My Colic Story
I think I can say with complete confidence that I absolutely HATE the word colic. It literally makes me cringe. It is the worst. thing. EVER.
(Now that I got that off my chest)
For the first 5 months of my daughter’s life, she cried. NONSTOP. Like nonstop. So I cried for the first 5 months of her life. NONSTOP. She was my first, so I thought that this is just what babies do. I called my mom everyday to ask “why do people have kids?”. …Then I’d cry some more. It just sucked.
If she wasn’t eating, she was crying, and no matter what I did, she wouldn’t stop. If she did stop, it was for a few minutes, then she’d be right back at it. She didn’t sleep, unless I got lucky, but I could never put her to sleep. Some days to make her stop, I’d just feed her all day. It was horrible, and she was my first, so I had nothing to compare it to.
I was also struggling with postpartum anxiety and depression, so this did not help things at all.
I questioned my ability to be a mother, and asked myself why I ever chose to have a child?
Everyone told me that having kids was the greatest thing ever, and this did not feel like the greatest thing ever.
I hated my life and I hated my little girl. (She’s almost 5 now and we are currently on good terms. We shall see what the teenage years bring.) You can read more about my depression story here.
There are many factors that contribute to the struggle of a first time mom, but colic was definitely the icing on the cake.
Post: 10 Things to AVOID when you’re depressed
What is Colic?
IDK. You tell me. No one seems to really know. I have read so much about colic it’s insane. I mean I had 5 months to try and solve the riddle.
I did not succeed.
I’ve read its:
A sleeping Disorder
Over-stimulation
Digestion Issues
And there are arguments to support all of these theories all over the internet. It’s very frustrating and very misleading. There is no “cure”, but there are ways to help manage it.
The true cure is… time. Eventually they will grow out of it, I guess there is hope in that.
Since I had 5 months to learn as much as I could about colic, I also learned many ways to help manage it. Some of them didn’t work and some of them seemed to work, at least for a short time.
All babies are different. What worked for mine, may not work for yours, but maybe you can find something here that works for you. I would recommend trying quite a few, but I guess it’s really dependent on how much you love your sanity.
You can read more about what to expect with Colic and how to know if your baby is colicky, here.
10 Tips to Help Relieve Colic in Your Baby
1. Reduce Their Stimulation.
One theory is that baby’s might have “colic” or cry incessantly due to over-stimulation. They are observing too much around them. It could be too loud, too bright, or seeing too many colors and movement.
A lot of parents have those little play gyms that you can lay them under and look at and reach for all the toys. Staying under that for too long could over-stimulate them. Try leaving the lights off or keeping it really quiet in the house for set periods of time throughout the day. You might even lay your baby in a dark room with no stimulation aside from nap times.
2. Gripe Water/Colic Drops.
You can purchase what is called Gripe Water or Colic Drops or Probiotic Drops. Let me preface this with, these are completely harmless to your child. We have used them too many times to count.
This is supposed to help with their digestive issues including gas and/or upset stomach.
We tried these with our oldest, which definitely helped with her gas, but not her colic. However, our second child was colicky too and it helped him a lot.
I will say that there is a difference between the brand name bottles and the cheap store bought brand. The brand names work a lot better and you don’t use as much of it. The cheap stuff does help a little, but I feel like you have to use more of it. Try different ones until you find what works for you.
Gerber Soothe Colic Drops are the kind IÂ highly recommend. It is on the expensive side, but works great.
Colic Calm: This is also a very good one. We have used it as well, but just preferred the Gerber. Both are great.
3. Change Formula
We must have changed formula like 8 times.
Sometimes the formula you have just doesn’t agree with your baby. Find the brand that works for you. We decided that none of them really made a difference so we ended up just buying the cheap stuff. (which is Parent’s Choice, the gentle kind.)
However, some people have had success with hypoallergenic formulas. They are worth a try. They are expensive, so start out with the smallest amount for the best price.
I would also give it a week to really see if it has an affect. And pray that it doesn’t work or else you’ll be buying expensive formula. haha. jk.
We tried Enfamil Nutramigen Infant Formula: It’s on the cheaper end, so you don’t feel like you’re giving your soul, and it’s a great trial size.
We also tried
Similac Alimentum Hypoallergenic Formula. This one is also on the cheaper side (Relatively).
4. Non-Dairy/Changing Your Diet
If you are breastfeeding, your diet could be affecting your baby.
They could be allergic to what you are eating. I tried going off dairy for a few weeks, but it didn’t work.
But I have also talked to several mothers who have said changing their diet and/or specifically giving up dairy has made their baby less fussy. It’s worth a shot. I gave up breastfeeding all together when she was 2 months old.
5. The Windi
This is a cool product even if your child isn’t colicky. We used this on our little boy and it actually works!
