What are some ways that have helped with colic?

Tamara - posted on 11/15/2009

Both of my children have/had colic. My son, currently 16 months started at about six weeks and stopped at 3 months. There was no pleasing him! He would start crying at about 4pm and stop at 8 or 9pm. Sometimes motion (dancing around the house) would help. My daughter, currently 7 weeks began her colic at 2 weeks and is still at it. She is a very gassy little girl and has some milk intollerance issues (I am not eating dairy). Her colic is between 8 and 11pm. She is easily distracted by toys, lights, etc. I have tried simithicone drops to no avail. I have not tried the gripe water but after reading these posts I think I will. The best advice is stay calm and know that this too will pass. If you get frustrated have someone else take a turn with the baby or put her in a safe place to cry while you have a break. Good luck!

Amy - posted on 11/13/2009

It could be several things, There could be a reflex, sclient reflex issues. Have your tried gas drops?

Are you breastfeeding? If so it may be something your eating, I couldn't have dairy while feeding my son as he had a hard time digesting the protean. Soy and wheet are to other common food issues.

Often times Chiropractics can help babies with colics. We took our son in about it when he was first born, the chiropractor looked at him and in our case that wasn't the issue, but she gave us other suggestions of what it could be as well. Just make sure the Chiropractor treats babies as well.

Jennifer - posted on 11/13/2009

I had the same problem with my son. Late afternoon screaming that lasted 3 hours straight. You could set your watch by him and I dreaded this part of the day. I tried every formula and milk product available (cow, goat, soy). The one that ended up working best for him was the Enfamil Soy Formula. But this didn't end the colic, it only lessened it some. A friend told me about gripe water and this was the key ingredient to ending his colic.

Danae - posted on 11/13/2009

My daughter had colic and an older lady told me to put her in her car seat and set it on the dryer. Then turn the dryer on low (no heat setting). I was skeptical, but this worked for me! Within minutes she'd calm down and fall asleep. Needless to say, she slept on our dryer until the colic was gone after about 3 1/2 months.

Joy - posted on 11/13/2009

My father surprised me with a way to hold my crying baby that always seemed to help, at least a little, sometimes a lot. It's worth a try. Hold her in front of your tummy, so she is facing the floor, supporting her (facedown) on your hand & forearm. The pressure on her tummy seems to help alleviate the pain of colic.

I also found that if I ate strawberries, my baby paid the price with colic, so avoiding certain foods helps but finding out what foods are bad is the hard part, and foods may not necessarily be the cause. I don't know, even after 4 babies! But GOOD LUCK!

Amy - posted on 11/13/2009

Thank you everyone for all your tips, I truely appreciate your help. It's nice to have the support with this group and knowing that we are not alone.

Stacy - posted on 11/11/2009

Having gone through two colicky children only 23 months apart- my suggestion- the footbball hold works well at calming- this laying the baby stomach down on your forearm with head supported in hand. Second- get some sleep and someone to take over for a hour. The lack of sleep and the stress of a screaming baby everyday only wears you down and can lead to depression. Ask a neigbhor or friend to watch the baby even if it is for an hour and go for a walk or take a nap. It will pass, but it seems like an eternity when your in the middle of it

Sharon - posted on 11/11/2009

I've heard baby chiropractics help, reiki, and aromatherapy too.

Lara - posted on 11/11/2009

I think most babies are like that in the first few months. I remember just keeping my daughter on the breast late afternoons and evenings. I'd just lie on the couch at night and we'd watch dvds while she suckled (it was bliss). Eventually she would settle right down around 9pm and sleep through the night. By 3 mths she'd moved on and I began to settle her down by 7pm. She also stopped playing up in the afternoons.

