Colic Remedies: Comfort and Coping Mechanisms

SO WHAT THE HECK IS COLIC?

Colic, also known as "The Period of Purple Crying" or "Witching Hour," is defined by the rule of “threes” 👇

• Continuous crying for three or more hours a day
• Three or more days a week
• For three or more weeks.
  

Colic is characterized by continuous and inconsolable crying or extreme fussiness in a newborn baby who is seemingly totally healthy (no diagnosed illness). This time can cause extreme stress for parents as it feels like you can’t do anything to help and cause feelings of anger, hopelessness, frustration, guilt and confusion. 

Here is what you may be experiencing if your baby has colic: 

• Intense crying that looks like your baby is in pain. 
• Crying or screaming for no apparent reason (they aren’t hungry or need to be changed etc). 
• Happens at predictable times, usually the evening hours. 
• Baby is stiff or tense: clenching their fists, arching back, and stiffening their body

The first thing you need to know about colic is YOU ARE NOT ALONE. So many parents have gone or are going through this exact same thing right now. My first baby, Lily, was extremely colicky and also had silent reflux (If you think your baby has reflux or silent reflux you can learn more about it here). This time of my life was one of the most challenging times of my existence and pushed me into a pretty extreme postpartum hole of sadness. I say this not to be depressing (I promise it does get SO MUCH BETTER very soon), but just to share that this can make you feel really low, so if this is you, you aren’t alone.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider for mental health support. I also LOVE this book “Good Mom’s Have Scary Thoughts” and read it often as I was going through this difficult time. 

This time was particularly hard because I had NO idea what the heck colic/purple crying really was, when it was going to end, and how to handle it. 

Fussiness/crying can begin around 3 weeks, peaks around 6 weeks, and then begins to improve thereafter. 

Colic typically begins to taper off and improve by 12-20 weeks. 

Basically, it will get better. This is temporary!!

Ok, but how do I get through it until it improves!?! 

HERE ARE 10 TIPS TO HELP 👇

• Baby wearing
• Movement/ rocking
• Sound machine/ any sound that hums (such as the car)
• Cluster feeding 
• Getting outside on a walk/change of scenery 
• Changing their clothes to reduce any sensory
• A good quality probiotic (I like this one)
• If breastfeeding: diet changes can help.
• Warm bath
• Infant Massage
  
  

Finally, please know you aren’t doing anything wrong. Sometimes this just happens to happen. You didn’t cause this. You are a great parent. You CAN get through this and you WILL. 

Still feeling constantly confused and overwhelmed by newborn life and the lack of sleep?

I can help you! The Cozy Newborns course reveals a comforting, gradual approach that provides YOU with simple steps to improve your newborn’s sleep from day ONE.  

With plenty of cuddles and ZERO guilt!. YES I NEED THIS!

So What’s Inside the Newborn Sleep Course? 👇

+ Sleep Environment — Learn how to create an environment that reduces stimulation, and sets your newborn baby up for sleep success by helping them to feel relaxed and calm in their crib!

+ Awake Windows + Tired Cues — A number 1 game changer. Learn to prevent a screaming, overtired and overstimulated newborn baby with these two simple, but life changing baby sleep tips. Tune into YOUR baby and understand their unique sleep needs. Adopt this no stress approach to wake windows, nap time, and bedtime.

+ Nutrition — You’ll learn how feeding and sleeping are connected and how being mindful of BOTH can encourage those longer stretches of sleep overnight.

+ Settling Techniques — Newborns can cry A LOT, and sometimes it can feel impossible to soothe them. You’ll learn tips to help you through the “witching hour” (a.k.a. colic) by providing steps to help trigger their calming reflex and relax before sleep.

+ Daily Routines — Helping your newborn feel safe, secure, and relaxed is absolutely vital for sleep. Gives not only you something to focus on, but helps your baby to feel safe, secure, and knowing what is about to happen. This results in fewer meltdowns at bedtime and naptime. AKA everyone is happier.

+ Connection — My sleep philosophy allows for lots of baby wearing and sleepy newborn cuddles as you wish, as well as shaping a great foundation for sleeping in the crib. This fulfills your needs as a parent to bond with your baby, encouraging a secure attachment whilst also meeting you and your baby’s sleep needs.

+ Bedtime + Night Plan — A solid plan for what the heck to do at bedtime and overnight!! What if they wake up as soon as you lay them down? Start crying? I’ve got you covered. Newborns require lots of hands on help, and the newborn guide will walk you through the process step-by-step. LENGTHEN YOUR BABY’S NIGHT SLEEP IN A gradual WAY - Create time for a hot shower or bath, connection time with your spouse, and set your baby up for longer stretches of sleep once they are ready.

+ Make empowered choices about your family sleep environment, routines, and calming strategies.

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