Does your newborn cry for hours on end, seemingly for no reason? You're definitely not alone! Many babies experience colic, a period of frequent, intense crying that can leave parents feeling frustrated and exhausted. These times are exhausting and frustrating for any new parent who just doesn't know how they can soothe their little one. While the exact cause of colic is unknown, it's important to remember it's not a sign of bad parenting or anything wrong with your baby's health.
Symptoms of colic can include:
Crying for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks. This is often referred to as the "rule of threes."
Clenched fists, arched back, and a red face during crying spells.
Difficulty calming your baby down, even with soothing techniques that usually work.
Often seems to occur at the same time each day. The most common time babies experience colic is between 6 and 9 PM referred to popularly as “ witching hours”
If you suspect your baby might have colic, it's crucial to talk to your paediatrician. They can rule out any underlying medical conditions and offer strategies for managing the crying. Here are some additional tips that might be helpful:
Skin-to-skin contact: Hold your baby close to your bare chest. This can be calming for both of you.
Shhh sounds and gentle rocking: Mimic the sounds of the womb and recreate the rhythmic motion while singing or shushing the baby.
Warm bath: A warm bath can be very soothing for a fussy baby.
Feeding adjustments: If you're breastfeeding, consider eliminating certain foods from your diet that may be causing discomfort. Talk to your doctor about any dietary changes. Check for latch of the baby or bottle to know if the baby is unknowingly swallowing gas.
Tummy time: In waking hours give the baby supervised tummy time to help compress the abdomen and release gas.
Burping after feeds: This one is as important as tummy time. Burping helps babies to release the trapped gas they might have ingested while feeding and helps to prevent colic.
But here's the most important part: We want to hear from YOU!
Head over to the comments and share your experiences with colic.
Did you find any particular technique helpful in soothing your little one? Maybe it was a special type of swing, a specific white noise recording, a particular exercise like cycling motion of baby’s legs or even a secret family trick passed down through generations. Remember, you're not alone in this, and together, we can help each other navigate this challenging yet precious time. You've Got This, Mama!
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Akansha
Mother of a 4 month old boy! Colic is a hard time and I didn’t knew about the 3 -3 – 3 rule mentioned here. But tummy pain is so common. Tummy time, hing on navel, knee to chest helped my baby
I have attended house of zelena webinar esp on newborn care where we were taught about colic. Very helpful to a new mom like me!
Anjana
Mom to a beautiful 3 months old baby girl. My baby had colic pain when she was around 6 weeks. Here are the things that helped in relieving her discomfort: skin to skin, burping in between feeds, tummy time and cycling exercise.
Shrishti
I am mother to 8 month old. what helped me was definately tummy time and burps. also moms diet is very important it helps us to not eat foods which is gassy in nature!
shrishti
For colic tummy time works great! also burps are good. I also follow the suggestions shared here!
Shreeya
Mother of a 19month old baby boy.. few things that helped me during colic phase
Tummy time
Massage
Cycling exercise
Hing paste
Burping in between feeds
And most importantly I took care of my diet no oil no junk no spicy food. Taking ajwain water daily.. Walking atleast 15 mins after eating food till the time I was ebf.
Make sure you are gastric issues are in control.. baby will be less gassy..
Just enjoy this phase also.. and worry less.. just know that you are doing Great and your baby is lucky to have you as mother.