Need Advice on 2 Week Old Cryer

Have you tried swaddling her? Wearing her in a sling?

I found some of what Dr. Harvey Karps 5 S's or whatever to be helpful.

ABOUT DR. KARP'S METHOD

Dr. Karp believes that babies, especially in their first few months of life, can experience "fourth trimester" issues. Babies can have a difficult time getting used to the huge amount of stimuli present in life outside of Mom's body. Their reaction to all of this is to cry and cry.

The Happiest Baby On The Block method formulated by Dr. Harvey Karp, addresses these issues by helping you learn how to effectively recreate the environment of the womb, outside of Mom's body. Once you have learned the steps, you will be able to alleviate some, if not all, of your baby's colic symptoms.

The 5 S's
There are 5 components to this method which, when used together, work amazingly well to calm your crying baby and in many cases help your baby go to sleep with no fuss.

Using cross-cultural techniques combined with his own research, Dr. Karp has developed the "five S's system". Some babies will need all five, others just a few to help induce what he calls the "calming reflex."

* Swaddling - Tight swaddling provides the continuous touching and support the fetus experienced while still in Mom's womb.

* Side/stomach position - You place your baby, while holding her, either on her left side to assist in digestion, or on her stomach to provide reassuring support. Once your baby is happily asleep, you can safely put her in her crib, on her back.

* Shushing Sounds - These sounds imitate the continual whooshing sound made by the blood flowing through arteries near the womb. This white noise can be in the form of a vacuum cleaner, a hair dryer, a fan and so on. The good news is that you can easily save the motors on your household appliances and get a white noise CD which can be played over and over again with no worries.

* Swinging - Newborns are used to the swinging motions that were present when they were still in Mom's womb. Every step mom took, every movement caused a swinging motion for your baby. After your baby is born, this calming motion, which was so comforting and familiar, is abrubtly taken away. Your baby misses the motion and has a difficult time getting used to it not being there. "It's disorienting and unnatural," says Karp. Rocking, car rides, and other swinging movements all can help.

* Sucking - "Sucking has its effects deep within the nervous system," notes Karp, "and triggers the calming reflex and releases natural chemicals within the brain." This "S" can be accomplished with bottle, breast, pacifier or even a finger.

These steps sound pretty easy, but seeing them done properly, in conjunction with each other, is the key to relieving your baby's colic symptoms and making Mom, Dad, and baby less stressed and much happier!

You can learn more about The Happiest Baby on the Block Technique from Dr. Karp's book (available from Amazon.com) or with his VHS tape or DVD. Many people have reported that they have had MUCH more success with the calming technique after they actually saw it in practice on the DVD or VHS.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi J.,
I know it seems like she will never stop crying, but I promise as she grows older the crying will be less and less. I found that the 5 s's were helpful. If all else failed I could take my guy on a stoller ride over paver brick road (or any bumpy surface) and he would always fall asleep. Good Luck!

The 5 S's

But now a new system that involves the 5 S's -- swaddling, side/stomach holding, shushing, swinging, and sucking -- can calm squalling infants, he says. This, says Karp, activates the baby's calming reflex during the first three to four months of life by mimicking the experiences in the uterus.

Swaddling. Wrap your baby tightly in a receiving blanket to duplicate the feelings of warmth and protection, and the "tight fit," in the womb. Swaddling also stops your baby's uncontrolled arm and leg flailing that can contribute to hysterical wailing. Karp says your baby will be calmer if she's swaddled 12-20 hours a day in the beginning. "Twelve hours may seem like a lot from our point of view, but to the newborn, it's already a 50% cutback on the 24-hour-a-day 'snuggling' in the uterus," he explains.
Side/stomach soothing. Lay your baby on her side or stomach, which Karp believes shuts down the baby's "Moro reflex," or a sensation of falling, and thus helps keep her calm. (He adds, however, that a baby should never be put to sleep on her stomach, since this may increase the risk of SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome).
"Shhhing" sounds. There is a whooshing noise within the womb, caused by blood flowing through the mother's arteries. You can recreate this sound with a "white noise" machine, a tape or CD with these "white noise" sounds, a dishwasher, a car ride, or a hair dryer.
Swinging. Rhythmic movements in an infant swing, hammock, moving automobile, or baby carrier can keep your baby content.
Sucking. Occupy your baby with a pacifier, infant bottle, or a mother's nipple (which Karp describes as "the all-time, No. 1 sucking toy in the world.")
Karp says that tightly swaddling a crying infant with its arms down by its side initially may make the crying worse, but holding the baby on its side after swaddling and gently jiggling it while supporting the head and neck has an immediate calming effect, he notes. "Overstimulation is not nearly as big of a problem as understimulation. Babies miss the rhythmic, hypnotic sounds and movement."

