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I can’t believe that my baby turns 2 next month! Let me tell you though, those first several months were awful. There was so much crying, and I don’t just mean from Owen.
Have people told you that you have a colicky baby? Know what that means?
A baby is said to have colic if they are healthy and well-fed, but cry more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks. Sounds awful, right? It is. So, why does a baby have colic? That’s really a mystery, but some of theories behind what cause colic include: gas, their nervous system is still developing, over-sensitivity or over-stimulation by light, noise, etc., or hormones that cause stomach pain.
Now, how do we fix it? Lucky for us, it usually goes away on its own in a few months. If you do have a baby with colic, waiting for it to just up and go away on its own seems impossible. I want to share some ways to soothe a colicky baby.
Soothe a Colicky Baby
- Put baby in a front carrier and wear them! They’ll enjoy the warmth and rhythm of you walking.
- Go for a car ride. I can’t tell you how many times my husband drove around in the wee hours trying to calm Owen.
- Place a warm washcloth on baby’s tummy or give him a warm bath.
- Pedal baby’s legs. With your baby on his back, move his legs in a gentle pedaling motion to help release gas.
- Use a gentle hum sound like a white noise machine, a hair dryer, a vacuum, or a fan.
- Try a pacifier (we weren’t a pacifier family, but it may work for some).
- Lay baby across your lap and gently rub their back.
- Do that crazy burrito baby swaddle (I could never manage to do it very tight) or use a swaddle blanket.
- Lower the lights and noise in the room.
- Although not a cause of colic, gas drops can help the irritation.
- Put baby in an infant swing or bouncy seat that vibrates.
- Watching moving objects like a ceiling fan or a mobile.
- Breastfeed! Breastfeeding is about so much more than food. Breastfeeding is a way to comfort baby. They get to be close to mom. Just because baby wants to nurse frequently, doesn’t mean your milk supply is inadequate, they’re using it as a way to self-soothe.
- Snuggle baby. Skin-to-skin is a great way to calm a colicky baby.
- Try Little Remedies® Advanced Colic Relief. I’m always leery about giving little ones “medicine”, but this is a Chamomile herbal blend that is shown to reduce crying by 60%*, containing no artificial flavors, colors, dyes or alcohol. *This statement has not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
We went to Kentucky to visit my grandparents over Thanksgiving in 2013. Owen was just about a month old and it was hard. He was so hard to put down and just cried. all. the. time. I cried right along with him sometimes. I felt awful knowing that everyone was trying to sleep and my tiny baby was keeping them awake. My amazing grandmother came into our room and would sit with Owen and do everything she could to try to soothe him and calm me down as well.
My Mommom and I went to the store while I was in Kentucky and we picked up Little Remedies® Gas Drops. I remember thinking how I didn’t want to spend the money if it didn’t work (I’m cheap, like really cheap). My grandmother said, “who cares, what if it works?” and sure enough, it definitely helped. Little Remedies® Gas Drops offer safe, gentle relief from stomach discomfort in just minutes. Again, they contain no artificial flavors, no dyes, and no alcohol. As a mom to two little ones, I’m very cautious about what meds we give them, but I can honestly recommend these.
I recently found out about a new Little Remedies® product, Advanced Colic Relief. I wish it had come out sooner so we could have used it with Owen. Since it’s from a brand we know, love, and stock in our cabinet, I’ll be recommending it to other moms that are dealing with colicky babies. Anything that can possibly help is worth a shot in my eyes.
Keep Mom Calm
As I said earlier, there were times when I cried right along with Owen. I was tired and his constant crying was stressing me out. I’m his Mommy, I’m supposed to be able to make everything better, right? With a colicky baby, that’s just not the case. Sometimes, all you can do it keep holding them and trying because doing so will let them know that you are trying.
Don’t feel bad if you can’t calm him down. It’s not your fault. If you’re feeling super stressed, don’t feel bad asking for help or putting baby to lie down for a bit by themselves. Mommy needs to be calm and dealing with a baby that cries all the time isn’t easy. It’s hard. Really hard.
For more information on soothing your little one, tag @LittleRemedies on Twitter or Facebook and use #LittleRescue and Little Remedies® will answer with advice, offers and samples! And, some lucky moms will be sent a real life rescue team to their home to deliver forms of relief, including LittleRemedies® Gas Relief Drops, Gripe Water and NEW Advanced Colic Relief Drops! How cool is that?
Do you have any tips for soothing a colicky baby? I’d love to hear them!
Amber Edwards says
Having a baby with colic is so stressful. I love that you also addressed how to help Mom through the trails of a colic baby! And yes, I loved those Gas drops with all 4 of my babies! They were such a great help! #client
Brooke @ Blushing Noir says
Wonderful tips! Neither of mine were colicky, thankfully! A few of my friends had to go through it, though.
Savannah says
Thankfully, I’ve never had to deal with a colicky infant. However, for the first 6-7 months of life, my son threw up every single time after breastfeeding. It was so stressful, and he was diagnosed as a ‘happy spitter’ because he thankfully was never in any pain. I wonder if these gas drops would’ve helped him keep his meals down? Something I’ll definitely keep in mind. Thanks for sharing! <3