Colicky Baby? Try Aromatherapy.

In a previous post, I wrote that infant massage would help a colicky baby to relax. To make it even more effective, you could add some essential oils and go the aromatherapy route. I found the following "recipes" for essential massage oil online--the oils work together to help release the gas that is trapped in baby's abdomen. To make your child completely melt with relaxation, add a aromatherapy bath as well. The ingredients for those are below too. It's interesting to see that there are so many variations--choose which one works best for you. (Note: You'll see that Colic Calm and the recipes below share many of the same ingredients. So if you combine the two--Colic Calm and an aromatherapy rub--you'll have one happy infant!) From Wellsphere: Abdominal massage can bring great relief and help release trapped gas. Infant massage is best done

gently, in small circular clockwise movements, 5-10 minutes after feeding. It can be done while the baby is clothed. To use essential oils mixed in a massage oil, clothing should be removed. First mix the essential oils in a small dark blue or amber glass bottle using these proportions:

5 drops Coriander
3 drops Peppermint
2 drops Dill

For application use one drop of above mixture in a 1/2 teaspoon almond, grapeseed or jojoba oil and use half of this amount per application for an abdominal massage. * Put the oil mixture in the palm of your non dominant hand and using the fingertips of your other hand, rub over the palm to coat fingertips. * Proceed with abdominal massage starting slightly above the navel and slowly working around the navel as if it were the center of a clock. * Leave the remaining amount of oil mixture in the spoon to use later and set it in a bowl, then cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap to prevent evaporation and contamination. Warm baths can help relax a spasm as well. Mix 1 teaspoon almond or grapeseed oil with one drop of Lavender and one drop Roman Chamomile. Put a 1/4 teaspoon of this mixture in the bath water. It will float on the surface. Scoop it into your hand and rub over the baby's tummy while in the bath. Make sure none of it splashes in the baby's eyes or on their face. From Healthy.net: Tummy-Rub Oil

2 drops Roman chamomile
1 drop fennel
2 drops dill
1 drop melissa
1 ounce carrier oil

Mix together and massage the tummy gently. A relaxing treatment for children before bedtime is a warm lavender and chamomile essential-oil bath. Most children love taking aromatherapy baths, particularly if they have their own personal blends, and may want to get involved in choosing and blending scents. Popular fragrances include orange, grapefruit and tangerine-all antidepressants and relaxants. If you have an older child with indigestion, MotherNature.com recommends these solutions: You can use essential oils such as lemongrass, orange and chamomile, which have calming fragrances, in either the bath or massage oil. Child's Indigestion Bath