Dear Exhausted Parents,
First of all, let me just say this: I see you. I see the bags under your eyes, the coffee stains on your shirt, and the sheer desperation in your eyes as you Google “How to make my baby stop crying” for the fiftieth time today. I’ve been there. As a newborn nurse who has wrestled with colic on both a professional and personal level, I know the emotional rollercoaster you’re on. It’s like a never-ending loop of “I love you, but why won’t you just sleep?”
So, What Exactly Is Colic?
Imagine you’ve just fed your baby, changed them, burped them, rocked them, sang to them, and maybe even prayed to the sleep gods—but they’re still crying. Not just crying but screaming. For hours. This, my friends, is what we in the biz call colic.
Colic is a bit of a catch-all term that essentially means, “Your baby is crying a lot, and we’re not entirely sure why.” It usually rears its ugly head when your baby is around 2-3 weeks old and can last until they’re 3-4 months. The key signs are intense crying spells that last for more than three hours a day, happen more than three days a week, and go on for more than three weeks. (Yes, it’s that specific—and yes, it’s as exhausting as it sounds.)
Colic: Symptom, Not a Diagnosis
Here’s the thing, to me, colic as a diagnosis is unacceptable. I believe it to be more of a symptom, a signal that something isn’t quite right. I took my baby’s incessant crying as an indicator of severe discomfort, but what no one could identify was the source of the pain. Understandably so, many clinicians are often unwilling to put a baby through an extensive amount of testing for a condition that they will soon grow out of. Unfortunately, the “wait-it-out” treatment plan is not what us parents are looking for.
That is where I come in. My hope is to arm you with up-to-date information to pinpoint potential causes of your baby’s colic and to identify soothing mechanisms that work. The point is.. colic isn’t the end-all-be-all. It’s a sign that your baby is having a hard time adjusting to life outside the womb—and honestly, who can blame them? The world is a noisy, bright, and sometimes overwhelming place. But just because your baby is crying doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.
so what can you do
The million-dollar question, right? Here are a few tried-and-true tips to help you (and your baby) survive this phase:…
- Swaddle Like a Pro: Babies love the feeling of being wrapped up snugly, like they were in the womb.
- White Noise: A good white noise machine can work wonders. It drowns out the world and helps your baby (and maybe even you) drift off to sleep.
- Rock and Roll: Rocking, swinging, bouncing—movement is your friend. Outdoor time or a calm bath can nip a colic attack in the bud.
- Pacifiers Are Magic: Don’t underestimate the power of a pacifier.
- Take Breaks: Tag-team with your partner, a friend, or a relative. You need breaks to recharge, or you’ll end up as fussy as your baby.
- Talk to Your Pediatrician: If you suspect something more than colic, don’t hesitate to get professional advice. Sometimes, food intolerances or reflux can be the culprits.
- Keep following along and interacting with me! I am here to help you every step of the way… seriously, I mean it!
A Final Word: You’ve Got This
Parenting a colicky baby is tough, but remember, this phase will pass. It might feel like forever, but one day you’ll wake up and realize the crying has stopped (or at least decreased to a manageable level). And you’ll be stronger, wiser, and maybe a little more sleep-deprived, but you’ll have survived.
So, hang in there, keep your sense of humor, and know that you’re not alone. If I can survive colic, so can you.
With empathy (and coffee),
Maggie
The Colic Consultant
