colic??????

Question

Anybody have any suggestions on how to help this problem?? My son is 7 weeks old and for the last two nights has just cried for hours. I will take all suggestions!!! Thanks alot

Answer 1

He's pretty young so this isn't uncommon, he will most likely out grow it. Colic doesn't last more then a few months usually, though its hard you'll get through it. The problem could be so many different things.

I gave my son gas drops (like Mylicon) and they would help sometimes, as well as rubbing his belly or "running" his legs (lay him on his back and move his legs like he's riding a bike.) Sometimes this is the culprit even if it doesn't seem like it.

It could also be over stimulation sometimes, keep lights dim and radios/tv off.

If shes on formula it could be that to and you might want to test the brand.

If he got awoken in the middle of the night it could have also just because he was overly tired and couldn't fell back asleep. Anything can wake an infant up, they have dreams, they get hot/cold, they startle suddenly and get scared, etc. Try swaddling him.

I also would try "teething tablets" by hylands (which are avalibable in wal-marts and natural food stores/co-ops) they are an all natural pill to help calm your child (there is no pain killers or downers in it) its just a tiny (to small to choke on) lactose pill that disolves SUPER fast in their mouth which contains camomille and 2 other herbs. Again these help sometimes.

Its trial and error trying to figure out what is bothering your babe but don't ignore him, he needs comfort and you would never know if something was seriously wrong with him.

Try carring your son in a pouch or sling during the day. This makes a difference in how much kids cry studies show. Some kids are just high needs and need the extra contact and stimulation from being carried around.
heres some pages with tips for high needs infants
My son was very high needs as well so he needed me there a lot, but as tiring as it was I didn't mind being there for him.

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/infant.htm

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?p=3917418

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/5/T050100.asp


You have to keep in mind when a baby is unhappy they have no control of their emotions. We don't know whats bothering them as they can't speak and we can't read their minds. It could be anything from a bright light in his eyes, to gas, to sleepy, to a wet diaper, to just bored. Even if its something slight thats bothering them they let it all loose, they don't control their emothions. If you think a toddler is bad throwing a tantrum of not getting what they want, imagine what an infant would do having less understanding of anything.

In the womb for 9 months he never felt a cold breeze, never heard loud sounds, never saw bright lights, was never hungry, was always being rocked inside you, was floating in warm fluid, never felt scratchy diapers, never slept alone, and a whole load of other things...for 9 months! being in this totally different setting takes time to adjust to.
If everything appears normal other then his crying I wouldn't worry, just try to do your best to comfort him. :)

Answer 2

Colic is usually caused from gas. If you are breastfeeding, evaluate what you eat. If you eat something gassy, it will give your baby gas. If you formula feed--consider switching formulas or using the premixed stuff. My daughter got highly constipated from powdered formula. As soon as I switched to premade, the gas, crying and constipation left. Try putting your son on his back and moving his legs in a bicycle kick. Also, push his legs up into his belly at the knee---fetal position style. Sometimes, if you buy little tummies (works better than mylicon) it will alleviate the gas. It is safe for babies of all ages and is available at the drugstore. If all else fails--and I mean if all else fails!---try using a thermometer with vasoline on the tip. Insert it in his anus (about 1/2 an inch) for a few seconds and see if he passes gas. It may also cause him to poo (this is a home remedy for constipation known as rectal stimulation). That will sometimes help. If none of this seems to work---if you know that he is fed, dry and not sick, put him in his crib and let mother nature take over. No baby has ever died from crying. Eventually, he will wear out and go to sleep. I've had to do that a couple times with my daughter. It will tear your heart out to hear it, but when you've done all you can, this is all that is left. There aren't any known reasons for why babies get colic or remedies for it other than outgrowing it. You may just be in for some sufferings of motherhood.

Answer 3

That is a tough one, there are a million reasons. Just be sure he is not hungry. Many times small babies need to nurse every two hours --especially when they finally wake up. They are kind of in a stupor those first couple weeks, sleeping all the time, etc. Then they wake up and they just don't seem to get enough food. Did you change anything in his diet? Does he have a fever? Does the sound of his cry seem different than usual? Like screaming instead of whimpering? Is his room too hot, too cold? Good luck!

Answer 4

Baby Bliss gripe water - helps relieve gas which some people mistake as colic.

Try wrapping baby in a tight swaddle. Warm on the belly. Warm bath. Vaccuming. Music. Singing. A sling/carrier for you to wear.

Thats all I got. Hope it helps. : )

Answer 5

well colic take a toll on your ears so id invest in some ear plugs ... But heres what i did with my niece when she had it ...I wrapped a small blanket snuggly on her belly and just rocked her back and forth till she calmed down .. Or while standing cradle your baby close to your heart and sway or twist your body back and forth ..You get a work out but it sometimes help .. Oh yeah when twisting or swaying kind of swing a tad bit hard nothing to cause any damage to the baby or anything but enough calm him.. id like to know if it worked for you hit me back
peace out
Nina M

Answer 6

I had the same problem with my newborn. Eventually it was the formula I had changed. In nyc the hospitals feed them similac so when we left the hospital I was feeding him similac for 1wk then I changed it to Infamil with Iron. That was the cause of him crying they get constipated feel his tummy if its hard. Try rubbing his tummy a lil give him 2ounces of prune juice mix with 1ounce of water if u think he is constipated. u can give him Infant Mylicon its for colics ( gas relief). but check with ur babies pediatrician to make sure, thats wat I did. I suggest u breast feed babies are very delicate this way they dont get sick.. i didnt breast feed my son was sick on n off for 1 mnth.. now im giving him soy formula its easy to digest..
congrats andgood luck take care of ur newborn

