awake AND happy

When does this happen? It seems like whenever they are awake and not eating that they are crying! Could this be b/c they have reflux or being preemies etc? I hold them but then eventually have to put them down...I've checked diapers, temperature, changed positions, tried swings, bouncy etc. They just don't seem happy sometimes unless they are being held.

 

When does this happen? It seems like whenever they are awake and not eating that they are crying! Could this be b/c they have reflux or being preemies etc? I hold them but then eventually have to put them down...I've checked diapers, temperature, changed positions, tried swings, bouncy etc. They just don't seem happy sometimes unless they are being held.

 

Well, 2 things sprang to my mind, colic and reflux. Here's some info about both:

COLIC
"Colic is uncontrollable, extended crying in a baby who is otherwise healthy and well-fed. Every baby cries, but babies who cry for more than three hours a day, three to four days a week, may have colic.

About 20% of babies get colic, and it equally affects boys and girls, first-born children and those born later. In general, it appears at around two to four weeks of age and can last for three months, or longer in some cases."

"There is no single medicine or proven cure for colic, but there are several measures that may help. Different babies are comforted by different measures, and parents usually need to try various methods to see what works.

Parents who bottle-feed their babies may want to try a different formula. For parents who breastfeed, it's a good idea to continue this because weaning the baby from breast milk may make the colic worse.

Some women find that certain foods in their diet seem to make colic worse and they may find that cutting these foods out helps. These might include cruciferous vegetables (eg cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts and parsnip), beans, onions, garlic, apricots, melon, spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol. By reintroducing foods gradually, women may be able to identify which food, if any, is causing the problem.

If there is a family history of milk sugar (lactose) intolerance, breastfeeding mothers could try eliminating cows milk from their diet. Sometimes babies are not able to digest lactose well - this improves as they get older.

Some parents who bottle-feed their baby try changing over to soya-based formula, but there is no evidence that this is effective at reducing colic.

If the baby seems to have a lot of wind [gas], make sure he or she is burped frequently. Babies who are bottle-fed may swallow air from the bottle: try feeding the baby in a different position, or using a bottle and teat [nipple] designed to reduce the amount of air the baby swallows during a feed. These include curved bottles, bottles with a collapsible bag inside or bottles with a vent.

To soothe babies with colic, the following techniques may be helpful:

* carry the baby in a front sling or back pack
* wrap him or her snugly in a blanket (this is called swaddling)
* keep the baby moving in a baby swing
* place him or her near continuous noise or vibrations from household appliances like the dishwasher, vacuum cleaner or washer-dryer
* take him or her for a car ride or a walk outside
* give him or her a dummy [pacifier] to suck on
* give him or her tummy or back rubs
* take a shower together - the warm water may be comforting

Medicines

Medicines are not used to treat colic. However, medicines may help to relieve abdominal symptoms. It may be worth trying "colic drops" or "gripe water", which are available without a prescription. A medicine called dimeticone (eg Infacol) is available to relieve trapped wind [gas]."
I got this info from here. I added the words in brackets.

REFLUX
"Reflux occurs often in normal infants. More than half of all babies experience reflux in the first 3 months of life. Reflux can become a more serious concern in some infants, when medical attention is needed, and knowing the symptoms of chronic reflux is important.

* Persistent coughing or gagging
* Irritability when feeding
* Arching back when feeding
* Refusing food or eating only small amounts
* Frequent vomiting
* Sudden or constant crying
* Colic
* Wet burps
* Frequent hiccups
* Blood in stool
* Poor sleep habits
* Slow growth
* Difficulty swallowing
* Weight loss
* Spells of not breathing"
I got this info from here.

 

My babies were really fussy at the age if they weren't held. Then i read in a book later that infants reach peak fussiness at 6 weeks after their due date (not their birth date) and then it tapers off. My babies followed that to the T. So just hang in there, it'll get better. I know you've heard it a thousand times, but it will. Then they'll be moving and teething and they'll be hard again. Oh my son had reflux and was on Zantac and spit all the time, but he was actually the less fussy baby.

Mona