Colic! Please help I'm begging you.

Carrie - posted on 02/02/2010

My baby is 6 weeks old and I thought she had colic, also. I have made just slight dietary changes after reading various references (main one being "The Baby Book" by Dr. Sears). I decided to follow their advice on cutting out dairy and that seemed to make a huge difference. I'm now slowly adding it back in in small doses as she gets a little better/older each week. I have a friend who is a breastfeeding consultant who recommends cutting out the really gassy foods (maybe that's obvious, but stay away from onion, broccoli, cabbage, beans, etc.). My pediatrician recommends AGAINST the cutting back to just chicken and rice that is often recommended to try to discover food allergies, but I found the happy medium of staying away from foods that are either gassy or acidic for me helped my baby immensely. I have also heard/read that it is bad to cut out too many foods for too long, as it can affect your baby's tolerance for difference foods in the long-term. The best news is that according to pretty much all of my resources, it clears up on its own by around 3-4 months as the baby has developed the ability to digest better, has built up the proper flora and bacteria in her intestines, etc. I have found my daughter to be a little better each week. I also agree with the comments about reflux. My daughter was very "gurgly" in her burps for the first month which sounded more like reflux to me, and the burps seemed to burn and be painful. She was gagging and gurgling at 1 day old in the hospital when her tummy was empty and she was hungry, which can also be an acid reflux symptom. Try feeding her less food more frequently to keep something in her tummy so she doesn't get too acidic on an empty stomach. Good luck!

Jewel - posted on 02/02/2010

Hello! I have 3 children 16, 14, and 6. When my 6 year old was a baby he was a colicky baby. He always had gas and it was a nightmare sometimes, so I feel for you. One of the things I did was add a little cereal to his bottle during his feeding that he seemed most fussy, usually before bed. It really cut down on the colic. Also, yes the Little Tummies or children's gas relief works awesome. Another thing you can do is lay your baby on his/her back and then bicycle his/her legs and then after about 10 rotations, sort of push his legs into his belly. The helps to push the gas out so he is not in so much pain. Feel his/her lower tummy to feel if it is tight or extended, that will tell you if he/she is gassy. If it's a soft belly, it could be hunger. My first two children were large babies and I had to have them c-section, which subsequently lead to the third c-section as well. They would cry and cry and cry and cry. I started putting cereal in their bottles within a couple of weeks of birth. The formula just wasn't cutting it, they were hungry. I also started feeding them food at a few months and they did fine. They had all of their 1st year teeth by 6-9months. Of course it didn't help it was like having 3 month olds at birth to begin with. LOL



I know a lot of Dr.s shy away from feeding babies, but I'm old fashioned and realize that back when, before formula and baby food, babies were fed table food at an early age. My children never suffered any allergies of any sort. And I personally have not known any children that have had food allergies due to feeding them too early. Not saying that it never happens, I just think you should do what you think is best for your child. Just my opinion.

Tracy - posted on 02/02/2010

Do you breastfeed or bottle feed? If you bottle feed, did you just start or change formula? If you are breastfeeding, what do you eat for lunch?

My son did the exact same thing! I was breastfeeding him and went on an elimation diet to make sure nothing I was eating or drinking was upsetting him (been there before with my first child who had food allergies to foods I was eating). When that did not work I went to my peditrition. He recommended a medicine that broke up the bubbles into smaller bubbles in his tummy and gut. My la lache group also suggested laying him across my knees with one knee higher raising his butt higher than his head and rubbing his back. We worked a lot of bubbles out that way. I also used my baby sling (the african looking one) and he became a "wear baby" thus enabeling me to complete chores, cook dinner and play with the older kids. When my husband came home, "shift change", he would crank up the music and dance with him till he fell asleep giving me a break and time to take a shower or clean up dinner. TEAMWORK will get you through it. If you don't have that, look for a group with other mom's going through the same thing. La lachce was a life saver for me, but there are also playgroups and support groups. If all else fails, bundle them up and go for a walk, go shoping or just go to the local McDonalds. All the activity and change of scenary will also help. Good Luck and remember this is just a short period of your precious babys childhood and this to shall pass.

