Your baby has been crying for hours. She's been fed, changed, and rocked, but nothing will soothe her. At this point, many sleep-deprived parents turn to the Internet for help in treating infantile colic, but which treatment is safe?
The study, "Nutritional Supplements and Other Complementary Medicines for Infantile Colic: A Systematic Review," published in the April 2011 issue of Pediatrics (published online March 28), evaluated randomized clinical trials of nutritional supplements and other complementary and alternative (CAM) treatments for colic.
The use of fennel extract, herbal tea (with chamomile, licorice, fennel and balm mint) and a sugar solution were most effective in relieving symptoms of colicky babies. Other treatments reviewed included probiotic supplements, massage and reflexology, but results were inconclusive.
Study authors determined that the CAM therapies they investigated did not significantly reduce the symptoms of colic, and further research is needed in finding a successful treatment.
