Colic

[intokermit]

Last night was a nightmare! We got home from church, and my ds was fine. All the sudden he starts screaming bloody murder! We tried everything, feeding, burping, rocking, warm bath, walking around, changing diaper, etc. and nothing worked. This went on for 3 hours. His ped. has said that he's colicky, and that if nothing is wrong with him, to let him CIO. Well, there's something wrong with him, but I have no idea what it is, and I'm not just going to let him CIO. He was screaming like he was in a lot of pain. He finally dropped off to sleep around midnight, but I would really like to know what to do. For the past couple of weeks he's been really fussy around 8 pm, but never as bad as it was last night. Anyone with a colicky baby, and what in the world can I do about it?

[MacGirl]

How old is he? Even CIO 'experts' don't recommend it under 6 months (which is well past colic age)

I had a colicky baby, I understand.

The best thing that worked (not 100% but fairly well) was the Happiest Baby on the Block stuff... which is either all of the following or some combination of:

swaddling (fairly tight swaddle)
sucking (on paci, finger or breast)
side laying
swaying or gently shaking
and saying SHHHH (white noise) gently

There was a point that after a while, I'd start him in a swaddle, he'd still scream... I'd stick a paci in his mouth, and put him on his side and he'd stop.

There are also some things like gripe water (check ingredients carefully) and I found Hyland's colic tablets (natural ingredients but does have dairy if you're dairy free) to be very helpful.

It is also possible that it's not colic... have you eliminated dairy from your diet? Sometimes they have an intolerance to the dairy proteins. (chocolate also sometimes causes gas in babies, so do some common gassy adult foods)

[MacGirl]

have a look at this information, and look around on this site.

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/02colic_in_bf_baby.html

[Psyche]

If I have another colicky baby, I'll eliminate dairy.

[Psyche]

Also a certain type of probiotic has been shown helpful for colicky babies. I can't remember the type, but if you do decide to do probiotics, make sure they say dairy free on them.

[Brianna]

:hug: I hope you figure something out.

[intokermit]

How old is he? Even CIO 'experts' don't recommend it under 6 months (which is well past colic age)

I had a colicky baby, I understand.

The best thing that worked (not 100% but fairly well) was the Happiest Baby on the Block stuff... which is either all of the following or some combination of:

swaddling (fairly tight swaddle)
sucking (on paci, finger or breast)
side laying
swaying or gently shaking
and saying SHHHH (white noise) gently

There was a point that after a while, I'd start him in a swaddle, he'd still scream... I'd stick a paci in his mouth, and put him on his side and he'd stop.

There are also some things like gripe water (check ingredients carefully) and I found Hyland's colic tablets (natural ingredients but does have dairy if you're dairy free) to be very helpful.

It is also possible that it's not colic... have you eliminated dairy from your diet? Sometimes they have an intolerance to the dairy proteins. (chocolate also sometimes causes gas in babies, so do some common gassy adult foods)

He's 2 months old, and last night I had him swaddled, laying on his side in my arms, and tried to offer him a Binky and my breast, but he wouldn't take either. As for dairy, I'm lactose intolerant, as is he, so I don't think that he's getting any dairy from me. We gave him Mylicon, just in case he was gassy, and nothing.

[MacGirl]

If he is truly lactose intolerant, your breastmilk has LOADS of lactose in it. True lactose intolerance is very very rare.

Cutting out dairy is to cut out the dairy proteins, not the lactose. I think for lactose intolerance, the only thing to do is to switch to a soy formula (not the advice I like to give) but don't take my word for it, look into it and talk to your pediatrician.

[MacGirl]

Actually, kellymom has some better info than I....

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/lactose-intolerance.html

[MacGirl]

Another excellent source...

http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/lactose.html

At 2 months old... how long has he been doing this? Because if it's a new thing, I'm wondering if it's a foremilk/hindmilk inbalance.

[intokermit]

It's been going ever since 1 month, last night was the worst, though. Right now I'm only pumping (trying to breastfeed) and if I have to supplement, it's with lactose free formula.

[Stephanie]

Don't let him cry alone, he may need to cry, but he needs someone with him. Is his normal fuss time much shorter?

It may have just been an off night, but it keeps happening, I would look into eliminating dairy from your diet.

Going outside and baths helped my kids when they got that upset.

[intokermit]

I don't eat any dairy. I'm lactose intolerant. I never leave him alone when he's crying. I can't do that to him, especially when his cries sound like he's in pain.

[DecemberBaby]

I know this sounds crazy.... but when ds gets bad I put a nightlight(all other lights off
) in the bathroom and turn on the shower. (not hot or cold) He stops instantly. I guess because during my pregnancy I took two showers a day? No other sound calms him. I pat his back.

[klynnw]

Did you try laying him on the dryer while it's running? That sometimes works for us. Also, putting him in the sling in the kangaroo position (facing out) works alot of times too.