Maggie - posted on 02/02/2010

colic can be tough. Hang in there, you're doing great! Try putting the younger child in a sling/carrier so he can feel like he's being held but you still have your hands free. I recommend the Moby wrap - it creates a womb-like sensation that babies find very comforting. It's kind of like swaddling but he's close enough to smell you and hear your heartbeat. All very soothing things to a newborn. Your older child is going to have to learn to entertain herself a little bit. Try giving her big girl activites to do like drawing or legos (legos keep my kids entertained for HOURS) while you take care of the smaller one.

The closeness of the sling may help with the colic, you can also try colic relief from Boiron or Hyland's. They are both homeopathic so there's no weird side effects. If you are breastfeeding try eliminating gassy foods like broccoli or beans from your diet, or try eliminating things he may be allergic to like milk. If he's formula fed try shaking the can of formula before measuring, or switch to a soy based formula.

Jodi - posted on 02/02/2010

Ladies, thank you for your input. I'm sure the OP has received a lot of good suggestions here, and I wish her well in resolving her issue.

Jodi Adams
CoM Moderator

Tracy - posted on 02/02/2010

Try "wearing" your baby in a baby sling, moby wrap, maya wrap or whatever and walk. Go for a nightime stroll around the neighborhood.

Art & June - posted on 02/02/2010

You have my total sympathy. My oldest cried from 5 a.m. to midnight for her first three months! That was many years ago. I now know that there is one sure way to relieve your baby - find a doctor who dispenses homeopathic remedies. They are 100% sure way to alleviate the problem; & totally safe. It also helps to keep the baby's tummy warm. Beyond that, there is a possibility that an allergy could be involvled. signed, great-great-granny.

Jacinthe - posted on 02/02/2010

Hi! My baby did not have colics I don't think but she sometimes screemed for hours for no apparent reason... The only way I found to settle her was to lay her down on a soft surface (couch or bed) and gently push her knees into her tummy and slowly rock her legs from side to side. I have also been told about this thing called ''arsenic hour'' which happens mostly late afternoon where babies tend to cry and cry for no reasons no matter what is done to try and soothe them. Hang in there, it does not look like it at the time but it IS a phase.

Bron - posted on 02/02/2010

normal human behaviour. babies 'cluster feed' in order to get a belly full of high fat milk (a breast drained more frequently has a higher fat content than one drained less frequently), so they can have a good first sleep of the night.

you may find using a good baby sling (or baby hammock might be an option) helpful. he can sleep more during the day, be happier cos he's on mum, and good day sleeps can lead to better (not longer!) night sleeps.

colic is likely to be more a misunderstanding of human behaviour by our society. a tired baby shows 'pain' signs that are probably actually frustration. if you can wear him or help him sleep more in the afternoon, you may find that colic magically disappears.

Laura - posted on 02/02/2010

I feel your pain! My son only slept 4 hours a day! I thought I would loose my mind, part of me will never be the same. Then two years later my daughter was born and we were headed down the same path, but we had a new pediatrician. She suggested a special formula called Nutramigen. This worked wonders and she was a great after avout a week on this stuff. I only wish we had know about it for our first child.

By the way, as my son got older we noticed a lot of constipation, when he was old enough to drink skim or nonfat milk, the stomach/bowel problems went away entirely. Good luck to you and know that you are not alone and that you can do it!

Nicole - posted on 02/02/2010

I had my second child when my eldest was 21 months, both boys. I can't help with the colic, i'd see your GP or peds dr about that, but I got Jack a special toy that he was only allowed to play with when I was feeding the baby. That let me feed in peace till he got used of the idea of a little brother.

Wendy - posted on 02/02/2010

Your best bet would be to have a chat with your midwife.... my daughter suffered the same and you do feel like pulling your hair out. I was advised to give my daughter small amounts (not too much) of cool boiled water, this helps move any trapped wind. We also gave her 'Infacol', but again double check what age your baby must be before they can be given it. Sometimes it worked and then sometimes it didn't and you just have to try your best to comfort your baby. Sorry can't give you any other advice other than that. Good luck and keep in mind Colic tends to only last until they are 3months old (it's sounds a long way away now but it will soon come round)

Freddie - posted on 02/02/2010

try peppermint candy. let the baby suck on a peppermint candy cane for a minute or drop a piece in a bottle of water and shake it up. works everytime.

