I Survived Colic – And You Can Too

At 4:19 p.m. on a rainy Sunday, my life changed forever when I held my brand new baby boy in my arms. I remember my surprise at how warm he was as he cried for the first time. I had prayed to hear that cry for a very long nine months. That first cry would signal the health of my baby. And when it came, it was the best sound in the universe.

Oh how quickly things changed. My baby’s cry, which was music to my ears that night, quickly became the most stressful, depressing noise. A noise I heard far too often. In fact, as my new baby and I got to know each other, I soon realized that if he was awake, he was going to be crying. While crying is normal – he’s a baby after all – what my little guy was doing wasn’t. He screamed and screamed for hours on end, depressing me and sending me into motherly madness. After several trips to the pediatrician, we were given a diagnosis.

Colic.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Colic is a frustrating condition marked by predictable periods of significant distress in an otherwise well-fed, healthy baby. Babies with colic often cry more than three hours a day, three days a week for three weeks or longer. Nothing you do to try to help your baby during these episodes seems to bring any relief.”

Yep. It’s not easy to have a child with colic. The fact that there is no known reason why babies get colic is as depressing as the fact that there is no cure. But, through trial and error (and a lot of help from loved ones), I’ve discovered that there is hope. If you’re struggling with the dreaded diagnosis, don’t give up. I’m not a doctor, pediatrician, or professional baby studier, but these are the many methods I’ve tried with varying success to ease my aching baby.

Consider Over-the-Counter Medicine
For my baby, gas and indigestion are the main culprit. Since babies can’t work through gas like adults can, there are several products that may help. Remember to ask your pediatrician before trying any of these!

• Gerber Soothe Colic Drops- probiotic supplement that promotes digestive health. We gave our baby a few drops a day, and it was a life saver.
• Mommy’s Bliss Gripe Water – all-natural, herbal remedy for gas and stomach discomfort. We would give our baby a dose of this, he’d burp like a champ, and then pass out for a nap. Miracle?
• Simethicone Gas Drops – helps break down gas bubbles. We gave our baby a few drops of this with his feedings and it helped him eliminate gas.

Rule Out Food Allergies
Our number one colic trigger was one we never would have considered if it weren’t for a family member suggesting it. When I was a baby, I was fed soy formula due to a sensitivity to milk. Could it be that my baby also has a milk allergy? Desperate for relief, I immediately cut dairy from my diet and we switched the formula we were supplementing with to soy. What a world of difference! Switching to soy gave us a little more time with a happier baby on rough nights.

Know the Gassy Foods
While it’s important to consider a possible milk allergy, it’s equally important to make sure you know the gassy foods you may be eating. If you’re breastfeeding, certain foods you eat may be causing tummy troubles for your bundle of joy. Do a quick Internet search and you’ll find lists of gassy foods to avoid.

Avoid Over-stimulation
Another possible cause of colic is overstimulation. If your baby experiences too many exciting things in one day, he may become moody and irritated. When that happens, the little one becomes very upset and refuses to sleep. Cue: scream session. For us, we made sure to turn the lights off starting around 6 p.m. (hint: colic is usually worse in the evening), avoided too much play with the baby, and tried to be calm. We also avoided eye contact when we wanted him to know it was bed time because making eye contact with your baby is a one-way ticket to stimulation city.

Wear Your Baby
I knew very little about the art of babywearing before I had my son. I had a Moby Wrap because I got it for free, and that was it. When a friend suggested I try babywearing to help the colicky behavior, I knew it was worth a shot. I looked up some common holds on YouTube and watched as women wrapped their tiny babies in a long piece of fabric. I was skeptical at first, I’ll admit. But I soon became a believer. As soon as I place my screaming baby inside the wrap, he calms down and often falls asleep. He feels close to me, and I’m able to care for him in a very natural way. Bonus: you can get so much more done when your hands are free!

Enlist Help
If you have friends or family close by, use them! It’s amazing how eager my mother has been to take care of our screaming little guy when I simply can’t do it anymore. It’s draining for you to take care of your hurting baby for hours on end, but I’m betting there’s someone who wouldn’t mind having a go at it for a night or two. Take advantage of the help when you can get it. It will save your life!

Magic Tricks
My pediatrician said there are certain “magic tricks” to soothe a colicky baby. Try putting your baby in the car and going for a ride around the block. Yes, this may mean alerting your neighborhood’s security patrol at 2 a.m., but it’s worth it. As weird as it sounds, placing your baby in his car seat and putting the seat on a dryer while you dry clothes can also work. There are even colic holds you can try for comforting your baby. Check out YouTube for some helpful examples!

Visit Your Pediatrician
Here’s the most important fact about colic: colicky babies are hurting babies. They aren’t crying because they feel like it. They’re crying because they’re in pain. My non-professional opinion is to avoid the cry-it-out method. Although I encourage you to place your baby in a safe spot and walk away when you can’t take any more of the crying, I simply don’t agree with the method of letting them cry for hours on end. Instead, visit your pediatrician. Rule out food allergies, acid reflux, or other causes of pain. You may be told that your child simply has colic and will have to work through it. That’s okay. It’s best to rule out any problems for the health of your baby.

Trust me, I know you’re tired of hearing “it gets better.” It was the phrase I hated the most during the first months of my child’s life. But, guess what… it does. I promise. Until then, rely on friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and anyone you can to help you through it. Or, comment here so we can connect. I’m far from an expert, but I’m always here to talk. Colic usually subsides by the third or fourth month, so remind yourself that you can do this!