A MASSAGE PRACTITIONER GAVE ME THIS VALUABLE NOTION
IT WORKED FOR MY TUMMY PROBLEMS,RELIVING PAIN AND TIGHTNESS
TOXINS REMOVED FREE UP TIGHTNESS WORTH A TRY,USING BABY LOTION
- mom94125 replied
  
  18 Oct 2015 , 2:34 pm
  yes have to know what you are doing
- - mom94125 said
  - 11 Dec 2014
    10:00 pm
i never had to deal with this. i feel sorry for the babies and parents that do

- - june11 said
  - 11 Dec 2014
    2:06 am
I was a colic baby. My Dad was very good at finding the lump in my belly and he found if it pushed on it very gently with one finger it helped me to get rid of it.

- - stepmom107932 said
  - 04 Dec 2014
    10:39 pm
I was taught stroking from the bum all the way up to the neck in one soft smooth movement and repeating that over and over
oh and NEVER rubbing downwards.
- stepmom107932 replied
  
  04 Dec 2014 , 10:40 pm
  also was taught that rubbing in circles made it worse
- - BellaB said
  - 05 Nov 2014
    10:21 pm
Useful information, thank you for this.

- - shortaez said
  - 26 Oct 2014
    4:55 pm
I never knew massage could help with colic
- cloverstorm replied
  
  29 Oct 2014 , 4:56 am
  I wasn’t aware of that either.
- - Lov'n'Life said
  - 26 Oct 2014
    8:58 am
it is a hard time my little boy had it and you are willing to give anything a go

- - mom97405 said
  - 26 Oct 2014
    8:32 am
We used these techniques with our first son, who had terrible wind pain, and it really helped!

- - mom93821 said
  - 24 Oct 2014
    7:19 am
Thanks for sharing this very helpful article.

- - june11 said
  - 22 Oct 2014
    9:24 pm
I’ll guarantee my Mum would have welcomed this advice when I was a colic baby for quite a few months. Sometimes in desperation my Mum would give me another feed, I would burp and be sound asleep within 10 minutes. Apparently if I passed wind anybody holding whilst sitting on a chair could feel it through my nappy.

- - damish70 said
  - 22 Oct 2014
    8:31 pm
I used these techniques & they did help my kids

- - rachaelchara said
  - 22 Oct 2014
    4:13 pm
I found nothing including massage helped with my babies colic.

- - mom67623 said
  - 22 Oct 2014
    7:47 am
massage is an excellent way to get in touch with your baby
baby oil and gentle strokes after bath, or at times when pain is apparent do move the body gently to release lactic acid and pockets of air. Massage is good for everyone so get your share
Jeannie bliss