Colic, Will It Ever Get Better?!!

Oh, C., you poor thing. This too shall pass, as they say, but it sure is unpleasant in the meantime. Until that magical day when the screaming stops, get yourself (and your husband) ear protection. Not those weensy foam earplugs, I'm talkin' about the ones that guys use at construction sites or airport tarmacs. You can still hear and it really takes the edge off. You can cope much better when you don't feel like doing a swan dive out the window!

From what I understand, babies' digestive systems are immature when they're born, some more than others, which accounts for what seems to us like gastric distress. Some babies respond to remedies, some don't. Since I breastfed, I don't know what effect switching formulas has. It may help but it puts more stress on you!

There is tons of advice and trying each method can create even more stress, especially if none of these tactic works! Even though he seems miserable, he'll be OK.

So yes, it will get better!

Maybe a switch in formula? We use Gentlease and it cuts down on the gas and is very easy on baby't tummy because it has less lactose and partially broken down proteins. Check out the Enfamil website for more info on all the different formulas.

when my daughter was 8 weeks old, I switched her from Enfamil Lipil to Enfamil Gentlease and, within two days, she was like a totally different baby!! I'm so glad I made the switch!

Yes, it will get better. If you want to speed things up a bit run out and buy Dr. Karp's book or better yet, DVD The Happiest Baby on the Block. If you check the website, there are classes sometimes right in your area. It's a one day class with an option of the facilitator doing "house calls" for an extra fee. It's unbelievable how the techniques can calm a screaming baby in seconds. There are classes in New Hartford, NY if you are anywhere near. You may also want to check out Infant Massage techniques as well. And remember, try to take naps when your son does. Good luck!

My son had terrible gas pains and problems pooping. It does get better!!! What worked for us was gas drops that you can get over the counter at any drugstore. Also I found that when we switched formulas he would be great for like a month and then he would be lousy again, so we would swith again...it's like his body adjusted to the formula or something. We did Alimentum which worked and also Nutramagin which is also really good. Goodstart worked well for us too. Another thing that worked for us was his swing..he literally slept in it for the first 4 months of his life...the motion helped and the fact that he was sitting up a bit helped with his reflux!! He is 14 months now and a total joy. Good luck, and don't worry....there is an end in sight!!!!

OOOHHHH I am sooo sorry I know what its like to have a colic baby, Im spanish and ofcourse we have a thousand different old wives tales to "fix" a babies problems but this one works! Im not sure if you can find it somewhere over in Poughkeepsie. Its a natural liquid called "Cordial de Monet" IT WORKS when I tell you that I tried everything from Gripe Water to Teething tablets to calm him down this is the only thing that works. If you cannot find it I am going down to the city for Thanksgiving and can pick one up for you just email me at ____@____.com GOOD LUCK

Hang in there - I understand your feelings. My son, now 19 months old had colic for four months. It was terrible. I did the bycycle motions with his legs, Mylicon, Gripe water and a lot of TLC. It was a lot of sleepless nights and many days of constant wondering of what to do. It does get better, hang in there - there will be a time when you are so proud and you'll forget the difficult times you went through. As difficult as my son was in the very begining I now would like to have a second child. I also turned on the vaccume cleaner next to his bassinet - he would sleep for hours if I could put up with the vaccume cleaner noise. Once I shut off the vaccume he would wake up. The vaccume did give me a break as crazy as that sounds. My Ped. Dr said the sound of the vaccume was just enough to calm my son down - hey if it works... I was at witts end to try anything.. Good Luck and don't give up.

It will get better, however id like to offer you some tools that saved me when I was dealing with this with my fist son. You may already know but if not its a life saver!!! The first one is you put the baby across your forearm belly down, head is at your elbow and feet towards your hand. You can pat or rub his back but do some little bouncing motions and walk around the house after adjusting to it he will be in heaven and quietly enjoy drooling all down your fore arm. plus its so easy, you can go about your day while carrying him like this and he will love it!

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=ht...

that link shows a picture of how it should look.

Second, every few hours or so put him on your lap with his head at you knees belly up looking at you. this is great because you are interacting with him, talking and such while relieving the strain on his tummy. as you are the take his little feet and do kicks, and bicycle motions with his legs. ( I do it to some sort of rhythm, 1 2 3 4 and 1 2 3 4 ) after you do the bicycle kicks take both legs and gently but firmly press knees to chest and again I do it like 4 times to rhythm. then I do the knees to the belly on each side (right left, right, left and so on. In between firmly press down on his tummy and rub in one direction over and over again then go on to the next step. the you repeat from step one with he bicycle kicks again. you will see that he feels relieved and eventually when you start pressing those knees up he will pass gas. I usually continue till I get gas and then if I get more I quit when I have done the whole routine about 3 times without gas. hope that helps! I know its odd but its really helped me! I repeat each step or count of 4 about 3 times so the whole process Once takes about 5 minutes and I would do it for about 20 or more minutes a time many times a day. good luck!

You are not alone!! My son SCREAMS for hours on end and I am very stressed too. I swaddle swhing sing carry use a pacifier etc. My son does not like to be put AT all. He even cries throughwhit noise. some folks swear by gripe water but it does not work for my son. be strong and hang in there. i know it is hard. my son is 6 weeks.

My son had colic for 4 months. All he did was scream. He didn't sleep or eat, mylicon (sp??) drops helped a little. Also if you lay the baby on his back and take his legs and rotate them (as if he was riding a bike) that helped some. My son is now 5 years old and is an incredible child who is always getting compliments on his excellent bahvior. We believe it is because the first 4 months were soo stressful that he is such a good kid now.. Best of luck and believe me it will end and it is soo worth it (as we are pregnant now and can't wait to do it all over again ~ hopefully with no colic this time!!)

Try wearing the baby. invest in a sling. babies love it and the more you wear them in the daytime the better they sleep. also gripewater helps. sometimes it gets better. best to have doc check and make sure he does not have GERD/ reflux. a lot of babies have this and are thought to be just colicky when in fact they reflux. get a wedge pillow you can find them online look for reflux in babies. you will get a lot of info. my grandson had this and as soon as we used the wedge pillow he had his first good sleep. Good luck

I know when my daughter gets fussy (she's not colic) I start vaccuming and it will actually settle her down. Have you tried that with your little boy? I know it works with a lot of babies..for calming/soothing them. I am sure it will get better soon! GL