probiotics / Gerber soothe drops

ns1

DS was crazy fussy for about five weeks. Then we started him on Gerber soothe colic calm drops and have a completely different and happy baby.

I still give DS the drops and pay $30 a bottle for the stuff, but I'm beginning to wonder if he'd be fine without them or with something else. I'm too scared to go back to the constant screaming and sleeping though.

So, anyone in this predicament? Anyone try stopping the drops? Any alternatives?

Edit: autocorrect fail

THD7580

Funny you mention those! We used them non stop as well because of the colic. We stopped and he was drinking gerber gentle forever. His bm's were really thick for a while and we just switched him to enfamil nutramigen and he's no longer struggling and it's made for softer stools and digestion this stuffs awesome! Glad we don't have to go back to the drops!

mrsbtobe20122

We used them til our guy was about 4 months old. We are coming up on 5 months and he is still doing well and is his happy self.

I think 4sh months is when the gut kind of becomes more "mature".

ETA: LO is EBF and has reflux. Still doing Zantac and gets 2 tsp of cereal either in a pumped bottle or spoon fed mixed with BM per docs order. He is doing better than ever and keeping most of every feed down now. I think the drops got us over the hump.

QOTR

I was thinking of this just yesterday, wondering how long we should be giving them.  We stocked up last time I bought them because they were sometimes hard to find.  I probably bought too much. 

flojo973

@ns1 - we just stopped and I haven't notice a difference in DD (she is 4 months, 1 week).  I've noticed that now that she spends more time upright (in her bumbo, exercauser, etc.) she burps herself and seems less gassy.  

Also, diapers.com has them the cheapest of anywhere I've found.

ns1

@MK1013‌ I take the top out when the drops stop coming out. I'm getting every last bit out! !

Even with these success stories I'm terrified to stop giving them. Maybe at 6 months when baby starts eating and I can give him yogurt I'll consider it...

svl5683

Hi there; wondering what your experience with the Gerber drops has been. Our 2 week old seems to have colic. She cries for hours at a time; falls asleep and starts right back up again after feeding. She's okay till about 2-3pm; but from there on it's round after round of feed, cry, soothe, feed, cry, soothe. It's driving us to our wits end! I can hardly sleep even when she's out because I'm so stressed about the next cycle of tears. (Hers and mine!) This is the first place I've heard of these drops and wondering if they are as good as they sound. She is EBF; I'll be taking diet measures as well. If you could let me know what your story was like I'd really appreciate it. I'm going a little crazy here! Thanks!

ns1

@svl5683‌ I swear by the drops. My son was really fussy and slept horribly and within about five days of starting these he was a different baby (still not a great sleeper, but not screaming at night now). I'd say give it a try. The only thing you have to lose is the $30 a bottle costs, but for me curing a fussy baby is worth it. Congratulations on your little one and good luck! This too shall pass - it's all a phase!

spinsoffresonance

@svl5683‌ I don't have any experience with the drops but wanted to wish you luck. Those first 3 weeks are so incredibly hard. But it does get easier. I thought the first 3 weeks were the hardest, by 6weeks it was significantly better

Also it is fairly normal for newborns to be fussy and cluster feed in the evenings. It's called the witching hours. DD1 would nurse constantly for 4 hours every evening. Back and forth from one boob the the other for hours, and scream if she wasn't latched on. We used to call it hunger monster! Totally normal newborn behavior.