Colic

Ok, so the boys have colic. Add that to their list of ailments . . . anyway, I started gripe water with them a few days ago and am cautiously optimistic that it seems to be helping a little bit - not totally, but a little, which is better than nothing. But I wonder, generally, how long are babies colicky? A month, two? When can I expect to see the colic subside?

 

It usually lasts until 3-4 months old, but in severe cases can last until they are 6 months old.

The gripe water should help! I hope they get rid of the colic soon! :hug99:

 

Everyone that I know who had colicky babies including me, it lasted a month and then magically disappeared. For me it started at 1 month old and ended at 2 months old.

 

Sean was colicky from 6 weeks until he was 3.5 months or so. It's of very short duration timewise - but it seems like forever when you are trying to comfort them!

I got some earplugs (seriously) because, for me, it was easier to deal with if it wasn't as loud. Or some headphones and music. Then don't be shy about trying to find something that calms them. Some babies like the sound of the dryer, vacuum, or bathroom fan. Some babies like to be swaddled, others like to be in the colic carry (that was what soothed Sean). Some want the lights dimmed and the TV turned down. Some like to be vibrated in a bouncy seat. You'll just have to experiment and see what is soothing. Once you find what that thing is, don't be afraid to use it!!!!!!!!

2 different colic carry's - Lay your baby across your knees, belly down and rub or pat his back, while swaying or bouncing your knees OR hold him along your forearm, belly down, and support his turned head in the palm of your hand.

And get a break if you can. Even if you hire a babysitter to help you while you're in the house!

 

Evan's colic lasted 10.5 weeks exactly. It was as if he woke up that morning, smiled at me and said "You passed the test."

He's still a "sensitive" baby but we no longer have the endless crying sessions.

 

QUOTE(CHJH @ Jul 26 2007, 12:18 PM) [snapback]344851[/snapback]
Evan's colic lasted 10.5 weeks exactly. It was as if he woke up that morning, smiled at me and said "You passed the test."

He's still a "sensitive" baby but we no longer have the endless crying sessions.



Exactly what I was going to say. Colic lasted for my daughter until about 12 weeks adjusted age, then like a miracle it disappeared quickly. It was the hardest 12 weeks of our lives, but luckily it ended fast. Of course there was still crying and fussing afterwards, but not the constant hours of crying like colic was. Do whatever you can to survive the colicky times. Don't worry about schedule or getting them to sleep in the cribs, etc. Just "survive" until things get better, which they will. I remember how hard it was so I really sympathize for you.

 

Unfortunately, I have no help for you, but my doctor had an interesting theory that I've seen shot down here: He thinks that twins don't get colic. I'm sure there are alot of moms saying "HA!" at this point. My girls didn't so I kind of supported his casual research, but I'll be sure to tell him next visit that the phenomenon of twin colic exists!

 

Twins don't get colic? That's ridiculous.

 

Typically lasts till 12 weeks. We were one of the "lucky" ones with our first and it lasted till 6 months (with some improvement around 4.5).

I recommend "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" Great scholarly work with good and accurate info on colic.

I second the earplug "plug". lol. I used ear plugs and my husband used his lawn mowing ear protectors and both of us still lost some hearing. Our child was just short of a "jet engine" for noise (we measured with a decibel meter).

 

QUOTE(Take Luck! @ Jul 26 2007, 10:19 PM) [snapback]345701[/snapback]
Typically lasts till 12 weeks. We were one of the "lucky" ones with our first and it lasted till 6 months (with some improvement around 4.5).

I recommend "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" Great scholarly work with good and accurate info on colic.

I second the earplug "plug". lol. I used ear plugs and my husband used his lawn mowing ear protectors and both of us still lost some hearing. Our child was just short of a "jet engine" for noise (we measured with a decibel meter).



Wow! when did the colic start for you guys and was it for hours in the evening? lol about a jet engine!!!! and for 6 months...God bless you!!! ps... i love HSHHC book! we are beginning to practice sleep training now at 7 weeks..putting them down awake or drowsy. it's hard work but we have had some success. did it help with your colicky baby? did you have to let her CIO to sleep? once again, God bless you!!!

 

QUOTE(SilvrHeart @ Jul 26 2007, 02:26 PM) [snapback]344675[/snapback]
Ok, so the boys have colic. Add that to their list of ailments . . . anyway, I started gripe water with them a few days ago and am cautiously optimistic that it seems to be helping a little bit - not totally, but a little, which is better than nothing. But I wonder, generally, how long are babies colicky? A month, two? When can I expect to see the colic subside?


