Surviving Colic
If it’s colic, you’ll know it, say most parents. And while your instincts may not be quite on target all of the time when it comes to your baby, this one is probably right on.
Almost all babies go through fussy periods. Colic, however, is more than just garden variety fussing. Colic is an excessively fussy period when your baby is nearly inconsolable, usually taking place at night that occurs for more than three hours a day, three days a week and for more than three weeks. This extremely fussy time usually comes on in the evening or night time, and usually at the same time each day. It usually begins within the first few weeks after birth, and can last until the baby is about three months old.
Colic can be frustrating for both new and experienced parents; not all babies get colic, but when they do, there is seemingly nothing you can do to help them. I remember many nights of pacing the halls of my house, holding my infant daughter and trying white noise, swinging her and even taking her out in the car.
The good news is that colic usually gets better or disappears altogether by the time the baby is about three months old. In the mean time, here are some ideas for calming and soothing your baby so that you can all enjoy your time together.
- Try a feeding. The last thing you might think a screaming baby will do is eat; however, sometimes a feeding is just the ticket to calm baby down. Try a bottle, or if you are breast feeding, offer your breast to baby – while he or she might not eat, baby might still get some comfort by sucking. In addition, a pacifier might also help to soothe baby and help him or her to relax.
- Swaddle baby. Wrap up your baby in a blanket and rock him or her gently. The comfort and warmth of being all wrapped up tight and held might just help baby to calm down.
- Keep moving. Swing or rock your baby, or, if you have one, put him or her in a baby swing. Or, you can take baby outside and go for a drive or a walk in the stroller. The rhythmic sound and motion can be soothing.
- Use white noise. A soft “shhh,” classical music, a white noise machine or even a vacuum can help to distract baby and to calm him or her.
While baby colic can be stressful to a tired parent, there are some ways that you can help to comfort baby. Just remember that it is just a phase and will eventually pass. If you are concerned about excessive crying or if you think your baby may have more than colic, contact your pediatrician.
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