"If the five S's are done exactly right with just enough vigor, the calming reflex will be turned on and the baby will stop crying," Karp explains. "If a parent can get the baby to stop crying they feel like a million bucks, but if they can't they feel miserable. Parents need to be taught how to quiet their babies."

1 mom found this helpful

You've received good advice thus far, but I would really consider changing the formula.
My baby was the same way. She would cry for what seemed like forever. My husband was working crazy hours, barely home, so I was losing my mind. Swinging her from side to side kinda fast and shooshing the baby in her ear worked most often. When that didn't work.. standing by the ac vent, or turning on the vaccuum, or taking her outside, helped for a little while, even turning on the water faucet very strong and standing with her next to it helped.
When it occurred to me that it could be gas, we would give her the mylicon drops after every feeding at night, because this is when it semed to occur the most. At that age, under a month, my ped didn't want to give her the gripe water, but you get to the point where you go crazy and so i decided to follow my instincts and gave her a little bit less than half of what the bottle recommends. I made sure her formula was very warm, put it in her formula and it worked. That's when we decided to try changing her formula. We tried about 3 or 4 times before we started using similac isomil advance the soy formula. We had tried enfamil soy prior but it gave her diarrhea. i was uneasy about giving her another soy, but the ped said that each brand is different, and this was our lifesaver.
of course, always talk to your ped but i think following your instincts will lead you to the right path. good luck.

My fourth child was a crier the first month or so. She didn't have colic though. She had gas a lot and spit up EVERY time I burped her and sometimes just for no reason. The crying and the gas/spit up stopped about the same time. Two things worked for me. For the gas - an older lady from church told me to try a burping method that I had NEVER heard of that she called the "rolling technique". After feeding the baby - lay her across your lap on her tummy and roll her over to her back. Do that several times. Slowly. When I tried it my daughter would burp a HUGE burp and not spit up and no gas later in the tummy. The second thing I did was find a nice comfy sling. Once I put her in it and did all my chores and such with her attached to me - she quieted down. It mimics the motion that she is familiar with from the womb. It worked wonders for me and I had to do it for several weeks but then she just stopped crying. Hallelujah! Hope this helps.

You have to read "The Happiest Baby on the Block". It teaches you how to recreate the womb experience, which triggers the baby's calming reflex. You have probably heard each and tried each of these techniques, but you have to do them all together and you have to match the baby's intensity. You may have to shush a little louder to get the baby to notice what you are doing over their own cries. You can slow or lower your shushing gradually as the baby starts calming down, and continue doing it a few minutes after they calm to give them time to forget they were upset. Read the book! There are a few steps you have to do together for it to work, but it works!
In addition, white noise helps also, buy a womb sounds bear, vaccuum, turn the ceiling fan in her bedroom on, etc.

My first born did the same thing. The Doctor said she may be lactose intolerant, since I was breast feeding I had to cut out dairy all together. We also gave her Mylicon before every feeding to help with the gas pains. Hope this helps. K.

Which type of cry is it? Has the baby been on the same formula since birth?

HUNGER
Hunger is the most common cause of crying. Babies say "I'm hungry" with a low-pitched, rhythmic cry that repeats a pattern of short cry, brief pause, short cry, pause. The sound is less shrill than other cries, and sounds demanding rather than desperate. This cry is often preceded by finger sucking, lip smacking or nudging.