Answer 7

If he is suffering from colic then u should go get him some mylicon drops. It worked for my son and they sell it over the counter other than that i hope this info im providing below helps: Colic is a persistent, unexplained crying in a healthy baby between two weeks and five months of age.Colic, which is not a disease, affects 10-20% of all infants. It is more common in boys than in girls and most common in a family's first child. Symptoms of colic usually appear when a baby is 14-21 days old, reach a crescendo at the age of three months, and disappear within the next eight weeks. Episodes occur frequently but intermittently and usually begin with prolonged periods of crying in the late afternoon or evening. They can last for just a few minutes or continue for several hours. Some babies who have colic are simply fussy. Others cry so hard that their faces turn red, then pale. No one knows what causes colic. The condition may be the result of swallowing large amounts of air, which becomes trapped in the digestive tract and causes bloating and severe abdominal pain. Other possible causes of colic include are digestive tract immaturity, food intolerances,hunger or overfeeding,lack of sleep,oneliness
overheated milk or formula,overstimulation resulting from noise, light, or activity,tension. During a colicky episode, babies' bellies often look swollen, feel hard, and make a rumbling sound. Crying intensifies, tapers off, then gets louder. Many babies grow rigid, clench their fists, curl their toes, and draw their legs toward their body. A burp or a bowel movement can end an attack. Most babies who have colic do not seem to be in pain between attacks. Pediatricians and family physicians suspect colic in an infant who: has cried loudly for at least three hours a day at least three times a week for three weeks or longer,but not hungry and cries for several hours between dinnertime and midnight.
Demonstrates the clenched fists, rigidity, and other physical traits associated with colic.
The baby's medical history and a parent's description of eating, sleeping, and crying patterns are used to confirm a diagnosis of colic. Physical examination and laboratory tests are used to rule out infection, intestinal blockage, and other conditions that can cause abdominal pain and other colic-like symptoms.
Treatment or Medications do not cure colic. Doctors sometimes recommend simethicone (Mylicon Drops) to relieve gas pain, but generally advise parents to take a practical approach to the problem. Gently massaging the baby's back can release a trapped gas bubble, and holding the baby in a sitting position can help prevent air from being swallowed during feedings. Bottle-fed babies can swallow air if nipple holes are either too large or too small. Nipple-hole size can be checked by filling a bottle with cold formula, turning it upside down, and counting the number of drops released when it is shaken or squeezed. A nipple hole that is the right size will release about one drop of formula every second. Babies should not be fed every time they cry, but feeding and burping a baby more often may alleviate symptoms of colic. A bottle-fed baby should be burped after every ounce, and a baby who is breastfeeding should be burped every five minutes. When cow's milk is the source of the symptoms, bottle-fed babies should be switched to a soy milk hydrolyzed protein formula. A woman whose baby is breastfeeding should eliminate dairy products from her diet for seven days, then gradually reintroduce them unless the baby's symptoms reappear.
Since intolerance to foods other than cow's milk may also lead to symptoms of colic, breastfeeding women may also relieve their babies' colic by eliminating from their diet:coffee,tea,cocoa,citrus,peanuts and wheat.
Broccoli and other vegetables belonging to the cabbage family(if u breast feed) Rocking a baby in a quiet, darkened room can prevent overstimulation, and a baby usually calms down when cuddled in a warm, soft blanket. Colicky babies cry less when they are soothed by the motion of a wind-up swing, a car ride, or being carried in a parent's arms. Pacifiers can soothe babies who are upset, but a pacifier should never be attached to a string.
A doctor should be notified if a baby who has been diagnosed with colic: develops a rectal fever higher than 101°F (38.3°C and cries for more than four hours. If he vomits and
has diarrhea or stools that are black or bloody and he loses weight and eats less than normal. Or u can go with an alternative treatment by applying gentle pressure to the webbed area between the thumb and index finger of either hand can calm a crying child. So can gently massaging the area directly above the child's navel and the corresponding spot on the spine. Applying warm compresses or holding your hand firmly over the child's abdomen can relieve cramping.
Teas made with chamomile (Matricaria recutita), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), peppermint (Mentha piperita), or dill (Anethum graveolens) can lessen bowel inflammation and reduce gas.

Answer 8

I'm not sure what you're giving him (formula/breastmilk), but sometimes a milk allergy can cause colic. You might to talk to your son's doctor about that possibility. Especially if you/your son's father have any history of allergies. (not just food ones)
Hang in there.

Answer 9

In my breastfeeding classes they taught me about skin to skin contact and how it's good for the baby. I would try that. Lay the baby on you on it's stomach and try rocking him/her that way and see if it helps any. That always seemed to soothe my babys. If your baby is formula fed the baby may need a different formula. It is very painful for a baby on the wrong formula to digest it.

Answer 10

my babygirl had it too. put your baby on a soft towel where its warm and massage him gently with warm baby oil, try a lavendar scent it is so soothing to infants. and don't worry he will also have his good days where he will not be so fussy, he'll actually be a good baby. also try playing classical music on the radio. that puts anyone to sleep!! also collicky babies are sometimes gassy babies, Gerber and L'il Tummies have infant gas drops you can get at the supermarket.