Colic. For anyone who is unfamiliar with the word, colic is when a baby cries for at least 3 hours straight without being consoled for no apparent reason at least 3 days a week for at least 3 weeks. Colic is hell and Case has it. He gets, as we loving refer to as, “fussy” at least 3 days a week. His fits start around 8 pm and last until around 1-2 am. Believe me there is nothing worse than listening to a baby cry for hours on end despite your best efforts to sooth. Its mentally hard and hard on your heart because no one wants to see someone you love cry for hours on end. Its even worse when the parents have differing perspectives on how to handle colic. A) Try to sooth and comfort or B) let them cry it out. I’ll let you figure out who practices which preference.
We rock, sway, swaddle, unswaddle, pat, rub, lay him on our chests, hold him up, down, sideways, put him in his swing, bouncy chair, snuggle pack, car seat, feed, burp, change, read, sing talk, and even sometimes ignore but nothing keeps the crying away for more than a few minutes at a time. Needless to say these crying fits are beyond a mere challenge to our mental health and marriage so any tips or tricks on how to survive, handle, or cope with a colicky baby are greatly appreciated. If anyone needs me, give me a call. I'm up 24 hours a day.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Surviving Colic!
Posted by Holly Gray at 10:34 AM
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4 comments:
Holly, I am so sorry! I can't even imagine how stressful that would be...not just on you individually but I totally get the marriage strain as well. Having a new baby is stressful enough on a marriage. If you haven't talked with your pediatrician about it, definitely do so. He/she may have some helpful tips (then again, maybe not, but sometimes it just helps to tell a medical professional!). Have you tried walking him around Target/Wal-Mart/the Mall? Sometimes just a change of scenery can be good for EVERYONE! And sometimes it helps, although if it's that late it might not work, but maybe from 8-9 or so if that would stop some crying.
Oh, Holly - colic is so hard! Is there anyone around who can come and give you a break? That's what I've seen most helpful to moms with collicky babies... I really don't know how to help, but I will be praying for you!
Holly, The title is perfect because "survive" is about all you can do sometimes, especially when you feel like you are doing it alone. I am sure you get tips from everyone and then adds to the frustration when it too does not work. Addison was colic for what seemed like forever sometimes. A couple months into it I got a sling carrier and wore it lower than it was supposed to be ( I wore it almost at my belly instead of at my chest) I would just walk around with it on and vacuum. At first I think the vacuum was to just give my ears a bit of a rest, but 50-60% of the time, she would eventually start to calm down. I started to worry about the noise so I would substitute other things like a hair dryer or a hand vac sometimes. I am thinking of you.
Girlfriend. So just slap me next time. Cause I am sure that's what you wanted to do when we talked earlier (About sleeping babies). I so wish I could help you. From what I have been told each one is different. Doctors don't really know why, so they all seem to say the same thing. I hope you find something that works. I think Julie is right (I know you hate to ask) see if someone can relieve you - even if only for an hour. I know it is tiring. You and Cody are in my prayers. Hang in there.
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