Elinore - posted on 02/02/2010

Seriously, try a couple of ozs. of 7-up when the colic's at it's worst. It works!

Cyndi - posted on 02/02/2010

The electric swing. It saved my life. I have two boys and until they were four months old, if they were awake they were miserable. The swing was the only thing I could find that gave them (and me) and relief. Once they could sit up on their own the problem just went away. Good luck to you, my heart is with you.

Kathy - posted on 02/02/2010

I didn't go through the replies because there are alot of them so it may have been suggested already but have you tried gripe water?? Its inexpensive, all natural and I find it helps ALOT!! My girl doesn't get bad colic often but when she gets tummy aches, gas or hick ups its an instant fix and its what my mom used when I was a colicky baby. Its worth a shot and if it doesn't help the colic its good for other things too. Good luck!!

Allyson - posted on 02/02/2010

I had 3 colicy babies....... I understand your frustration. we used to be able to set our clocks by the crying baby. We used the colic hold, and Hyland colic drops I think they even sell them at Target now but I always found them at natural food stores. A friend of mine used to put his ipod on and walk for hours with their baby in the colic hold. Good Luck!!!!

Marianne - posted on 02/02/2010

Hi Yvette, I know how you feel! I have just had my baby exactly 4 weeks ago and had episodes like that too. Have you got some support like family or friend you can talk to, sometimes just someone who is going through the same thing and talk about it can really help. I don't have much support either and I know how you feel. Also with the colic, try to hold your baby in your arms with your arm under him and your hand gently pressing on his belly, then your other hand to pat his back gently too. It really helped my baby! there are many other ways to help your baby with colic. A friend also suggested to me to buy some natural plant caledl I think infant's best friend or baby's best friend (something like that) at the pharmacy and she swears by it! Hope you feel better soon :)

Coral - posted on 02/02/2010

If you can try to stay calm and relax it will help baby relax too. They really sense and react to your stress. Do you have a good doctor that you trust? I find my doctor is really helpful and seems to know all the right answers to my problems. I would take your baby to the doctor and tell them how hard it has been for you and ask them for help thats what they are there for. If you are breastfeeding try no caffine and no dairy for yourself and a lot of times that makes it go away. If baby is on formula try the enfamil gentleease, that fixed my babies tummy problems.

Kimberly - posted on 02/02/2010

My child had colic as well. I bought this thing called the Happi Tummy from www.onestepahead.com. It was an herbal belt that I put in the microwave for 30 sec. & wrapped around her belly. It helped calm her down. But she was a hold me baby for a very long time. She is now 2. I also had to let her sleep with me in order to get any sleep at all. I feel your pain. Check in to the belt.

Pooja - posted on 02/02/2010

Have you tried gripe water. It helps gassy babies! Bathing twice a day might be a good idea too. They sleep well after bathing...Try taking the baby out for walks in baby sling...It worked for me!

Stephanie - posted on 02/02/2010

My daughter had colic all day long, she started when she woke up and it lasted until she went to bed at night. I had my mother in law come back and just sit with her for an hour while i went to the store, just to get away. But something that worked for my daughter was changing her formula to Similac Alimentum (not sure of spelling) it was really expensive but it did give her some relief, also we put rice in her bottle because she had acid reflux. I hope this advice helps, hang in there, I know it seems like it won't end but it will!

Natalie - posted on 02/02/2010

Colic can be helped by first having great bottles to feed with so they don't ingest lots of air. After trial and error, I found Dr. Browns to be the best brand, even over Avent and Born Free. Getting a bouncer that has the vibration feature is very comforting to a baby with colic. they also have massge (vibrating) pads for babies that suffer from this. Lastly, burping the baby on your lap face down on their tummy or literally on and over your shoulder will help dislodge uncomfortable air bubbles.

