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How Can I Prevent Colic?

You can't prevent colic, but if the distress is related to feeding, you may lessen the frequency of episodes by trying the following:

• Hold your baby upright when feeding; burp often.
• Feed smaller amounts more frequently.
• To prevent him from swallowing air, feed your baby slowly.
• If you are breastfeeding, try eliminating from your own diet cow's milk, caffeinated drinks, and broccoli and other cabbage family vegetables, all of which can promote gas pains in your child.
• If you are bottle-feeding, try a formula free of cow's milk such as a soybean formula.