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Written by Monic Joint
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The cries of a colicky baby are distressing for both baby and family.
Baby bonding advocate and founder of www.MummyMustHave.co.uk, Monic Joint,
reveals how to take charge and administer patient, loving and natural
care to help sooth your baby – and the entire family!
Some of the strongest memories of the first few months of my son’s life are of his seemingly never-ending colicky cries and a feeling of helplessness at not being able to find a solution. He first showed signs of colic/reflux at three weeks old. Within seconds of sitting in his swing or lying on his back he would start to wail. Inconsolable, his doctor-prescribed medications did not help, either having no effect or leading to constipation and explosive bowel movements!
The lowest point for me was discovering that the colic was affecting the care of my toddler, husband and home. Even putting my son down to go to the toilet would result in more crying. Choosing to accept what I could not change, I instead focused on keeping my baby’s comfort a priority until his colic passed.
To my delight I found many ways to keep my son soothed both day and night. I began by always keeping his feeds regular, quiet and without bright lights. I propped the head of his cot slightly, always swaddled him for sleep (placing him in the feet to foot of cot position) and when quietening his cries was difficult, would carry him around with me in my ring/pouch slings, or bathe him in warm water-all with positive results. It soon became clear to me that newborns need time to adjust to their new lives and environment. I now believe that increased light, sound and no longer being in a constant curled foetal position can all have a major influence on a new baby’s coping abilities-being sympathetic to these factors are essential to effectively managing colic and reflux.
Our days soon changed from ones of anxiety, crying and chaos to a much more manageable household, and I remember one day smiling at the fact that I could not pinpoint when my son’s colic had simply melted away. With my boy in his sling by my side, I could again have a regular life and partake in my regular routine. My son is now a happy, content and easygoing boy, the dark days of colic not having had any effect on his everyday lovely nature. Colic may not be preventable, but there are many ways of managing with this difficult childhood problem.
Here are a few tips and facts to help you learn more about colic, and how to manage it yourself until it does (and it will!) pass.
Facts about Colic/Reflux:
*Colic and Reflux have no known cause or cure.
*Colicky infants do not fall or stay asleep easily
*Colicky crying is often worse early evening although crying can happen at any time of day, for any length of time
*Colic usually starts to improve around the 3 month mark, although symptoms can last longer
*Colicky babies dislike too much noise, light or disruption and can be difficult at feeding times. Proper winding is helpful.
*Encouraging larger feeds less often has been suggested as a method of easing painful spasms
**A G.P., dietician or breastfeeding consultant may provide beneficial information about how yours or your baby’s diet affects colic
Further Resources
Products for improving baby sleep and bathing: www.MummyMustHave.co.uk
National Childbirth Trust breastfeeding: www.nct.org.uk/breastfeeding/
Colic Support forum: http://www.colicsupport.com/
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