I have a baby with colic..any tips?

Shauntee - posted on 07/21/2009

My first son had G.E.R. otherwise known as Colic and I switched his formula to Enfamil® A.R.® swiched seemed to help. The is clinically proven to provide approximately 4x more spit up free feedings. I also told my pediatrician about it and asked him to provide me with a prescription for something that would help. He was able to give me some kind of liquid over the counter medication that I gave to him 3 times a day and that helped as well. After I started the new formula and the medicine it was within a matter of days that my son made a dramatic change into a more happy baby and the crying stopped (prior to me changing these things there where times he would cry for hours without stopping and there was nothing I could do to help. I felt like a failure and like I didn't know how to bond with my child).

Hope - posted on 07/19/2009

Oh, infant massage and baby YOGA!!!!!!

Hope - posted on 07/19/2009

Well I can probably tell you all the same things.... I use mylicone for his gassiness, warm a receiving blanket up in the dryer.. fold into quarters length wise and wrapping it a round his tummy, and swaddle and care seat! Works like a charm and he sleeps at least 6 hrs! Luckily Phillip isn't to horribly bad... but my mom has a terrible time w/ me and therefore, she is a pro!

Beth - posted on 07/19/2009

My son had bad colic. My doctor suggested me not eating anything with milk/dairy in it and he has been much better now.

Tracy - posted on 07/18/2009

Hi, my name is Tracy and I had a baby boy, Nate, on 6th April 2009, he is baby number 3 and final for me. I'm not sure how you feel about natural remedies, but my suggestion is to go to a natural chiropractor who does children as well. My chiro is an accupuncturist, and does chinese medicine as well. When I first went to him, he asked if i had really bad colic as a baby (which I did) and he was explaining that if the neck is out from the birth then it can cause colic. Each vetebrae in your neck and spine is connected to a different organ or part of your body. I saw him monthly through all 3 of my pregnancies and he checks my babies after birth and we haven't ever had any problems at all. I'm not sure how you feel about this, but make sure it is one that massages before manipulating an adult's back. They don't generally massage a baby before but this massaging an adult before manipulation is a sign of a good chiro. My cousin had a baby who screamed every time he was put down and they spent the first four months holding him to feed, sleep all day, every day. They got his back and neck checked and it was out and after the visit he was much better. Hope this might help. Just another idea for you to try. As we all know if your neck or back is out it is severely painful and being in Mum's belly is pretty squishy and being born takes alot of bending, stretching and squeezing of the body.

Teena - posted on 07/17/2009

Amy~ I have 5 children including my daughter who was born on April 5th. I have dealt with this a few times and can tell you each child has needed a different remedy. All of the suggestions here are good places to start until you find the one that works for your baby. I am actually guessing that as I write this your baby has outgrown the colic. My daughter now has one time a day she loses it and it is at bed time and it lasts an hour, much shorter than it use to be.

Heather - posted on 07/14/2009

my third daughter has had colic pretty bad, and the alimentum has actually helped her quite a bit (though some of the other meds they have her on for acid reflux are making it worse). Does he had acid reflux (spit up a lot) cause that could make his throat hurt. My middle child was really gasy and we had to use those playtex drop-in bottles that you squeeze all the air out of the bags, and that helped her a great deal, actually made me feel bad for not having those for my oldest when she was gasy. My third when she is having a fit I find I have to bounce her constantly, or lay her tummy down on my legs and bounce my legs back and forth while taping/rubbing her back and shushing her. It does past, and another few months he should be over it no matter what as his tummy figures out how to digest food better.

Gemma - posted on 07/11/2009

i just recently had my 2nd (a girl), she had colic really bad like your describing and i found infacol worked really well, she doesnt suffer from colic at all nemore and i've stopped giving her the medicine you can pick it up from any chemist i got mine from sainsburys so it's not hard to find. Infacol is safe for newborns aswell so you don't have to worry about age restrictions. good luck.

Leslie - posted on 07/10/2009

Swaddle him, either with a light baby blanket or the kidopatumus (already made swaddler with velcro). It doesn't work on all babies but my mother told me it worked great for her when my brother had colic. Best of luck and keep your chin up, it doesn't last forever!

