Help! Colicy Baby :( Any Suggestions?
I have a 2 1/2 wk old baby boy the last week he’s been really whiny especially at night he cries and puts his legs to his tummy. He always wants to eat but I try not to feed him all the time I know it will make things worse he just wants to suck to I give him the pacifier. My first son was the same wat untill I changed him to a lactose free formula. I was breatfeeding him but I can’t produce enough to take with me when I leave so I bought the same stuff they gave to me in the hospital for when we leave home. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what to do with him without changing formulas until I see his doctor again. I’ve hear Soy formula will help alot or changing to a lactose free like I did with my first. Any other suggestions other then changing formulas??
Also would anyone know this? My son does not like the powder stuff he refuses to drink it. He only likes the premade liquid formula. Anyone happen to know Why this may be?
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Oh I feel your pain!! I had an EXTREMELY colicky baby. He would cry non-stop for 3-5 hours every night and would have long bouts of unexplained crying during the day. It was so bad, I couldn’t take him in public places for almost 3 months! However, he is now a wonderful, happy 7 month old that hardly ever cries! I know how hard it is for you now, but the colick will pass.
Most people assume that colick is gas, reflux, tummy problems, etc. etc. etc. I think my doctor put it best when he said colick means “I don’t know”. Colick is just a term used to describe high needs babies that need to be held, fed differently, rocked, sang to, swaddled, and so forth more than most babies. What works for some of these babies won’t work for others. It’s by trial and error that you will find what works for your little one.
This all being said, I will tell you what worked for us. First of all, as painful as it was for me, I supplemented my breast feeding with formula (GentleEase Lipil by Enfamil – partialy broken down lactose). This seemed to help him with his tummy and go to the bathroom better. (Gas drops didn’t do a thing to help us!) Then, I swaddled him everynight to help him feel like he was still in the womb. This did wonders for his ability to sleep!! The pacifier was my best friend; it sometimes comforted him just to suck. When he was inconsolable, I would give him a pacifier, put him in a sling and “wear” him. (The sling is also helpful when you need to do light housework, take care of your other little one….it lets you hold the baby, yet still have use of both your hands!)Sometimes, while wearing him, I would have to sing and sway back and forth to get him calmed down. When he was around 8 weeks old, he finally started to like his swing; this would also calm him down at times. I read the book “The Happiest Baby on the Block” and took alot of pointers from that.
Good luck with your little bundle!!
ps. pumping every 2-3 hours will help you produce more milk
I think you need to see your pediatrician. I disagree with you not feeling him and your interest in changing formula. I would address those questions with your doctor, before you make those decisions.
Sounds like you might have a reflux baby on your hands. Have you discussed this w/ the pedi doc? Colic is a symptom not a disease/disorder and its a symptom of either reflux or allergies/intollerences to the formula/breastmilk.
I would switch to a completly hypoallergenic formula like alimentium not soy. If your child has probs w/ cows milk its likely soy will be a prob too.
There is a website with a ton of info on it and it also has a support group too for “colicky” babies and reflux babies:
http://www.infantrefluxdisease.com
I was recently reading that colic isn’t gas like previously thought but more of a digestive problem. Studies in Europe showed that giving a baby active yougurt cultures helped their tummys digest formula better than without. Some babies don’t have the proper bacteria yet for digestion and it can cause colic. It’s a new study and not confirmed in the US yet. At least it’s something to look up on the computer.
It could be a allergy or sensitvity to the formula. It’s best to talk to your doctor.
A good lactation consultant can help you increase your milk supply. I though I couldn’t produce enough either but it turns out I was not pumping at the right times and mine helped me and I actually had too much milk and even looked to start donating it to a milk bank because we had so much!
If it is true colic over feeding will just make it worse. It’s true babies go through growth spurts but it shouldn’t be causing the symptoms you are suggesting
The all time best advise is that I received from our pediatrician is do not act crazy, do one thing and stick to it, or the baby might become over stimulated. For instance if you rock the baby do not walk with the baby. IF you massage the baby do not rock the baby at the same time. Only do one thing at a time and it sounds like the baby is hungry. Colic is not Just gas like everyone thinks it is hunger and discomfort.
Take the baby to see the doctor as soon as you can.
We have a son who had severe colic- beginning when he was 2 weeks old. I was breastfeeding and went to soy formula- I was misinformed. It got much, much worse. From 5 hours a night to 18 hours a day.
Stick to breastfeeding only…pump and conserve what you have.
Soy only made it worse…if it is true colic, he may have it when you are nursing as he is suseptible, but it won’t be as bad.
Mylicon drops didn’t help.
Colic is not caused by gas- it is a digestive problem.
The switch from breastmilk to formula may also be causing his digestive troubles. The formula is a lot harder to digest.
Feed your baby when he is hungry- nurse on demand to pull up your milk supply. Your milk supply isn’t well established and your son is in the midst of a growth spurt- all babies experience one at 2 weeks of age. Nurse him on demand.
When in the midst of colic- turn on music and dance with him…it worked wonders for him. Our son loved Celine Dion and I borrowed my aunt’s cd’s to help.
Take him outside- that also helped.
Car rides- did not help.
Get a sling or another baby carrier to make your life easier with the newborn and 2 year old. The sling provided us a lot of comfort for our son- and he loved being worn.
They will outgrow this- our son was 4 months old when he finally outgrew all colic. It was a long 4 months but the things I did promoted a strong bond that is there today.
Good luck and you are in my prayers.
COLIC USUALLY STARTS AROUND 3WEEKS ITS 3HRS A DAY AT LEAST 3 DAYS A WEEKI IT IS NOT TUMMY PROBLEMS SO MYLICON WILL NOT HELP COLIC COLIC IS NOT GAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE IS HUNGRY!!!!! THEY OFTEN HIT A GROWTH SPURT AT THIS TIME FEED HIM YOU CAN NURSE HIM WHILE LAYING NEXT TO HIM PERFECT FOR BOTH OF YOU IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A PLENTIFUL MILK SUPPLY DITCH THE FORMULA YOU DO PRODUCE ENOUGH FOR WHEN YOU GO OUT YOU’RE BREASTS ARE NEVER EMPTY!!!!!! DONT BE AFRAID TO FEED THE BABY!!!!
im using colief for my baby it works great all u do is put it in every bottle and it reduces the crying now he only has colic if he dosent get his wind up proply its only a small bottle 7ml and its 10 pound but its worth it and if it works u can get it on prescription from doc