Can An Infant Be Fed With Castor Oil To Cure Colic?

Posted on Fri, 20 Nov 2015

Question: Is it safe to give castor oil (oral) for 3 month old baby for relieving from colic. Grand parents are insisting but we are hesitant

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (26 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No, it is not safe for infants

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for the query

I can understand your concern.Discomfort and crying due to colic is very common in this age.
Castor oil provides relief from colic is a myth and it should not be encouraged.
In most of the case grannies insist for giving castor oil,gripe water or other things which are not medically indicated.Castor oil when given orally can act as an irritant and may cause loose motion. In older children or in adults it is used in constipation. They used to give it in older days. Now time has changed.
You just blame it to the doctor and tell them that doctor has advised not to give castor oil.
Castor oil is used as a massaging oil over the abdomen of infants but there is not a single research study favouring this.
You can give coaid or colicaid to get relief from colic.

I hope this helps.
Please let me know if you have any more query.
Thanks and regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (31 minutes later)

Thanks Doctor. Just to let you know that we recently came to XXXXXXX from Muscat last fortnight and since then wife is having lot of gas. Is my baby gas because of wife having gas. Grand parents are imposing lot of restrictions on mothers food but still it is there. Want to know what precautions to take to avoid colic in baby

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (26 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Few gassy foods should be avoided in lactating mother

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for follow up

The lactating mother should take plenty of fluids with extra calories and protein to meet the nutritional demand of the baby.
The breast fed baby may show symptoms of gas and abdominal discomfort depending on the mother's diet.
Mother should avoid spices,gas forming veggies (cabbage,broccoli,onion,garlic),beans,chocolates,citrus foods(orange,lemons),coffee and carbonated drinks.Burp the baby properly.Gentle exercise like pressing the thighs over the abdomen in lying down position helps in releasing the gas.

Thanks and regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (22 hours later)

We have been feeding baby continuously in sleeping position because she was not latching properly in other position. However we are making her burp and she is not spitting in sleeping position. Just want to be sure if this position is okay for continuous feed as we are concerned that baby colic may be because of continuous feed in sleeping position. Please advice us Doctor.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Feeding in sleeping position should be avoided

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for follow up

Feeding in sleeping position should be avoided.Even if you want to feed during semi sleeping condition keep her head end up.
During lying down condition there is high chance of entering milk into the ear due to the straight ear canal.
Don't make this a habit and try to feed him in awaken position.

Reagrds

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar