Oh my, oh my did we suffer from colic - heart rending screams from about 4 weeks for 3 or 4 hours every evening!
The good news is in almost all cases it suddenly vanishes around 12 weeks*, but, as time seems to turn at a completely different speed for new mothers, 8 weeks can seem an awful long time.
The good news is in almost all cases it suddenly vanishes around 12 weeks*, but, as time seems to turn at a completely different speed for new mothers, 8 weeks can seem an awful long time.
When it struck, I spent far too much time - in between total despair - googling for tips and guidance.
It would have been really helpful to have a totally comprehensive list all in one place - so hopefully that's what this post does.
You can't possibly try everything on the list and if you do you'll turn into a obsessed nutter - I was that mummy! - and the poor little one will get an uber over dose of "mad mummy" hormones.
With the fabulous gift of hindsight, I think the trick is to pick a few tips from each area that you can reasonably accommodate within the chaos of a new born e.g. changing your diet, baby's routine, calming tactics and stick with these. Jumping around from one thing to another won't work - any change to your diet or anti-colic treatments need at least 3 days to see real effect.
It would have been really helpful to have a totally comprehensive list all in one place - so hopefully that's what this post does.
You can't possibly try everything on the list and if you do you'll turn into a obsessed nutter - I was that mummy! - and the poor little one will get an uber over dose of "mad mummy" hormones.
With the fabulous gift of hindsight, I think the trick is to pick a few tips from each area that you can reasonably accommodate within the chaos of a new born e.g. changing your diet, baby's routine, calming tactics and stick with these. Jumping around from one thing to another won't work - any change to your diet or anti-colic treatments need at least 3 days to see real effect.
The most important tip of all is not to beat yourself up about it - over 20% of babies have bad colic. Seeing your baby cry in pain for 3 hours at a time is horrible and exhausting and so do ask for help and get someone else to look after baby for at least some time during the colic attack so you get some time out.
You can download and edit this full printable list of tips for managing colic but there's also a quick summary of all the tips below ... and if you've got great tips of your own you can add them to this list ...:
You can download and edit this full printable list of tips for managing colic but there's also a quick summary of all the tips below ... and if you've got great tips of your own you can add them to this list ...:
Quick Tips to Reduce Colic
...
| 1. | Drink fennel or chamomile tea | |
| 2. | Cut out / cut down caffeine | |
| 3. | Cut out / cut down chocolate :-( | |
| 4. | Cut out / cut down sugar - I know it's getting worse by the moment! | |
| 5. | Avoid gassy foods e.g. cabbage, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, onions | |
| 6. | Avoid acidic foods e.g. citrus fruits & tomatoes but get vitamin c elsewhere | |
| 7. | Moderate dairy | |
| 8. | Get as much rest as you can to reduce stress | |
| 9. | Relax with yoga or breathing exercises to calm hormones | |
| 10. | Lots & lots & lots of winding - over shoulder, sitting up, over lap etc | |
| 11. | Massage - learn special anti-colic techniques | |
| 12. | Anti-colic bottles/teats - lots claim to be but Dr Browns & NUK seem best rated | |
| 13. | Infacol - give before each food for 3 days to see effect | |
| 14. | Gripe water - supposedly breaks down air bubbles in gut | |
| 15. | Teething powders - reduces acid from saliva | |
| 16. | Colocynth crystals - add to milk or put on tongue | |
| 17. | Strict routine - some "gurus" claim babies on strict routine don't get colic! | |
| 18. | Adapt routine - others say adapt routine so not trying to bathe/sleep during attack | |
| 19. | Cranial osteopathy - sounds extreme but some swear by it | |
| 20. | Hypoallergenic formula - can get some like Similac on prescription | |
| 21. | Tiger in the tree - hold baby tummy down on your arms & rock | |
| 22. | "Shusssshing" - supposedly reminds them of noise in womb | |
| 23. | Something to suck - you may not be keen but dummy or soother may help | |
| 24. | White noise - washing machine, hoover, humidifier etc | |
| 25. | Car / buggy - if it helps them to get to sleep - do it! | |
| 26. | Cut out stimulation - hold them over shoulder facing white wall | |
| 27. | Get someone else to help!!! - you don't have to do it all on your own |
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If baby cries for more than 4 hours a day or if other symptoms don't fit classic colic see your doctor or health visitor.
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