Infant colic and Infant Gas seem to go hand in hand. But is it the infant gas causing the pattern of crying in your baby, or the infant colic causing the infant gas?

Until recently, doctors believed most babies with colic cried because they had an excessive amount of gas build-up. Either due to the intolerance to cow's-milk protein found in formula, he diet of the mother in cases of breastfeeding, or too much air being swallowed while nursing. The excessive gas resulted in discomfort and unstoppable crying. The crying baby, in turn, swallowed more air, creating more discomfort and so the cycle went.

Today, some doctors believe infant colic is a part of a normal baby development, and more physiological than intestinal in origin. The bouts of colic cause more air to be swallowed while crying thus causing the infant gas.

Some babies, however, truly can be allergic or sensitive to certain foods. By minimizing these foods in the mother's diet if breastfeeding, you can help reduce gastrointestinal distress in your baby. Try reducing:

• Garlic

• Caffeine

• Cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccli, etc.)

• Beans

• Dairy Products

Additionally, if your baby is formula-fed, try changing the formula to a hypoallergenic formula, or a more easily digested formula such as Carnation Good Start.

To let less air in and more air out, try the following:

• If breastfeeding, make sure the baby has a good seal with their lips far back on the areola.

• If using a bottle, make sure baby's lips are positioned on the base of the nipple and tilt the bottle at a 30-40 degree angle.

• Feed your baby in smaller amounts but more frequently.

• Don't allow baby to suck excessively on a pacifier or empty bottle.

• Use simethicone drops, glycerin suppositories or gripe water to ease infant gas.

• Perform tummy massages on your baby.

• Wear your baby in a sling and walk around - the gentle jostling can breakup gas.

by: Cherie Stirewalt

Cherie L. Stirewalt is a colic baby survivor and shares her colic experiences on her website Colic-Baby-Bootcamp.com.