Shirley - posted on 11/11/2009

My first daughter had the same, she would start screaming at about 2pm and go until 10pm or so. It was worse after meals, I spent my nights walking up and down the corridors with her. There are alot of things on the market but I have to say all of them are actually a plecebo to make us mums feel better, and like we have done something to help them. The reason they cry is the drop in cortisol in their body, it makes them feel horrible hence the screaming, the other thing that makes them unsettled is the fact that they don't understand all the feelings they get in their body ie gas, the feeling of a full tummy, the need to burp etc. This frightens them the good news is at 12 weeks it all miraculously stops. 2 tips....1) if your baby curls their legs up to their stomach then it's gas/tummy pains ( often laying them on their tummy will help this or you can try a gentle massage on the stomach with some baby oil going from right to left) 2) if they go stiff and arch their back throwing their head backwards then it is reflux. this also disappears usually by 12 weeks if it doesn't like my 2 girls then you may have to start feeding them thickened formula and put them on medicaton. But for that you should see your pediatrition. The other thing I found worked the best is to put them in one of those baby slings, put a dummy in their mouth and walk around the house. Dummies help them keep the stomach acid down reducing reflux, also sometimes babies need to suck ( this is a reflex need that they have)

The last thing I used to do was to prepare myself for "twitching hour" I would give my daughters a bath ( as hot as tolerated) give a feed and put them down for a nap so they would sleep through some of the bad hours.

Take your calender, circle 12 weeks and count down the days/weeks. It will get better I promise!!! You just have to survive then next few weeks like a zombi. When your partner gets home hand the baby to him and go and have a good cry in the shower, stand under the water soaking in the hot water, this will release some emotion then have something to eat, you will feel better :)

Melissa - posted on 11/11/2009

My baby girl was colicky her first 6 weeks...I found gripe water worked very well. Also...rocking her helped to relax. The best advice I ever received regarding my baby is..."it's only a phase and it will pass". That has helped me get through a lot with my baby girl. Hope this helps...and good luck :-)

Shavon - posted on 11/11/2009

My daughter was the same way when she got that way i gave her gripe water n just pat her back n rocked her n the gripe water brings up the gas so once she burped or passed gas real good she would just fall right to sleep n would give her the gripe water before or aafter she haf a bottle or i would just put it in the milk but it works

Trudi - posted on 11/11/2009

These days most colic is actually attributed to silent reflux - where the acid in the stomach rises to the throat but they dont usually vomit like a general relfux baby.
My 2 month old also doesnt sleep from arvo til evening ( no longer with screaming though), but since putting her on reflux medication (Losec) she now sleeps better at night (6-8 hours) and is not screaming as often. I also find it helps if you take a break between each breast or a gap in her bottle to give the milk time to digest as it often gets caught in the oesophegus which cause more screaming.

Feeding her in an upright position will also help but if she is used to a cradle hold then this might take you a week or 2 to accomplish as you slowly bring her up. My daughter sits facing towards me with her legs next to my hip.

A dummy is also helpful for those screaming times as the sucking motion helps to reduce the acid.

Plenty of tummy time in between helps too. Hope you can break the cycle!

Ashley - posted on 11/11/2009

My son had the same issue. We discovered that gripe water works wonderfully. My best friend used it with her son too. You can find it at most stores in the baby medicine, near the gas relief. The difference is, it's natural. No medicine in it! Just put a little in a bottle with her milk, or with a little water, or give it straight from a dropper. It tastes like black licorice. My son seemed to like the taste and calmed down a ton when he took it. I recommend trying this.

Beth - posted on 11/11/2009

My son had colic very bad! The only thing that will actually work is to use the 5 S's. Read the book "The happiest baby on the block" by Dr. Karp. It explains the age old methods used to calm babies, Swaddling, Side-stomach position, Shushing sounds, swinging, and sucking. Trust me if you go through these steps and don't do it half way then you will have a happy baby! Just read the book and you will understand. The website it also at http://www.babyslumber.com/happiestbaby....

Gas is not the reason for colic. You don't just have to wait it out.

Good Luck!

Erica - posted on 11/11/2009

We tried all sorts of drops, changing of feeding, change what I ate, and burping. What worked for us was seeing a chiropractor who sees infants. It made a huge difference in just 3 visits. I have never been to a chiropractor myself, and was very skeptical. If you are at your wit's end, try it.

Fiona - posted on 11/11/2009

I tried Infacol and when that didn't work, my Health Visitor suggested Colief. It eased the symptoms a lot but it didn't finally disappear until he started weaning at 5 1/2 months. Baby massage also helps.

