If you have a colicky baby..I need your help! At my wits end

goldensrthebest · July 2010

I really don't know how I'm going to do this..it is so EXHAUSTING and I physically and mentally am running on empty. My DD has colic and AR and some days are better than others but I really, really am having a hard time. What are you doing to maintain your own sanity. I am struggling. Her constant crying breaks my heart. We've tried so many things and all we keep hearing is that it will get better when she's 3 or 4 months..I'm afraid--what if it doesn't get better then? Ahhh...just feeling very overwhelmed today.

Shandie_725 · July 2010

Honestly, when I know everything's ok - she's been fed, changed, etc. I put her in her bassinet and walk away. I go do a load of laundry, I sit in the living room, go pee.

It's hard, but it's sometimes the only thing you can do.

Stephy861 · July 2010

try an excersize ball. you sit on it the hold her and bounce and just move around on it, in my birthing class the teacher swore it worked.

Reagan1010 · July 2010

Take a deep breath! I'm so sorry you are going through this!! My DS had horrible colic! It peaked at 7 weeks and started getting progressively better after that. By around 11 weeks, his colic was completely gone!! Now he only fusses if he is tired or hungry.

With that being said, I know it's absolute hell!! Here are a few things we did. The only cure for colic is time, but we did find things that helped. Nothing worked all of the time, but some of these things really helped for awhile: DS's favorite was the vacuum (it had to be the actual vacuum, not just a downloaded ipod track), taking walks in the stroller or in a carrier, car rides, putting LO in the carseat and putting it on top of the washer on the spin cycle, 5 S's, make sure LO isn't hungry (we would be frantically scrambling around trying so many different things and not realize that 3 hours had passed. DS would then be screaming from hunger instead of colic)

On the nights that a car ride would put DS to sleep, DH and I would then go to McDonalds and get an ice cream cone and make a 'date' out of it. Little things like that really helped us get through that nightmare! I would also cry in a hot shower at night to de-stress! If you have family near, ask someone to come over for 1 or 2 hours at night so you and DH can just get away from the screaming for awhile. I don't have family around, so we enrolled DS in daycare for 2 days a week. Even though I'm a SAHM, I needed the break!!! GL to you and hang in there!! It will get better! Your LO will soon be smiling and cooing at you!

ballerina06 · July 2010

Have you also tried Gripe Water? My DS has colic every night from 7-10pm (yes he's screaming right now, but thank goodness for my DH!) and the gripe water helps calm him down. I got it at Walgreens, it's the Baby Bliss brand, but you can get it cheaper on Amazon.

feverof103 · July 2010

A couple things that have helped us - putting him in a sling and vacuuming (my floors are so clean!), white noise, and earplugs for when he's screaming and I'm walking him around the house. It'll pass, it just takes time.

rtuck82@aol.com · July 2010

My son has AR and has also been very colicky as well. We have also tried what seems like every possible option .... tonight I took a warm bath and DH brought DS in and put him in the warm tub with me for about 15 min. He finally calmed down, nearly fell asleep and relaxed and passed all kinds of trapped gas. He is finally sleeping and I am enjoying the calm and quiet while it lasts. Give it a try!

jwoods6056 · July 2010

My DD has colic and sometimes I will strap her into our baby carrier and vacume the floor. I guess the movement and noise helps to calm her down and usually, she will doze off in the carrier. Sounds strange, but seems to work! GL!

emilysmommy2010 · July 2010

My LO had terrible colic and she is finally starting to grow out of it. She would cry everyday from about 5 to 8. We noticed that she seemed to have a lot of gas problems. Somethings that helps us were:-Changing her formula to Similac Isomil Soy but it then caused constipation.-Changing her bottles to Dr. Brown. -Using a vibrating bouncy seat to ease her gas.-Laying her on her tummy but we always would sit next to her.-Using the football hold and walking around with her.-The "ssshhing" sound.-Gas drops and Gripe Water.-Car rides.They will grow out of it. It is just a matter of making it through it. Now, that we are on the other side she is a very happy baby. She only cries now if she is wet or hungry. I know it can be very stressful and overwhelming but hang in there! It does get better. I hope some of these things help you.

skib · July 2010

Oh I am sorry. We had this problem too. It started at 3 weeks and went awe at about 10 weeks. DD was very colicky. She eventually started showing symptoms of AR so was put on Zantac at 6 weeks, it worked for a week, didn't work for the second week, was put on Prevacid at week 8 and by 10 weeks was a new baby. I am not sure if she grew out of colic or the Prevacid helped, but she is better and bottom line is your life will change. I promise. Soon enough LO will start to smile and coo and you will start to forget about the crying.

We tried everything too. Gripe water, car rides, swing, bouncy chair and changing my diet didn't help. The exercise ball and slings were the only things that worked for us. But every baby is different and I'm sure you've tried everything. Good luck, hang in there, it WILL get better.

leverby · July 2010

I was you 1 month ago and thankfully DD turned a corner around 8 weeks. What got me through that period was help! Husband, mom, MIL.. we all took our turns holding/bouncing/walking/ soothing the baby so that I got some breaks (took shower, went out for walks, ran errands...) I totally know how tough it is to hear your baby crying like that, hang in there mama!

jagdlg2010 · July 2010

we actually ordered this stuff called colic calm..you should check out their website..its homeopathic- all natural ingrediants & our pediatrician said it was safe to use. we put the mylacon drops in her bottle & use the colic calm as needed..it works wonders for us. the only downfall, its about $20(with shipping) for a small bottle..but I highly recommend it.

vettechick99 · July 2010

Have you tried the chiropractor? I read in a breastfeeding book that over 90% of colicky babies were less colicky after 3 adjustments. I also know a mother who did this and it actually worked. Try it!