I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

So it's official...My DS is Colicky.

He never sleeps - I think yesterday he slept a total of 4-5 hours in a 24 hour period. He cries pretty much all night - its awful.

If you have any advice, or any idea on what I can do to help him I am open to ANY suggestions.

TIA!

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

My son was colic for awhile. I know these things may sound crazy. But it helped. We sat him in his swing in front of the dryer/washer. The noise soothed him and he actually fell asleep. He also liked the sound of the vaccum cleaner noise. I think most books say the sound of Any white noise.

good luck!

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

I just posted something similar

I just wanna say

My DD is three weeks and just started with these fits that last HOURS. My DH says to let her cry but she screams so hard that she has trouble breathing. Sometimes its at night, yesterday it was from 3-9pm. It's awful. She was already at it today from 8-1030am

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

DS was colicky----for him, swaddling and the hair dryer helped the best (although sometimes nothing seemed too)
The biggest thing I needed to be reminded of was that it will not last forever and has no reflection on your childs personality

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

I just posted on the other thread about this but I just wanted to say, you are not alone. DS is colicky and it is making me lose my mind too.

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

My ped told me what people used to call "colic" is really reflux undiscovered. Does your baby spit up? Grunt and groan after eating? You are EBF right? Did you try cutting dairy for a few weeks? That may help? Otherwise-I'm sure you know this since you've BTDT but the 5 s's...If you don't mind spending the money the Amby bed is supposed to be awesome

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

My son was colic, I feel your pain He only really sleep for small periods of time in the swing. Also try a bouncy that vibrates or moves.

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

Posted by sweetsurprise09

Posted by DRMom

My ped told me what people used to call "colic" is really reflux undiscovered. Does your baby spit up? Grunt and groan after eating? You are EBF right? Did you try cutting dairy for a few weeks? That may help? Otherwise-I'm sure you know this since you've BTDT but the 5 s's...If you don't mind spending the money the Amby bed is supposed to be awesome

my DD doesnt spitup -- i WISH it was something like that, that could be treated

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

Posted by aliwnec10

Posted by Annemarie13
He also liked the sound of the vaccum cleaner noise.

Yup my son would fall asleep when i vacuumed and many times, i just left the vacuum running.

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

First, I am sorry you are experiencing this--it is a hard thing to try every trick in the book to calm your child and finding he/she just cannot be calmed for whatever reason.

Many children who have colic may have reflux or a digestion problem, though not all do. It's kind of a catchall phrase for crying that is not due to any clear cause. Definitely check with your pediatrician to see if there is the possibility of a medical issue. For DS there was no medical cause discovered, though I think he had trouble with sensory overload.

For DS, driving in the car or walking in the stroller worked when sometimes nothing else would. He often fell asleep, or stopped crying at any rate. The hair dryer sometimes helped also, or a vacuum (now the noise scares him, but then it helped). I also put him in the Baby Bjorn and walked around the house with him, and this often calmed him (though he would freak even more when I put him in the carrier initially). Around 4-5 months, he stopped the endless crying and his personality seemed completely different.

I also cannot emphasize enough the importance of having some downtime for yourself, however small. Sometimes I would call DH and ask him if he could come home as early as he could when I couldn't deal much longer. Or ask another family member to watch DC even for an hour if possible. There were other times I put DS down in his crib and walked away for a few minutes till I calmed down. The whole thing can be so upsetting, it is important though to keep your cool as much as possible.

Message edited 10/8/2009 1:41:45 PM.

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

first, know it WILL END. it may take a while (it took me 9 months to feel human again after DD#1).

what helped us a little was tummy sleeping and anything to get rid of the gas (bicycling the her legs, turning her upside down for burps, etc.), but really the only thing that helped was time...

to keep your sanity, get others to pitch in if you can. and don't feel guilty putting the baby down and walking into the other room with earplugs ...

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

Ugh, been there. Can't imagine dealing with that with another child at home already to take care of too

My advice-- do whatever you have to do to get him comfy and to sleep. I had to sleep in the chair w/ottoman in my living room for the first 10 weeks of DD's life. She REFUSED to sleep in her PNP, swing, bouncer, crib, bassinet, ANYTHING. But when she finally would sleep, the second we'd lay her in any of the above things, her eyes would shoot open and the screams quickly followed. So I slept in that chair, night after night, for 10 weeks straight. She was safe-- propped on the boppy, my legs were up on the ottoman, the arms of the chair were long so there was no way she could fall off, or that I could fall asleep on her...I didn't even use a blanket b/c I was too paranoid about it going on her. She would sleep like that. And she'd wake to nurse, I'd fall asleep while she was still nursing I was that tired.

To get her to sleep was a nightmare too...we had to read the Happiest Baby on the Block. We were so desparate that DH read that book in several hours We'd have to lull her to sleep by rocking, shhhhhhhing loudly, and standing by the vent to the range in the kitchen. Then I'd ever so gingerly have to sit in the chair and PRAY that she wouldn't wake up....most times she'd wake up, I'd cry , and then I'd redo the whole situation above, until it finally worked and she stayed asleep. Then I'd push myself back in the chair and try to sleep while she slept on me.

Just do whatever you can do to get him to sleep (and to stay asleep).

Message edited 10/8/2009 2:04:39 PM.

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

I won't say this is a good suggestion but if you're nursing can you let him just sleep attached to the boob. That is the only way I survived (barely) the first 5 months.

He's still a terrible sleeper

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

I am sorry- I remember those days very well

My DS did have reflux, even though he did not spit up. Once we got him on Prevacid, made a huge difference.

Also the following: vacuum cleaner noise (downloaded the sound online to save our electric bill), drives in the car, hair dryer, swaddling in a miracle blanket, putting him in his infant carrier and rocking him. I also got an exercise ball that I sat and gently bounced on while holding him. It would calm him and sometimes put him to sleep (bonus: lost a lot of weight doing this too). did this while watching TV.

Walks in the stroller. On rainy/cold days, just walked him around the house in the stroller.

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

the other posters had great advice for you! i am so sorry you have to experience this especially when you have your DD to care for too! many for you!
my DD had this too and it was BEYOND AWFUL! i thought life was over as i knew it...
things that worked for us eventually:

reflux meds (she did have reflux-silent though)
miracle blanket- tight swaddling!!!!
pacifier
white noise machine
being in her car seat

that was pretty much it! such a tough time and the only positive thing is that it is not forever and will pass!!!

edited to add DD loved to be worn too-i used my bjorn to death and it was a life saver!
i use it now w/ DS and also got a moby wrap which i love and he does too!

Message edited 10/8/2009 4:42:12 PM.

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

It took us six weeks and a specialist to diagnose our LO with Silent Reflux. Silent Refluxers do not spit up..and it can be more dangerous than regular reflux because much damage can be done to the esophagus before learning what you are dealing with and getting treatment.

Our little guy needed meds and Elecare ...only then did he become a happy little baby.

FM me if I can be of any help!

Re: I need any advice or support you can offer, re: colic

DS#2 was colicky.

#1 thing, don't let him get tired. I used to swaddle him and try to have him down every few hours. He could not put himself to sleep and if I missed his tired time he was a mess. He loved the sound of the vacuum and would often fall asleep to that. Swaddling was also essential.

He also had reflux and would scream after feedings. I took him to a chiropractor for that and it helped a bit.

The best thing I can tell you is that he was better at 4 months, even better at 5 and by 6 months you would never be able to tell he was a terror as a newborn.

You just have to put everything on hold for a few months and know your baby will grow out if it, but it is super-hard.

The Happiest Baby on the Block is a fabulous book for suggestions.