Christina - posted on 02/02/2010

my friend's baby had colic and it was terrible. The best advice I can try to give keep the baby swaddled all day and try switching his milk to soy. Those two things helped my friends baby. It is frustrating and if your at a point were you feel like your going to break then set the baby down and walk away for a couple of minutes.. You will get through it I promise.

Kelly - posted on 02/02/2010

All 3 of my children had colic. Their dr. put them on Enfamil Nutramagen. Very good baby formula but very expensive. I also learned not to use powder formula but to use concentrate or ready-to-use. Talk to your dr.

Shannon - posted on 02/02/2010

My daughter had colic as well. First speak to your doctor. Then see if you can borrow, or rent "happiest baby on the block" this is such a helpful DVD. They sell Swaddle blankets, these are easy to use and are a life saver! Stay calm! Sometimes asking hubby to take over while you take a walk around the block will give you a break. Also take the baby for a walk. My daughter would always calm down with this one. I would Swaddle my daughter up, put her in her stroller, and took her for a walk outside, not only did it give me a little needed excersise, but also it gave her a change in scenery, and fresh air. THe crying will still happen, but it will be better controlled. Good luck. This too shall pass, I promise. Don't forget to speak to the Pediatrician. I also found out that she had a bad reaction to milk protein. I am breast feeding and I love dairy, her body didn't. This helped a lot as well. No more ice cream :-( but not as much crying either! :-))))

Bertha - posted on 02/02/2010

We gave my daughter, nieces, nephew and grandson Humphrey's No. 3 it helps with colic and teething. It worked wonders for all of them.

Melanie - posted on 02/02/2010

I had something similar with my son when he was little - Omg he would scream in pain then a short time later you could hear the poor baby fart across the room (not kidding). I did two things - switched formula and also began putting gas drops in his bottles - the combination of those worked for me and my son.

Mary - posted on 02/02/2010

My son had colic also for four months and we were at our wits end whewn one of the ladies at my husbands work ask her grandmother what was good for colic she said to take a onion and boil it and strain it and take the juice and give it to him so I was not sure but with no sleep and a crying baby I decided I would try it and it worked we took and boiled the onion in about a cup of water and then we strained it we took 3 tablespoons of onion juice and 1 tablespoon of kayro syrup and mixed it together and gave it to him I was sure he would not drink it but he gulped it down and it worked like magic and so the next day we gave him some and we only had to do this a few times and the colic was gone. Good luck.

Terri - posted on 02/02/2010

First of all take a deep breath. I personally have never dealt with colic but maybe some of these tips might help. Have you try the wrap around that you tie the baby in around your chest. First of all Pray! God can do many things especially healing a colicy baby. It may just want the closeness of mom. 2ndly. A warm tepid bath. 3rdly. Soothing Music, 4th. A vibrating bouncy chair. 5. Put Barnie the Dinosaur on TV. I too have had days when I want to pull my hair out and walk out the front door, Now I have an 11 year old and an 8 year old. I hope this helps a little. Will be praying for you to have some relief.

Elizabeth - posted on 02/02/2010

My children had colic as well. First, always make sure that there isn't something else wrong, ie., diaper too tight across tummy, etc. Then I would follow the directions below on the different holds, gripe water, or simethicone (anti-gas) drops. They worked sometimes for me as well, but not always. I also held my children facing away from me, over my arm, with their weight on my arm across their upper belly, so that if it was gas pains, the gas would be forced down towards their abdomen, not trapped up against their diaghram. I also stayed in the bathroom with the shower or tap running slightly for "white noise". The important thing to remember is that you may not be able to do anything for your baby but comfort them and let them cry. I sympathize with you because a baby's cries are designed to trigger a nurturing reaction in us, and it's frustrating to not be able to do anything but let them cry. However, now is a good time for you to start helping your toddler learn to play by his or herself, and self-entertain for short periods. Start this at first during the day when the baby is not having a colic spell. I know, I know, toddlers sense stress, and are constantly touching base with you for whatever reason they can come up with, but basically reassurance that everything is really "OK". So, be positive, know that "this (colic) too will pass", and be reassuring to the toddler, and have them "draw you a picture", or make something with their blocks while you are comforting. Large piece puzzles are great for this, too. And, when you've tried everything else, don't be afraid to just lay the baby down in the crib, (or other safe spot nearby) and close the door for a few minutes to give yourself a breather.

