How do you cope with colicky baby?

[Samsean]

Hi

My baby had been colicky since birth and now at almost 4 months I'm just so so knackered! I thought things would settle by 3 months and they haven't. She's had tongue for removed and is on reflux medication too, but still is miserable. Please tell me it's just a phase and soon she will settle, because my tears have really started pouring now, it's just so so exhausting!

[furryfriends57]

Hi Sam I left the swing running all the time and she slept on, it will eat batteries but my sanity is worth that. She had been awake for 2 hours at that stage and had had a feed, she fussed for seconds when I put her in and the dropped off to sleep. I woke her after 3 hours to give her another feed as I think she'll sleep better at night if she fills up during the day. She had another snooze in the porch in the afternoon and in the car when we went to collect DD1 and lo and behold is in bed now and fast asleep. I have been thinking about your DD today as they are so similar and somethings I've done is make sure she gets plenty of daylight as it resets the circadian rhythms so shes clear on when is day and when is night, I also gave her a dummy - yes its another crutch but the boulder I had already was worse and she didn't sleep today after 6 and I sat with her and talked to her and she kicked a lot so she got tired again, I also won't let her go to sleep for the night in the swing as my friends nephew is addicted to that way of going to sleep. So tonight is better in this house but I could have jinxed it all by saying that and be crap again tomoro but will deal with that then. Best of luck, its soul destroying but I know from DD1 that phases come and go and they become adorable toddlers and am trying to cling to that to get me thro.

[Giraffinalaugh]

Aww I feel for you soo much. Im in the same boat at the moment. 14 weeks and we have tried everything. Just gone back to the infacol after trying all kinds which actually has made a difference. On infant gaviacon and rranitadine and domperidone. Check with your gp there is nothing more they can do about the reflux as were finding that harder than the colic lately.
The best tip I could give you is give yourself a break. She will sense how stressed you are too. Keep telling yourself that its nothing you're doing wrong and just give her cuddles and tell her you're there and shes ok. Its so hard to relax when they are screaming but you can comfort her better if you are calm.

[Samsean]

Furry, and girrafin, thank you!

I've tried a dummy but she won't take it! We've also just been on reflux medication for just over a week, so I'm hoping that will kick in soon.

Furry, she did all her naps yesterday in the swing! I was over the moon, that is such a breakthrough for us! Many thanks for encouraging me to keep trying with the swing!

[Notmyidea]

Don't try to be superwoman! I used to have to pace for up to two hours in the middle of every night. It does pass but it's no fun. I threw myself into an international online community and if I turned the computer on at any time of day or night every time I trudged past the screen there was someone to exchange a few words. (This was a geeky fandom but I gather there are nightime threads on here, too.) Then allow yourself to nap in the day if you need to. I didn't find any of the colic remedies worked I'm afraid, but we survived.

[Samsean]

Notmyidea, thanks. When did it end for you?

[Notmyidea]

Four months, when we introduced solids back in the dark ages.

[missinglalaland]

It will pass. My dd1 was like this. Just cried forever the first 4 months and then suffered endless ear infections from 6 months on. (There was no pneumonaccolol, spelling?, vaccine for babies in Britain then.)

Here is what I did to survive:

1. Breast feeding on demand whenever fussed. Why not? I can read or watch tv while breast feeding.
2. Wore daughter in a sling constantly. She often had breadcrumbs on her little head because wearing her was the only way I could manage to get some lunch.
3. Co-slept until it all passed. That way we could all get some sleep and I could function.
4. In the morning, gave myself 25 minutes to shower, dress and eat breakfast and hardened my heart to her tears. Otherwise, the day would pass and I would be hungry and dirty and not coping well all day.

Good luck, I hope this passes soon for you. DD1 is now 9 years old and a delight.

[furryfriends57]

Hi Sam, hope today went well for you and DD. Its so difficult to know what the problem is but at least I feel that if DD gets good sleeps for a few days and her form improves then at least I know tiredness was the problem. Of course the inverse is true and if it continues then what next - I so wish they came with a manual. My DD slept well today even though we were out and about and she started in the swing tonight and then I moved her to her cot. Its not perfect and I wish she'd just fall asleep without a fight but at least the all day crying isn't happening at the moment. Best of luck

[Samsean]

furry, thanks! Glad to hear your dd is doing well. My DD had two naps yesterday in the swing, but had a semi-meltdown at bed time, and was up at 6 this morning! (I need sleep!) I do wonder though where she gets the energy from!

Missing, thanks for those tips!

I'm thinking if weaning my dd early as she is so interested in food, do you think that will help her settle down? (here is to hope!)

[missinglalaland]

I don't have any personal experience with bottle feeding, so I don't know. Some mums who switched overdid have good luck with it, but it is hard to say whether it was a coincidence or not.
You should definitely go with your own sense of what will work for you.

I remember getting a lot of well intentioned advice back then. Most of it didn't work for me. I just kept trying everything till I stabled across what worked for me and my baby!

[VomitingVeronica]

Hi samsean,

I don't think anyone has mentioned it up thread, reflux normally peaks at 4 months so you are almost there! It will get better (I tell myself the same - dd is 16wks!). With ds the 4 month growth spurt was the last major hurdle reflux flare up that we had, he also got over a sleep regression at the same time.

When you cut out dairy, did you cut out soy too? The proteins are so similar that the body can still react. CMPI can exacerbate reflux.

What medication is your lo on?

You (and I!) will get there, 1 minute at a time.