chpt 7 Putting It Into Practice 2-9

COLIC AND REFLUX
Colic is when a baby has “frequent, prolonged and intense crying or fussiness,” and no reason for it can be found. Infant reflux “occurs when food backs up (refluxes) from a baby’s stomach, causing the baby to spit up.” (Mayo Clinic)


Both colic and reflux make for a very fussy baby. And most of the advice says that both will get better at around 3 to 4 months, once the baby’s digestive system has matured a little more, so just hang in there. This is not very helpful for tired, stressed-out parents whose hearts are breaking seeing their child crying or in pain.


Like everything in Montessori, we suggest observing. We can write down what we have eaten if we are breastfeeding, the ingredients in our baby’s formula, what time the crying occurs, how long the crying or symptoms last, if the baby is pulling up their legs or making uncomfortable faces, how they latch on when feeding, if they have a tongue tie or cleft lip and palate, whether they are overtired or overstimulated. We can look for any patterns and present them to our doctor or pediatrician.


We can also seek medical advice to see if there are any allergies, histamine sensitivities (in foods like strawberries), or a physical problem like an intestinal blockage, bacterial overgrowth, ulcers, or occasionally a narrow entry preventing food from entering the small intestine or the stomach pushing through the diaphragm. (Some research has also shown that birth trauma or a breach presentation may create colic symptoms.)


The good news is that many parents who follow their intuition that their baby’s crying or pain is not normal are able to get to the root cause.


And, in the meantime, we can be be present for our baby, make them feel as comfortable as possible with body contact and time together. Often, a little pressure on the belly helps, we can lay them, belly side down, on our own body or give them supervised  tummy time on a softer surface like a bed or carpet. We also need to look after ourselves and get support if we can—perhaps someone to take over for some time each day—because hearing a baby crying constantly is tiring and emotionally challenging for parents.


SCREEN TIME
The Montessori approach is for the child to experience the world around them in real life. For a baby, this is with their bodies, their hands, and their mouths. This experience cannot be replicated on a screen, so we do not offer screens to babies. And we can be mindful of our own use of screens and put them away as much as possible in front of the baby.


If the baby gets bored at a café, rather than using a screen, we can walk around to show them what is happening, look out the window at passing vehicles and people, and bring a small pouch with a few favorite things for them to explore. And rather than distracting a baby with a screen if they are upset, we can provide loving arms, calming words, and patience.