Rebecca - posted on 02/02/2010

I quickly previewed the responses...wow...I'm so impressed...so much love, concern and GREAT input.

The common thread (especially given the timing of your child's colicky reaction) is food related. Just keep in mind:

- Every body need enzymes for food to be digested. The acid reflux is because there is NOT enough digestive juices and so the body over-compensates. For adults...the thing to take is Apple cider, raw, becuase it is loaded with enzymes...I take this when I have acide reflux...yet, it would be hard for a baby to get down. Does the Gripe water...have these enzymes in it...I would check that out.

- Also, has your child (or you, if yuo are breast feeding) been on ANY antibiotics. If so all of the probiotics are wiped out as well. These probiotics are necessary for digestion in the digetive track and if wiped out need to be replaced...or, otherwise your child will begin to be allergic...will to everything. Replace via: a good Acidiophilis, Bifidus supplement in the refrigeration section of any "healthy food store"...e.g. in Mpls, MN, I would go to the Wedge Coop.

- If you are breast feeding please avoid anything with Aspartane in it...this is what is used in Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, and so many other sugarless products now on the market. This chemical, which is a sweetner with no bitter aftertaste is the most heavily complained about substance in the WORLD...the FDA has 103 different documented side-effects...oh my. It is also the main ingredient of EQUAL and a BILLION dollar sugarless chemical sweetner and VERY addictive. I used to love to have a Diet Coke occassionally...my otherwise very sweet-tempered baby (Raymond) literally truned bright red, and cryed for 45-minutes. It was NOT the caffiene...since I had at times gotten a cup of coffee to close to a breast feeding session...I like every new mom was at times so sleep-deprived that I was trying to caffinate myself into wakefulness. Of course, caffiene isn't good for a breast-feeding child either...my baby became hyper-alert. Yet, ONLY Diet Coke had him flip into a maniac



So there you go. The body cannot digest food unless it has:



- Ensymes in the stomach

- Probiotics in the digestive track.



All of our food-dyes, synthetic-chemicals, mon--fertilizers, pesticides, herbasides, fungasides, perservatives, Western-based medicines, etc. ,etc, etc. literally destroy these fragile healthy eco-systems designed (by MOMMA Nature...who is ALL Natural) to help us break down food so that we can eat it. When this does NOT happen...than bloating (as in gas) is the outcome. This is extremely uncomfortable for your little one.



I believe that most of the replys (actually all of them) seem to:



- give you input to put these healthy organisims (ensymes, probiotics) back in place



- help you to sooth your baby from the results of NOT having these digestive agents in place...with warm water, holding the stomach, shifting your child into a more comfortable position, etc.



In closing, I would print out all of the comments, put them into two piles:



- digestive support (this includes trying different forumlas, etc. since your child may have an allergy to certain foods

- soothing your child from the difficulty of not digesting the food correctly and then experieincing gas.



Rank each"

- digestive aid

- comfort approach



1,2,3, 4, and so on. And then systematically begin with the first choice in each group...give it a week, then move onto the next set of appraoches, and so on.



There is some really great input...from a bunch of loving mothers...just take each step at a time.

And then, do what I believe is one of the most important things you can do:



- Powerfully visualize a positive outcome. See your child (both of them) and yourself as:



- healthy

- whole

- complets

- and deeply loved...not just by all of these moms, including me...but a husband and an extended family (reach out and ask for help) and above all else...CREATION...in the words or images that make sense to you.



I Bless you and Yours...Rebecca L. Stack

Patty - posted on 02/02/2010

I carried my little one in a bjorn baby carrier in the evenings and just walked around the house. Sometimes I would turn on music and dance a little bit, give him some extra rocking motion. It would take about an hour, but eventually the motion and having his belly snug against mine would allow him to fall asleep peacefully.

