Colic

Colic

Colic is defined as: 3 hours. 3 days a week. 3 weeks in a row.  

That means your child cries for 3 hours (usually straight hours, not spurts throughout the day) for 3/7 days of the week and it is consistent for at least 3 weeks in a row.

The root of the issue is typically gas, reflux, and an immature digestive system. Some babies are more sensitive to gas and the result can be colic.

Colic typically lasts the first 3-4 months of your baby’s life and peaks around 6-8 weeks. 

If you suspect your child might be colicky, or your pediatrician has “diagnosed” your child as colicky, there are a few things you can do to relieve the colic.

These tips are also perfect for any parent dealing with a fussy child. Especially during the “witching hour!”

Wake Windows

You baby should ONLY be awake 60-90 minutes MAX between naps. So many newborn parents are surprised to hear that but it’s true. There is very little awake time to play, change diapers, etc before you need to feed and get down for a nap. As much as you want to hang out with your little newborn, they really need the sleep! An overtired baby will have a hard time going down for a nap or bedtime and will result in a lot of fussiness and crying. This is often when parents start to self diagnose their child as colicky. 

Mind your wake windows to avoid an overtired baby. Keep the 60-90 minute time frame in mind and follow your child’s sleepy cues. Some awake time might only last 45 minutes while the next awake time they can hang for 60 minutes. Sleepy cues will help you determine the appropriate amount of awake time between naps. See chart below for sleepy cue signs.

Swaddle

Lots of parents think their baby hates to be swaddled, especially parents of colic babies. But the truth is, babies LOVE to be swaddled. The swaddle, when done correctly, makes the baby feel safe and cozy just like the womb. 

Colic babies especially liked to be swaddled and held. Try baby-wearing during the day if your arms need a break or a swaddled stroller walk when the weather permits. Sometimes a car ride will do! A change of scenery can really help when baby is fussy. Especially if there is a nap your baby just won’t take.

I used to put my daughter in the car around 9am almost every weekday morning when commuter traffic subsided. I would drive to the next town over because they had a Starbucks with a drive-thru. The car ride usually helped lull her to sleep and gave me some PEACE and quiet. I could listen to music, a podcast, THINK. It also gave my arms a rest and eased the anxiety I had developed over her constant crying. Not to mention, I got to drink a HOT latte in its entirety. No, the car didn’t work every time, but when it did it was magical.

Look into the 5 S’s by Dr. Harvey Karp. When these 5 S’s are combined, they are the best combination to soothe any fussy baby.

You can read all about how to implement the 5 S’S here.

Try feeding AFTER the nap

Gas can really build up after a feeding and make baby uncomfortable, making sleep feel impossible. Really try to follow the Eat-Play-Sleep routine. Feeding after the nap and holding baby upright for 15 minutes will help with reflux and gas. 

Also, burp FREQUENTLY. Take baby off the bottle or away from nursing to take frequent breaks to burp so you don’t allow air to get trapped in their bellies. It will help them take in full feedings and decrease gas. Don’t just burp at the end. Burp multiple times during a feeding.

You could even elevate the crib on one end. Prop 1-2 books under one end of the crib legs or use a rolled up towel under the mattress on one end. The slight elevation can help keep food and reflux down.

Reduce Stimulation

Especially during witching hour. Witching hour is the WORST for a colic baby. ALL babies get fussy in the evening, but colic babies especially. Try to start decreasing the stimulation. Turn off the TV, lower the lights, turn the blinds down, reduce the noise. Try to create a peaceful and relaxing environment with little stimulation.

My daughter started to get especially fussy around 3pm on the dot. I used to count down the hours until my husband got home from work to help me out!

Ideal Sleep Environment

Recreate the womb with the ideal sleep environment. I talk ALL about the ideal sleep environment in this post. It will help your baby feel safe, secure, and increase the opportunity for sleep.

PERSONAL TIPS:

Here are some additional tips from a mom who can relate. My daughter was colicky and I remember my neighbor describing it as “a long, dark tunnel with no light.” And I felt exactly like that.

I would cry feeding my daughter for her middle of the night feeding while scrolling through my Colic Babies Support Facebook group some nights. The disrupted sleep mixed with frustration and anxiety from crying left me feeling hopeless sometimes. 

If you feel that way, you’re not alone. I recommend finding a support group on Facebook or somewhere with people going through the same thing! It helps to talk to other moms who are going through the same thing or who have gotten past colic and can offer hope.

Here are some other things that helped me.

I focused on FULL feedings at every feeding. It’s true that adequate food intake during the day will help increase nighttime sleep as baby gets older because they won’t be looking for those calories at night. Really focus on offering enough milk until baby refuses to eat. Their body knows when to stop. Remember to burp frequently and be patient if the feedings take some time. This was some of the best advice I got from a lactation consultant in the hospital. Feedings and sleep ARE related. As baby gets old enough to make those long nighttime stretches, it will really help with sleep and reduce colic symptoms at night.

My pediatrician recommended the Gerber Soothe Probiotic Colic Drops. I swore this helped take the edge off the colic. ALWAYS ask your pediatrician before administering ANY over the counter medication. But I highly recommend this probiotic drop as a means for some colic relief. I do not believe it can “cure” colic, but it certainly helped.

Try laying baby on their belly over your knee. I saw my pediatrician do this and my daughter instantly relaxed. The pressure on her belly helped relieve gas pains. You could also try bicycle kicks with your baby or the Windi by FridaBaby.

Lots of moms try to cut dairy – myself included. But my pediatrician said that it will take weeks for the dairy to truly be rid of your system and by then your baby will be on their way out of the colic phase. If you see a rash, unusual amounts of spit up, strange colors in their stool… DO look into a dairy allergy. But true colic will not subside with the elimination of dairy. It might relieve it a tad and you are welcome to try, but it won’t be the magic trick to ending colic.

Try to limit gas inducing foods from your diet as these can transfer to your baby. Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, bell peppers, spicy food, even caffeine can affect your child’s sleep and gas. This is just a temporary diet change that can be worth making.

The only TRUE “cure” for colic is TIME. Colic is just something your baby will outgrow by 3-4 months of age. Things will slowly get better until one day you notice very minimal crying. Your child’s digestive system is just very immature and some babies have a harder time digesting milk and dealing with gas pains than others. 

You are not alone in this. MANY parents battle colic with their child and it can feel never ending and isolating. Take turns with your partner, a family member, a neighbor. My neighbor actually came over one night and rocked our baby so my husband and I could have a break. She even got my daughter down in her bassinet before she left. Do you know my daughter slept 8 hours that night? She was 8 weeks old and that was the longest stretch she had ever done at night. It was the start of her sleeping all night, too. I told my neighbor she was hired! My neighbor’s daughter was colicky so she could relate to what I was going through. 

Trust me when I say friends and family find comfort in newborn snuggles. Especially because they can leave after a time! They WANT to help and give you a break. TAKE THE HELP! Even if your child cries in the arms of your support system. As long as they are fed and changed, go take the 20 minutes you need by yourself to step away from the crying, the anxiety, and the work. Find some silence. Your support system will be FINE for 20 minutes and they will completely understand why you need the break!!

This goes without saying, if you think something is seriously wrong with your child aside from colic and general infant fussiness, please talk to your pediatrician. Always follow your instincts!

If you are struggling with newborn sleep or have questions about colic, feel free to email me or Get the Newborn Package.