Kylie - posted on 07/10/2009

My son has colic as well I have put him on formula.. I feed him almost sitting up (in a pillow)and I also change his nappy before I feed him.. I burp him but running my palm of my hand up him back it seems to bring the gas up alot better.. hope this helps :)

Mariegladys - posted on 07/09/2009

Hi Amy...I know what you are going through. My son was born on April 3, premature (5 weeks early), and I started dealing with colic since he turned 2 months. I couldn't take it anymore so I called his pediatrician. The first thing she did was give me Similac Allimentum, but I was also instructed to get a sample of his stools. His stools showed the cause of colic. The reasons for colic may be some things not even changing formula may help. In my case, the colic was caused by a bacteria (bad) in his stomach caused by antiobiotics I was given while at the hospital in bed rest. This is a serious condition. Get your pediatrician to test him for anything that may be causing the colic. In the meantime, try Colic Calm. My son was relieved from colic, but I still use this product to treat gas, and it works!! Gas drops are not good to treat colic, only gas when that's really what the baby has. Hope

Stacey - posted on 07/08/2009

the only thing that helped 2 of my children was colief drops that you add to babys milk it is expensive at £10 for a small bottle but u can also get it on prescription

Christina - posted on 07/07/2009

AGREED! I took a course on Happiest Baby it works so well on Charlotte. She is calm within MINUTES! It's the only way to get her to sleep!!!

Amanda - posted on 07/07/2009

As I read this I felt like you were reading my life story... My sweet baby girl was born April 8th 2009. She had severe colic to the point all she did was cry nothing helped we tryed everything bouncers,toys,vacume, gas drops,car rides. I was a complete mess. She would cry, I would cry. She has gotten alot better over the past few weeks I hope this is her growing out of this. I blame changing from breastmilk to formula and then changing formulas again her little belly was so upset. Hang in there it truely puts us first time moms to the test It will get better.

Dipti - posted on 07/07/2009

Colic is a nightmare. My boy had it for the first 3 weeks, and I felt so helpless. The worst part of colic is that the more the baby cries, the more air he sucks in and that leads to more gas. If you are breastfeeding, the best thing to do is try to keep feeding your baby when he gets colicy. It has worked wonders for me. He passes out the gas while he is feeding. But this does mean that I am feeding him for hours at a go.

Another thing that has worked is rubbing castor oil on his tummy. I massage oil around his navel, applying some pressure and pushing downwards. Carrying him high on your shoulder so that there is some pressure on his tummy and walking around also seems to help. Also watch what you are eating if you are breastfeeding. I have noticed with my son that certain foods make his colic worse, like potatoes or cauliflower, and ofcourse beans!

Don't stress over it too much, it'll pass before you know it! :-)

Kimberly - posted on 06/27/2009

My daughter was born on the 8th and it started right away. It's such a struggle finding out what works for your baby. I have tried swaddling and she just kicks the blanket right off. I've tried gripe water in her milk, definitely didn't work. As of right now, I use Aveeno Baby lotion: calming confort lotion with lavender and vanilla. I give her a baby massage quite often and it seems to help. You are just going to have to be patient and see what works best for both of you. All babies are different. Just hang in there lady!

Theresa - posted on 06/27/2009

my daughter was also very colicky and i found what worked for her was changing her position a lot, rubbing her belly, holding her up on my shoulder and walking around, white noise, bouncing, a warm bath and if non of this works ask your pediatrician about Levsin drops they are made to sooth the entire GI track and helps with stomach spasms and intestinal gas as opposed to stomach gas which is what all the OTC gas drops do. it worked like a miracle but only if nothing else works..

Courtney - posted on 06/26/2009

the only advice you need- purchase "HAPPIEST BABY ON THE BLOCK" book and dvd. because at first you'll be skeptical of what you read, that its really that simple. the dvd is the proof. it consists of a method known as the "cuddle cure" a 5 step series of Swaddling, swinging, white noise, and pacifying that works WONDERS for the fussiest babies. it is the only thing i will swear by! thanks to this book i had my now 3 month old sleeping through the night by 3 1/2 weeks! seriously, give it a go! what have you got to lose (except more sleep lol)

Kelly - posted on 06/25/2009

my son suffered with this! he screamed and screamed,we found some drops called colief,the sell them in boots,they £9.99! alot i know but i would hav paid £50!! have a look on the net and read up on it! suddenly he was a new baby! he still screams now n then but i think he is just a whingy boy,lol! its a hard thing to cope with i was on the verge of depression,being my first was such a shock anyway let alone coping with collic! we been using it for a few weeks slowly reduced the drops,the last couple of days he has had none in his bottle n seems fine!

Melissa - posted on 06/23/2009

My son was born April 10th too and we have also been having problems with colic.

I bought "Gripe Water" at Wal-Greens and it did help some. Warm baths help a lot, I put a warm wash cloth on his little tummy, we also do exercises (riding a bike) to help with the gas pressure.

I have also found that extra burping ( I will even try to burp him right before I feed him)helps and taking breaks every couple of ounces at feeding helps; it may take a little longer to feed him but I am sure if you are like me you will try ANYTHING!!!



Hope this helps.

