Cultures Sans Colic: Breastfeeding & Other Baby Lessons from the !Kung San

To get a deeper understanding of the relationship between colic and breastfeeding, it’s good to take cues from other cultures. For example: the !Kung San (or African bushmen) have lived in isolation on the plains of the Kalahari Desert for thousands of years. Over the past forty years, however, the !Kung have allowed scientists to observe their lives, including how they care for babies.

I’ve read reports of the !Kung newborn care with great interest because their infants hardly ever cry! It’s not that they never cry – it’s that they never CRY! (And I know you understand the distinction.) !Kung infants get upset as often as our babies do, but their parents are so skilled that their babies’ fussing bouts average only sixteen seconds in duration – and over 90% end in under a minute. For parents struggling with colic in our culture, this sounds too good to be true.

What the !Kung secret? What ancient wisdom do that know that we have forgotten? I believe this tribe’s stunning success is based on three main factors:

1. Constant holding
2. Immediate responding
3. Very frequent breastfeeding

Although the !Kung have few material possessions, they have the luxury of having lots of cuddle time with their babies. !Kung mothers carry their babies all day long in leather slings and sleep next to them at night. This closeness makes it easy to soothe fussiness right from the start, to keep it from building up into full-on colic.

Since !Kung parents spend so much time close to their babies, it’s easy for them to comfort their babies’ cries quickly – usually within ten seconds!

In addition to holding and cuddling, the !Kung calm their babies by putting extra emphasis on breastfeeding. They give quick little feedings 3-4 times an hour. That’s 50-100 times a day!

We in the West might think that all this lavish and immediate attention would spoil a baby, but that’s not the case. !Kung children generally grow up to be happy, independent, and well-adjusted.

Of course, I’m not suggesting we adopt all the !Kung ways – but by studying their successful parenting practices, Western moms and dads can glean some helpful tips – especially for parents dealing with poor infant sleep, excessive infant crying, and colic.

Tags: Colic