It seems weird, so bare with me. It’s a little tube that you stick in the baby’s bottom and it helps them relieve gas and/or poop. It’s insane, but it can be really helpful when you’re baby is struggling to poop or has a lot of gas. It’s amazing.
The Windi: The amazing tube that helps your baby poo.
6. Change Pacifiers
This is one that I have only read and heard about. Neither of my kids have taken a pacifier. #pityparty (I know feel sorry for me!) (haha).
But there are supposedly some pacifiers that are better than others. Something about the air they are sucking in causing them gas. A lot like sucking on an empty bottle. I have heard several mothers rave about these:
Philips AVENT Soothie Pacifier: These are the ones they use at the hospital, so that has to mean something!
7. Change the Way They Sleep
This is one that actually really helped us, and I’m pretty sure we did everything we weren’t supposed to do when it came to they’re sleep, but we were smart about it.
Both my kids have been belly sleepers, which we only allowed them to do when their necks were strong enough. They just slept better.
We tried the blankets under one side of the mattress to raise them up. We swaddled them. We propped them up on a bobby, tried co-sleeping, tried having them fall asleep in the swing and with a bottle. We just kept experimenting until we found what worked.
I’d say the biggest advice is find a way to prop them up, and the safest way is by putting blankets under their mattress on one side.
I’m pretty sure my daughter also slept on a nursing pillow the first 4 months of her life.
(If you haven’t had a chance to grab a nursing pillow yet, head over to nursingpillow.com and use my code livingtickled40 for $40 off a nursing pillow)
It may not only be the WAY they sleep, but also that they CAN’T sleep or AREN’T sleeping. There is this amazing thing, and if I knew about it when my daughter was colicky, I probably would have bought it in an instant.
It’s called the SNOO Smart Sleeper
It starts rocking if it hears your baby cry. Pretty cool.
You can also get the Halo bassinet that does a lot of the same things, but on a cheaper scale.
They also have really nice snuggies/swaddles for babies. A lot of babies like to feel like they are in the womb again. Wrapping them up tight also keeps them from being overstimulated.
8. Bottles
One of the theories of colic is that babies are sucking in too much air while they are eating which causes gas and digestive issues.
Luckily technology is so advanced that you can actually purchase these bottles. They are pretty neat. This could be something to try and work for you.
Philips Avent Anti-colic Baby Bottle with AirFree vent. I really like this brand. I feel like it’s a good brand at a good price. These bottles should last you a while.
Playtex Baby Ventaire Anti Colic Baby Bottle:Â These are a lot cheaper. I bet they work just as well.
9. Acid Reflux
Your baby could be dealing with some acid reflux.
We took our little girl to the doctor and she was prescribed some medication to help with her acid reflux. It’s very common in babies.
If they are throwing up a lot, projectile vomiting, or spitting up more than usual, there is a chance they could have acid reflux. Talk to your doctor about it.
10. Gas Drops
These are kinda like gripe water/probiotic drops, but they’re gas drops.
They can be used on your baby even if they aren’t colicky.
It helps a lot with getting rid of their gas, which is why they could be crying. You can definitely use the cheap brand of these. We haven’t found a difference in the cheap brand versus the name brand. Here is the one we like to use: Little Remedies Advanced Colic Relief Drops.
Extra Resources
I’m going to throw in a couple bonuses because these are the ones I haven’t heard about until recently, so I don’t have any experience with them, but maybe it’s something you could benefit from.
Happi Tummi Colic Relief
It’s supposedly supposed to help by releasing herbs after it’s heated to help with stomach pains. I don’t know, you tell me?
A tea that is safe for your baby, and is supposed to help your baby with digestive issues. If you contact the company, they say you can get a free sample. Let me know!
This is an interesting one. It’s a necklace that helps with digestive issues. Here’s out it works:
“Hazelwood works by creating a more alkaline environment in your body through direct contact with your skin, which may help to prevent and remedy many of the symptoms caused by acidosis (being too acidic) and by reducing free-radicals by having a high antioxidant effect through your pores.”
Again, let me know if it works for you.
I hope you can find relief in one of these remedies. I love to hear more if you know of any?
The key is just trying until you find the one that works for you and your baby! Feel free to contact me and vent about your colicky life, I know it’s hard! But you can do it Momma!
Related: What to Expect with a Colicky Baby
Related: The one strategy I used to get my baby to sleep through the night
Related: How to relieve gas in your baby
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Thanks for these wonderful guide on baby colic. I know there are a lot of products out there to help soothe colic in a baby. But what if the mother is so busy (usually with work) and can’t really make use of a specific product such as a carrier or swaddle blanket? What do you advice in such a situation? Thanks.
I would advise one of the other methods like the colic drops or trying different formulas. I know it’s so hard as a busy mom with a crying baby.