Mary - posted on 02/02/2010

at 222 months your older child is capable of many tantrums- it is the age. a safe place for her when she has a fit is a crib or if she will go try the high chair. the fits are her way of communicating. it will get better but even though you have a new baby in the house doesn't mean you have to give in to her demands. she willlearn as she gets older. if she talks let her use her words also understand that her life just changed with a new baby and tell her about how you love her and take time with her whenever you can. let her help witht he baby if nothing more than sitting together on the couch or chair heeeelping witha diaper or give her a baby and a diaper to use for her baby. as for yur little one are using a formula if thats the case try a gentle ease formula- if you are nursing try cutting out chocolate red sauce and beans they can upset a babys tummy. thentry a ling or front carrier and see if that helps and remember it won't last forever- look for a moms group or play group so you can share you frustrations with other moms good luck

Leah - posted on 02/02/2010

Goats milk is what I've heard helps. I know someone who tried it and it did help.

Christina - posted on 02/02/2010

I have an 11 month old and a 21/2 year (they are 21 months apart). I know what you mean by ganging up on you. They feed off of each others energy...not much you can do about that. Hormones and lack of sleep DO NOT help matters either. Everyone told me that the first year is the hardest (and they were right) but I am here to tell you that it is much easier now (though we have our moments they are just moments). For the colic, my first son screamed for 8 out of 12 hours for the first 2 months...whoa that was a shocker. I decided to put him on formula and with the doctors recommendation tried acid reflux medicine and wa la...he improved immensly. The screaming stopped and we were much happier.

Mandy - posted on 02/02/2010

my son had colic, i know they say this is wrong, but it was the only thing that worked. baby is still hungry is what it sounds like, buy rice cereal, mix it really watery and feed up to half a teaspoon. some babies need more than others, especially if you were a healthy eater during pregnacy.

Brigitte - posted on 02/02/2010

I would put the 22 month in daycare so you only have to deal with one. I put my son in daycare with a wonderful lady when he was 10months old and it was the best move ever. She is like a second mum to him and it gave me time to deal with my adult activities and make me look forward to seeing him at the end of each day. My son is now 5 and he still loves this woman and she loves him. It allows you to create a balance at all levels for your sake and your children's sake. I hope it helps.

Amanda - posted on 02/02/2010

Take them to a chiropractor who does low force. Your baby will be better in a couple days. It's amazing!

Libby - posted on 02/02/2010

Both of my boys have had colic and did well when i gave them a few drops of liquid beano before eating. Since I both nursed and pumped we'd put a few drops of beano in the bottle nipple with a tiny bit of breast milk and that seemed to help. Also, we found that swaddling and bouncing up and down on an excercise ball really helped. It was so work but after a month, all seemed to be better. Best of luck. I know how frustrating it can be and when you feel you're at the end of your rope, put the baby in the crib, walk outside or into a quiet, or semi-quiet room, take 10 deep breathes and then return. You'll feel a little refreshed and ready to help your sweet baby!

Karen - posted on 02/02/2010

Luckily for me, it was my first who had colic - and reflux, which meant that if she was awake, she was feeding or crying. A good day was one where I had more than one half hour session of the day when she wasn't screaming. It may be worth asking a doctor, a chemist or a naturopath for help. We used a naturopathic remedy which may have helped a little, but even a teaspoonful of water seemed to help relieve the colic symptoms a little. You also need a break from the older one. Remember, you really have two babies at the moment - not easy even when they are not screaming. Ask around at local daycares if you don't have friends or family who can help. There may be government assistance for this financially, depending on where you are. You DO need time out - that really does help with those times when you want to drop-kick your child out of the window!

Jackie - posted on 02/02/2010

Colic calm is the answer! It is homeopathic as well as fda approved. You have to google it for the official website. And order it online or if u call them they can let u know if any stores around your area sells them. I tried everything else for my youngest son with no success but this worked instantly I highly reccommend it.