Colic for us lasted until about 3.5 months. In a weeks' time they went from screaming until 11, to 10, to 930, to 9 ... and then 8:00 was bedtime and all was great!!!! I always tell people they got out all their screaming and crying early on during colic because they are SUCH good babies now. But back then, OMG was it rough. Hang in there, it does get better eventually!

 

QUOTE(kendall22 @ Jul 26 2007, 04:07 PM) [snapback]345365[/snapback]
Unfortunately, I have no help for you, but my doctor had an interesting theory that I've seen shot down here: He thinks that twins don't get colic. I'm sure there are alot of moms saying "HA!" at this point. My girls didn't so I kind of supported his casual research, but I'll be sure to tell him next visit that the phenomenon of twin colic exists!

What a silly silly doctor! :wacko: I wonder what his reasoning is??

 

My Ryan's lasted until 5.5 mos. He came out screaming and never stopped. I really couldn't believe it while it lasted--I'd heard other moms complain about colic and always kind of eye-rolled to myself, judging them--talk about karma!

We took him to his pedi, pedi GI, allergist, nothing was wrong. One day he just snapped out of it and now it seems like heaven around here. Good luck. :hug99:

 

QUOTE(Her Royal Jennyness @ Jul 27 2007, 02:30 PM) [snapback]346366[/snapback]
What a silly silly doctor! :wacko: I wonder what his reasoning is??

I was thinking the same thing. So then what was my daughter's screaming, every night at 9 p.m. religiously? She just COULD NOT be calmed for at least 1/2 hour....and that was a good day. She was healthy, fed, clean diaper, etc., etc.

Anyway, for me what worked was the gripe water BEFORE it started, since I knew it started at the same time every night. One night, my mother came over and she held her while the crying was in full force. She didn't stop crying, but to have someone else take a stab at it (and someone with experience) made me feel a little more like I wasn't alone in my efforts.

Ya' know what else worked....holding her tight to me and humming in her ear gently. Granted I had to do it until she fell asleep, but it really soothed her a lot. I also used to keep whispering to her that we were going to get through this together and that she was going to be fine. I think I did that mostly for myself. She's been over it now for about 3 months, so I think it lasted about 8 weeks; from 2 months old to 4 months old. She's not colicy anymore, but she is a sensitive kid. Way more than her sister.

Big, big hugs to you. It's tough to watch them go through it. But it does end.

 

Oh yeah...one more thing. When it does work...DON'T TELL ANYONE! At least, don't brag about it. I did that twice and BOOM twice it started again!

 

QUOTE(andreap @ Jul 27 2007, 09:00 AM) [snapback]345941[/snapback]
Wow! when did the colic start for you guys and was it for hours in the evening? lol about a jet engine!!!! and for 6 months...God bless you!!! ps... i love HSHHC book! we are beginning to practice sleep training now at 7 weeks..putting them down awake or drowsy. it's hard work but we have had some success. did it help with your colicky baby? did you have to let her CIO to sleep? once again, God bless you!!!


The colic started right away in the hospital and the nursery would not keep my baby in there due to all the screaming. We did have to CIO. I loved all the "gentle" bedtime ideas, but the fact was, there was no way to get my child to sleep without crying even while in our arms. We started CIO at 4.5 months and that's when the colic started getting better. But it was a BEAR at first. Worst night was 5 hours of screaming in the crib. I toughed it out only because my DH was sliding into depression and I wasn't far behind him. We hated our lives. The screaming would begin sometime between 6 am and 7 (upon wake up) and would stop around 2:30 a.m., or whenever we were "successful" at achieving a sleep state! The only break from the screaming was nursing, which I spent hours doing. It was common for me to nurse for 3-5 hours at a stretch just to enjoy the quiet (baby would catnap off and on on the breast, but I could never unlatch without screaming). With HSHHC, my baby went from getting 8 total hours of sleep per day, to 18! A miracle! On our worst colic day at 6 weeks, our baby only slept 2 hours out of 24, and that was just 15 min catnaps while nursing.

I like to think God gave me that baby because he knew I wouldn't kill it. I'll never forget my sweet husband, swaying our screaming baby and wearing red ear protectors, saying, "I now understand why some animals eat their young". On the positive side, my mom always told me that colic babies never go through "terrible twos". I found this to be the case!