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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Morning sickness in pregnancy: Do we finally have a solution?
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sowmya
Mother of a 1 month old and I feel sometimes nothing helps. but burping after feeds and tummy time is helping me. fingers crossed!
Jyothi
Mother of a 3 month old boy and i feel hing on navel is helps with colic pain. in ayurveda there are some gutti which they say to give but now doctor says no so I didnt try it. warm bath also is useful!
manisha
helllo. mother of a 6 month old! I feel all moms of newborns should do tummy time it helps release the gas. also try cycling of legs. i attended house of zelena’s sessions for moms and i learnt how to do these in the sessions and it was very helpful!
Nisha
I am a mother of a 4 month old and I have face colic in the first 2 month. it was a very hard time. what helped me was colic aid and also some massages for the tummy ( ILU massage) . i want all mothers to know that its okay and not to be frustrated. join a good community like house of zelena and u will get to know so many ways to get help!