Becca - posted on 02/02/2010

Sounds like you need back-up. If your partner has the flexibility have you thought to ask him to consider moving his work schedule so that he can be home during the worst of it? That way if both children are kicking up he can take over one while you're with the other or give you a break all together.

Alice - posted on 02/02/2010

my youngest had colic and a hernia so know how bad can be. Used infacol got on presciption from dr but found bright lights helped used 2 take him round asda every nite slept rite thru while I wandered round lol. Doesnt last normally ends around 12 week mark good luck with ur 2 I had 5 so know how hard can be xx

Kate - posted on 02/02/2010

have u tried dr browns bottles? they r fab and work rather wel within a day of using them gl hun i feel for you

Diane - posted on 02/02/2010

It sounds like GERD to me, especially if the baby cries after eating. My son wouldn't sleep, unless he was in a upright position, eating was a challenge and the worse case was that he didn't spit up so it took them a while to diagnoise. I'm happy to say that once he was placed on previcid all of his issue went away. My pediatrician states that the term "colic" is only used when they really don't know what is wrong. Request that you go see a pediatric gastrointestional doctor.



Good luck

Miranda - posted on 02/02/2010

Both my son and daughter were colicy babies - I was nursing both times and I found that seriously altering my diet really helped (cut out all dairy, eggs, wheat, chocolate - those were the worst for both of them). If you are formula feeding, have you tried a different formula? We also gave "colic calm" and that helped too. Other things that really helped - aromatherapy (I'm not kidding! just a rosemary scented oil worked wonders whilst walking around with them!), we invested in a set of industrial strength ear protectors (the kind that they wear on construction sites or at rock concerts - that way we could hold the baby, walk with them, try our best to sooth them, but not have the screaming nearly drive us over the edge), everytime we would work through the"s's" (swaddle, sway, shush (loudly - got a white noise machine for this one!), sing, suck - a combination of these normally provided relief), warmth on their tummies also seemed to help and got a lot of gas out. It will end at some point, you just got to make sure you all get to that point in one piece! Try and get someone else to come hang out during the usual "difficult" hours - another set of arms is a lifesaver :) And be careful if you are starting to feel 'panicy' - I had that feeling the first time round with my son, and turns out it was a sign of some post partum depression problems, which were very easily dealt with through a visit to my doctor with no long term side effects. Good luck, and thinking of you.

Karrie - posted on 02/02/2010

Try infant massage for the colic. I was in your position and it was what saved my son. Firmly but gently rub his abdomin counterclock wise. Be sure the baby is on a firm surface. They ususally fuss initially but calm as the muscles relax. I found my son took 5-10 minutes to calm but remained quiet for longer and longer periods of time. My toddler was 15 months and I gave her activiites to do by herself. Examples are finding a color, using washable markers to "color", singing a song. Use your toddler! Involvement with the baby creates a bond and the toddler will earm points with Mommy as they accept their new role as the big boy/girl.

Jennifer - posted on 02/02/2010

http://www.trilighthealth.com/trilight/i...



That is the best remedy I have ever found. Wish I had it for all three of my littles.



Also, make sure baby isn't allergic to what you are feeding it. Milk is the most common allergen for all of us. Next is soy, eggs, and nuts.

Sarah - posted on 02/02/2010

My first had "colic" as they say, but she screamed 6-8 hours a day and projectile vomited about half the contents of her stomach after every feeding, and they were very frequent because of it. Two things, and they both may sound ridiculous, but hey, it can't hurt to find out, right? If it is JUST the fussy, crying stuff, try finding someone who could show you how to work on his illeocecal (sp?) valve. It is the valve that connects the small and large intestine, and sometimes it kinda gets stuck, causing gas and "matter" to get stuck in the sm intestine and cause a lot of pain. Eventually, the pressure forces it open, and there is relief. All you have to do is apply gentle pressure to it with your thumb for about 5 seconds, wait 15-20 minutes, and try again. It is just inside your left hip-bone. Now, my daughter's problem was that the band of muscle that connected her stomach to her sm intestine had thickened and was choking off the flow from tummy onward. But if that's his problem, he will be projectile vomiting too.