Need edvice about colic babies?

Question

My daughter is unfortunatly colic. Shes 1 month old. She usually cries for about 3-5 hours a day. Ive tried the gas drops for infants and they arent working. Ive tried changing her formula but she ended up throwing up all the time so I went back to Similac with Iron. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions and/or edvice for me. Im so exhusted and I get really emotional with her crying because I cant help her. I just dont know what to do. Id really apprieciate the responses! Thanks

-Lorah

Answer 1

If it's at all possible for you to nurse her, do so, it really does help. Formula certainly will NOT 'poison her gut' and colic happens to breastfed babies, too, but breastmilk is the easiest to digest, and therefore can help, since it is speculated that colic is mostly caused by digestive tract (think gas) issues. My son cried for 2-4 hours nightly from when he was 1 and a half months until he was 4 months. It WAS ROUGH! Sometimes I started crying, too.
The hot water bottle (or heating pad, but don't get too hot!) on your stomach (or dad's) and then baby on her stomach on your stomach can be very soothing. This worked a lot of the time to at least quiet my son's cries to whimpers. Also, his pediatrician actually told us to hold him like another poster spoke of lay your arm out like this _____ and put your baby on her stomach on your arm, with her head in your hand. Can help push the gas bubbles up and out. Constant moving does this same thing, though PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't constantly resort to using a substitute for your arms by using a moving/vibrating/bouncing/swinging thing. Human contact (holding) goes far towards lessening, even if it doesn't stop the cries. All those things were invented for parents' convenience, and really are great when you just can't take anymore crying, but not as a constant instead of the 'real thing' - YOU. LOL Dance around, bounce around, swing around the room, try until you find something that works. A lifesaver for me when I absolutely could not be at home (like we had to be in the car or store) or couldn't handle holding/crying anymore, was a clip on soother Playskool used to make. They don't make them anymore, but check eBay or used stores, do a search for 'crib soother'. You can clip them to anything and make it vibrate.

Answer 2

Check with her pediatrician, make sure there are no other problems. Try smaller more frequent feedings and burp her after every ounce. If she is on formula, make sure she NEEDS the iron portion, often that causes colic or constipation. If you haven't tried it, Carnation Good Start is a good easily digestable formula. Mylicon drops (or the generic is fine) can be a great help, but give it BEFORE She eats, not after she has a problem.

Also try a swaddling blanket, sometimes that helps. Hold her so her tummy is against yours and the warmth may soothe her. Or a warm bath, a towel fresh from a hot dryer, whatever. Make sure you are as calm and relaxed as you can be or have someone nearby you can hand her over to for a few minutes to get a break. She will feel your stress and anxiety and that will make her feel worse, so just try to stay calm.

This too shall pass. Good luck...

Answer 3

I'm so sorry - I know how hard this is! I used to joke about putting a "free to good home" sign up:). My first child had colic, despite the fact that he was breastfed. The vibrating bouncy seat was great in short amounts. He liked being laid on his tummy along my forearm and gently bounced. He also liked being cuddled up to me and dancing to classical music (however, while he could have done this forever, as a parent you can only last so long). He also enjoyed going for walks in his sling.
For your sake, try to get someone else to watch your daughter for a while. Your spouse/partner, a friend, grandparent, etc. You need a breather to regroup yourself. Go for a walk by yourself, read a book, do SOMETHING just for yourself. It will help you save your sanity, and make you better able to cope with the next round.

Answer 4

My daughter was also colicky. Try a formula without the iron. Warm baths are also soothing. Rubbing her back and tummy also helps. Try a stool softener made for infants. If she is constipated and the stool softener doesn't help you can dip a Q-tip in vaseline and insert in her bottom and in a few seconds she will go, giving her relief. This was suggested by my pediatrician and it really worked. Good luck. She will eventually outgrow it. I know you are frazzled but keep in mind she is a baby and doesn't know how to comfort herself and depends on you to do it. Sometimes I had to get a sitter so I could re-group and get my sanity back so I could take care of her with tenderness.

Answer 5

Sometimes the iron in formula will cause colic in some babies.
See the doctor about this and tell him that the gas drops aren't helping.
Also, when my child had colic, I added a little peppermint extract to some warm water and gave her that. Then wrap them in a blanket and lay them close to your stomach and rock them. This will sometime relieve the problem. With my daughter, she couldn't take any of the formulas and once I put her on cow's milk it stopped.

Answer 6

My son had colic really bad too. I had a nurse tell me to use Dee Wee's but only use a little bit at nap time or right before bed. The reason is because it has alcohol in it.
But is Dee Wee's just for colic.
This worked wonders on my son. You can get it from pretty much any pharmacy.
Also if you need try the gas tablets by Highlands they make the teething tablets they work well also.
Good Luck.

Answer 7

Have you asked her doctor? Some babies take a few months to really figure out what they need to eat. We thought my nephew might need GOAT MILK formula, but eventually his dad found one that works better. It was all trial and error.

Try laying your baby on her tummy and rubbing her back. Doctor may want to make sure there isn't any blockage in her intestines, some infants get that. This sounds strange, but try taking off your shirt and laying her head right above your heart. Sometimes just the feeling of your skin touching theirs, combined with the sound of your heart really calms and comforts an infant.

I know this will be hard, but try not to get upset. Calm yourself down because your baby will be able to sense if you are frustrated or angry.

Answer 8

Talk to her pediatrician. There are alot of home remedies. Have you tried a bouncy seat that vibrates? There is a special infant formula just for colicy babies now. You could try warm (NOT HOT) dry towels on her belly. Try putting her in her carseat (strapped in) and setting her on the dryer with it running (stay with her - don't leave her unattended) or turning on the vacuum cleaner and letting it run. For some reason, colicy babies respond well to vibration and white noise - they find it very soothing. If none of this works, for your own sanity, you may just have to lay her down and let her cry it out for awhile (15 minute intervals)Just make sure you KNOW she's not hungry, in need of a diaper, etc. Some babies just need to cry.

Answer 9

READ THIS IT WILL HELP!!

ok you go the drops-milacon right,
1.formula-gentlelease by enfimil
2.At walmart you can buy a swaddling blanket about10 bucks it works wonders
3. nature cd like ocean sounds sooths the baby, or run water and let baby listen
4. baby water can also be found at walmart

You do all these thing and you will beable to live through the colic stange.

Answer 10

My son had horrible colic. We gave him peppermint water. that's the old remedy. not too strong it will take her breath away. In my case, my son was so bad the doctor finally prescribed a few drops of Bourbon but don't do that without talking to your doctor first. My doctor also showed me how to: press lightly with your fingers, on your baby's tummy and flutter her tummy really fast. it breaks up the bubbles in there and relieves some of her pain. Good luck.