I don't know how I missed a post on this earlier. I was tortured by Colic for around 60 days, till the time my baby was 2 months old. 'Colic Monster' (as we called it) used to come and bother my baby, she use to cry every night almost and we weren't able to do anything.
Experts believe Colic is very common and doesn't last beyond a couple of months. (The longest I've heard is 6 months). Experts say "It usually starts at between two and four weeks and is over by the time your baby is three or four months old. About one in five parents find themselves with an otherwise healthy baby who cries uncontrollably."
Why does a baby Cry so much? All babies do, some less, some more. When Colic strikes your baby will be totally inconsolable, its referred to as 'Crying Peak'. Many people suggest gas, but the exact reason is not known. Colic is just as common in breastfed as in formula-fed babies and affects girls and boys equally too. This may be because of:
- Gas, as baby's gut is still maturing, so indigestion and wind are temporarily causing a problem.
- The brain and nervous system is still maturing. S/He needs to know how to stop crying.
- You need to keep your baby swaddled/Cuddled, they prefer that and babies who aren't cuddled a lot cry more.
Tips on Soothing the baby: Feed your baby only when they're hungry, don't force feed him/her.
- Try to capture your baby's pre-crying cues and try feeding/soothing them before the bout of crying begins.
- Burp your baby after every single feed.
- Tummy massage works for some babies.
- Help your baby self-soothe themselves. If they are thumb-sucking or putting her fingers in her mouth, do not bother, this helps the baby soothe themselves.
- If you're breastfeeding the baby, try to keep her/him in an upright during the feeds, which will help reduce wind.
- If you're bottle feeding make sure you use non-colic/colic reducing bottles. Try Dr. Brown or Avent. I can vouch for Avent which reduced The Toddler's Colic.
- Hold the baby close so that s/he hears your heartbeat. Sit down, relax and take long, slow, breaths out so that your heartbeat becomes slow and regular.
- Choose a quiet spot, a lot of activity, being passed from person to person, and bright lights could over-stimulate your baby. S/He may find it difficult to stop gazing at bright lights.
- White noise works, another method I tried and it worked wonders, The Toddler slept with the Dryer on. Repetitive noise or vibrations may recreate the whooshing sounds of the womb. The sound of the vacuum cleaner, the hair dryer, a clock, white-noise CD or the steady rhythm of the washing machine may work. I used to keep The Toddler in the rocker, with vibration on and the hair dryer switched on.
- Drives: Take the baby on a drive, they'll sleep in a second. It didn't work for us as the Toddler used to get up the moment we switched the engine off and got down.
- Rock your baby.
- Try a warm bath. Your baby spent months bathed in warm amniotic fluid. A peaceful bath in a warm room can calm some crying babies.
When do I take my baby to the Doctor? When your baby hits the crying peak, consulting your Ped is the best thing you can do. For about one in 10 babies, there will be something else that is causing them to cry. Definitely visit the Ped if:
- Scream like abnormal crying
- Vomiting, Diarrhoea, Blood in Poo or constant weight loss.
- Irritation and Eczema
This might be because of:
- A temporary allergy or intolerance.
- Reflux, if your baby vomits a large amount of milk after every feed.
- Fever or any similar illness.
If it is Colic, this is not as harmful as it may sound/feel/look. So just keep these points in mind and stay calm, this shall pass too.
Reference: Babycenter
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