Nadia - posted on 06/22/2009

my daughter had it for a while, i found burping her halfway through the bottle helped alot and infacol really worked with her. the swaddling helped calm her down but not while she was in pain. just remember its hard but if u panik and get upset then so will the baby, they pick up on your stress, so try n stay as calm as possible. good luck,

Sian - posted on 06/22/2009

i am having the same problems with my daughter born on th 28th of April. I've tried all the drops (costing me small fortune) ive changed her milk 3 times and seen my Dr several times. I've tried swaddling but she hates having her arms restricted. After reading all these posts i immediately feel better that we r not sufferin alone. I'm definitely going to try the bouncy chair whilst swaddled. Good luck to all u other mums out there wiv the smae problem xx

Karen - posted on 06/21/2009

I found that rubbing her belly clockwise, plenty of water and Infacol before each feed helped. Your baby is now old enough for Gripe Water which has been effective. Also fold up a blanket or a small towel and put it under the head of the matteress which helps if he is not laid completely flat or you could prop one end of the cot up under the legs.

Sheena - posted on 06/20/2009

You could try Gripe Water by Little Tummies
My daughter is the same. I don't know what to do either. She has done better since I started keeping her upright to sleep in either her swing or bouncy seat. That has been the biggest help of all. Before the bouncy seat I would have to walk her for hours or just let her scream. But Swaddling her then putting her upright in the seat has helped tremendously. We go through 2 D batteries a day!

Heather - posted on 06/16/2009

Shhing, Swaddling tightly and bouncing worked for us, also taking him outside seemed to bring him some relief also, something about the fresh air. The vacuum cleaner helped with my first son - although he didn't have colic, just some brief screaming fits!

Kayla - posted on 06/11/2009

My daughter was born on the 15th of April and my mom ( Grandma of now 9!) Thought she was becoming colic so she put a very small amount of baby rice in her bottle, litterally like an 8th of a teaspoon....a full belly is sometimes all they want. Doctors don't recommend cereal before 4 months but a small amount will not hurt them I think my mom wouldnt have it if it did hurt! And Bella is soo happy now! My niece also was extremely bad and we would put her in her car seat and put her on the running laundry dryer! That always worked on her! The warmth and smell and sound try putting a shoe in the dryer at the time also the banging noise helps!

Teagan - posted on 06/10/2009

There is a bittle its called colic relief drops that work well as my daughter was born on the 17th april and she had colic at the start and i went on that and it changed she as it before every bottle and it helps her burp and fart there is also infocol and infants friend but trying differtent ones will help.

Nikki - posted on 06/10/2009

My son had it bad for 4 months. I had infacol which helped a bit but nothing (inc colief, gripe water and gaviscon - which is a pain if your breastfeeding- swaddling - he hated his arms being constricted) really took it away. I got though i by endless pacing the house to feel i was doing something and regular swaps with my other half One thing that stopped Harry is the hoover.. if nothing else its a different noise and stops you from feeling like you cant stop him crying and brings home that its really not you. I know its a cliche but it wont last forever, it will feel like it will but it wont i promise and at the end of it you will have a very happy contented little bundle of fun... my Harry had so much personality and character that id go through it all again to make sure he turns out to be the little person he is now..

Stephanie - posted on 06/10/2009

My son was born a day before yours! Anyway he too was pretty colicky. My mom bought me a book called "The Happiest Baby on the Block". It really is a savior. Swaddling is def. key along with loud white noise and vigorous bouncing. Drops, medicines don't work don't waste your money. I'm telling you get this book its amazing. Your not a horrible mom it happens to so many babies. Like I said my son was born a day before yours and is so much better since I've tried the techniques in this book. If you can't get it you are more than welcome to ask me more questions. Good Luck!

Anna - posted on 06/09/2009

my first daughter had colic SOOO bad and i though i was going to loose my mind! but swaddleing really dose work also i sat her up on my sholder and walked with her. it is not your fault!! stay strong and this two shal pass!!!

Melissa - posted on 06/09/2009

I've had four children and with three of them they each had colic really badly and I didnt know a thing about it. So what I want to pass on first from what I have tried is, please realize this is NOT your fault and that it happens to a lot of kids. Secondly, swadding works, or cuddling him to your bare stomach ( like your going to feed him), shhhhh'ing him...that seems to work best with my daughter now who was born april 20 09. I have also found that you need to take a break after awhile, so my doctor tells me letting him cry for 5-10 minutes while you take a breather, also helps, at least where you are concerned and lets face it, mom needs to keep her sanity.



Hope fully some of this helps, but remember this isnt your fault and you neednt feel like you are a horrible mother. Colic will pass and soon you will have a smiling bouncing boy who will be no worse for wear with the crying.



Just to be safe, make sure you talk to his doctor and rule out anything medical related.



Lissa

Mariah - posted on 06/08/2009

My sisters son had really bad Colic when he was little too and she said that these things helped him. wrapping him up in a swaddle, laying him on your legs on his tummy and bounching him, colic tablets, different types of bottles, goats milk(although with the goats milk if he spits up it smells like adult vomit and not baby spit up)