Could this be colic?

[PumpkinPie2013]

My little boy is 3 weeks old and we are struggling a bit to get him to settle after some feeds (he is ff as bf didn't work out)

We always wind him after feeds but he doesn't always bring any up and he isn't sick after feeds.

However, when we lie him flat either in his moses basket or in our arms he is ok for a minute or two but then gets upset and starts kicking his legs and drawing his knees up.

If we hold him more upright for ages on our chest he settles and will eventually go in his basket.

The worst time seems to be 8pm-midnight - last night Iiterally had to hold him all that time. Problem is no one gets to sleep (us or him) properly and I'm shattered.

I'm wondering about getting some infacol or colief - what do people recommend?

I hate thinking he has tummy ache causing him pain and want to get something to make it better for him.

Other than this he is feeding well and having wet/dirty nappies.

Hi PumpkinPie, sorry to hear you are having a tough time.

Colic is not a specific medical complaint, it is when a baby cries 3 times per day for over 3 hours each time, for more than three days a week for three weeks. Colic doesn't even exist in non-English speaking countries!

Infacol and Colief don't actually do anything. Research shows that they don't have any effect so don't waste your money on them.

At 3 weeks though, I think your baby just needs to be cuddled by mummy and daddy. He has been so used to be inside you, rocked around, and not flat on his back. It all feels very alien to him at the moment.

The first few weeks are such an upheaval for everyone. Holding him and reassuring him will help him feel content and secure and the rest will come with time, although no one can tell you how much time.

Good luck, and try to sleep when he does (and forget the housework).

Thanks nosey I think you're right he just wants cuddles (which is lovely as he is so cuddly)

He doesn't cry the way you describe in your post and often as soon as we pick him up he stops (if he was in pain he would continue I think)

I'll just carry on enjoying cuddles with him as I'm sure he'll get used to things eventually.

Thanks again x

I heard if you have to ask is this colic? It is not colic. It sounds like typical newborn behaviour. You just need to figure out different ways to settle him. Watch happiest baby on the block. Helped us a lot w first born on ways to calm baby and now using for second born

This sounds like my DD, she would only sleep semi upright on my chest for ages, which appeared to be due to wind in the night.

She was often quite farty when she woke up at night - does this sound like your DS?

It turned out (much later) that she had tongue tie and was swallowing lots of air when she fed. Is your DS breastfed? Do you have any problems getting and maintaining a good latch? If so, it is very much worth getting him checked for tongue tie (ask your local breastfeeding cafe for recommendations about who can do this, most HVs are not good at it).

Infacol helped DD burp but it didn't seem to reduce her discomfort at all. Colief only helps babies who have a temporary problem digesting lactose, which is a very small proportion of babies, so it's unlikely to help and costs a bomb.

Otherwise, it may just be that his digestive system needs a bit of time to mature (especially likely if he was small or slightly early). Soon he'll get used to passing wind through and be ok.