Stick with it, it will get easier!

Kate CP - posted on 11/10/2009

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Olivia - posted on 11/10/2009

We used "Little Tummies Grip Water" and warm towels to swaddle her with. The towels really seemed to help calm her. Eventually we switched to a lactose "free" formula...that did the trick. ~Good Luck~

Lori - posted on 11/10/2009

my mom always would turn them over on there tummy on her lap and kinda bouce her knees a little and pat there little butts, and always keep there feet warm with socks and it done wonders. worked every time. She showed it to me and thats what I did also.

Mona - posted on 11/10/2009

What worked for my daughter for my grandson which I suggested was Karo Syrup. Dip your finder or a Binkie into the syrup and let her suck on it. I don't know why it works but I think the syrup coats the stomach and and pops the little air bubbles. I didn't ask my doctor but maybe you should just in case the Dr. has a different idea....

Thea - posted on 11/10/2009

My baby was the same way. My doc said if she sleeps good at night don't complain about the day. She now has 2 naps a day. Just grew out of it. Grip water Without the alcahol was a life saver for me. I also took her to a ciro. It was VERY hard. I feel ya. I called my mom a lot in tears. One night it was so bad I just got up and went and sat in the car. My hubby took her. I cried so hard. Colic will drive you crazy. But now she is the best baby ever at 5 months old. Good luck I am thinking of you.

Jennifer - posted on 11/10/2009

My daughter had bad gas problems and i found that the proper bottle was the answer.I love dr. browns glass bottle system,but there are others you can try .I also found gripe water to be a great help for her upset tummy.

Kylie - posted on 11/10/2009

i tried stuff called infacol, if bottle fed mix wiv the bottle, if breast fed use b4 feeding....... GL

Emma - posted on 11/10/2009

My son had bad colic, I used Oval Drops during the day, as well as alternating with Gripe Water. If your daughter is breastfed you can try feeding her with a bottle of expressed breastmilk and frequent burpings. My son was and is quite gassy so the more I burped him the better it was the night, as well as leg pumpings helped too. I also found that having him semi upright, on his side in my arms helped alot. So basically going diagnolly arcoss my chest. I ended up getting ready for "colic time" by having a fresh drink, had eaten food, had my glider set up including a pillow to help support him etc. It should pass soon, for my son it only lasted til almost 3 months and his progression was literally 3 hours, then 2, then 1, 1/2 hour and soon it was gone. Good luck, stay calm and you'll get through this in no time.

Chris - posted on 11/10/2009

Have her checked for acid reflux, the medicine works wonders. My grandaughter suffered from both acid reflux and colic. Used Gripe water for the colic and that has helped greatly. She is much calmer and relaxed during and after feedings. Hope this is helpful

Donna - posted on 11/10/2009

my son was like that for month try the vacuum it did wonders just turn it on when he starts crying its worth a try.

Christine - posted on 11/10/2009

I have been there and done that, I know you have spent hours searching the internet at 230 in the morning with a scream echoing in your ear for some sort of answer just like I did and I came across colic calm, It is the only gripe water approved by the fda and it is amazing, it costs about $40 a bottle but worth every penny!! you get a deal if you buy multiples and trust me you will use it I would buy 4 at a time and reorder when the 2nd one was gone.

Holly - posted on 11/10/2009

Colic will pass, which seem forever in the moment. Are you using formula yet? If so, I found he did A LOT better when I tried Enfamil Gentlease (Purple can). Is has 1/2 the lactose. Gripe water and Mylicon didn't work for him. I've also heard about putting a warm water bottle on the tummy. Worth a try!!

Stacy - posted on 11/10/2009

My son was colicky which some say could be do to gas (which my son totally had) I had to pump his legs forever it seemed. Also there is this stuff called gripe water which is supposed to help with colic, it helped with my son. Other than that just stick it out and know that it will pass eventually. Good luck and take care.

Stacy - posted on 11/10/2009

My son was colicky which some say could be do to gas (which my son totally had) I had to pump his legs forever it seemed. Also there is this stuff called gripe water which is supposed to help with colic, it helped with my son. Other than that just stick it out and know that it will pass eventually. Good luck and take care.