TIREDNESS
The fatigue cry is a wailing sound with a definite vibrato. This cry gradually builds up in intensity and often has a continuous and nasal quality.

BOREDOM
Babies say "I'm lonely and bored" with a cry that is whiny and whimpering; sometimes it almost sounds like a moan. This cry stops abruptly when the infant is picked up.

PAIN
This cry begins suddenly and is high-pitched and shrill. The cry is loud and long (as long as four seconds), which leaves the infant breathless. This cry is followed by a dramatic, lengthy pause (as long as seven seconds) as the baby catches her breath again. The baby's arms and legs may flail and then jerk tensely back into the body. This cry is nonstop and uncontrollable.

ILLNESS
Sick babies signal their discomfort with a prolonged cry. The cry sounds weak, whiny and nasal. It is generally lower in pitch than a pain cry. The cry can more readily be identified as a signal of illness when it is considered together with changes in the baby's appearance and behavior. The baby may have a flushed face, appear listless, refuse to eat, have diarrhea and avoid cuddling.

COLIC
Colic crying is readily identifiable because it generally occurs like clockwork every afternoon or evening, lasts for several hours each time, and the baby is not readily consolable.

IRRITABILITY
Irritable babies cry on and off all day long and often wake crying during the night, as well. Soothing techniques work better with these babies than with colicky infants.

Maya wrap, Ergo carrier ,Hot slings etc. Wear your baby ! She will be much happier and you will too! You will be able to get things done in your home. Check out www.thebabywearer.com. and www.theergolady.com. This will help you FOR SURE ! Good luck ! M. :)

I had a similar problem with my baby girl. I know how fustrating it could be, she is my second and my boy was not like this at all. I did alot of reading and figured out that she was colic. I tryed everything, I was breastfeeding at the time and changed my diet completely. Nothing was working I finally asked my sister who is a herbalist/nutrionist etc. She recomended a product called Tummy Ease. She sells this product and it was heaven sent. She has been a huge help, she works on the body,mind and spirit. Her email is ____@____.com (Gloria) She could help you alot more with anymore questions you may have. Hope this helps

they do cry a lot. i don't know about constantly. does she sleep some? she could be colicky (colicky babies cry a lot_. ask the doctor, if yes, try mylicon drops that seemed to help.
good luck

My son was the same way, for FOUR months he cries nonstop. My doctor told me the same thing. I finally listened to my mother and bought a few cans of soy milk, it was like day and night. I felt so bad for having let him be so miserable for so long. It won't hurt to just try a few days on a soy formula and see if it helps. In the mean time, try laying her on her stomache across your knees and rubbing her back, thats the best way I found to relieve any gas my son had. Good Luck!

Hello J.,

My son developed colic after 3 weeks old. They normally develop colic from 2-4 weeks old & it go's away after 3 months. With my son i gave himthe gas drops, they work really good. I use to put it in his milk. I also use to take him for a ride in the car that helped. Try taking her for a walk, car ride, bounce her. Also when you feel really overwhelmed with her crying just put her down in her crib or somewhere safe & go outside for about 5-10 minutes & take a breather ( don't feel gilty it's ok to do this ). Some times you just need to clear your head for a few minutes before you go crazy. I use to do it & then go back inside & start all over again.

Oh, I just remembered maybe she's just staying hungry. Take her weight divide it by 2 & put it into onces & that's how much she should be eating. When i got home from the hospital myson would not stop cring & i found out i was not feeding him enough. He weighed 7 lbs 8 onces, i was only giving him 2 onces of milk instead of 4 onces. Just some food for thought.
Good luck.
Hang in there it get's alot better. I'll pray for you.

Check out Happiest Baby on the Block. You might try to get it through Amazon.com. Also have you tried a baby sling like Maya wrap etc? Some babies need lots of physical contact. DO NOT just let her cry it out alone! She needs you. Consider breastfeeding next time - much better for baby!

Hi J.,

I think that when you have your first baby, it is excitng, yet challenging. My first screamed the first 3 months of her life, then she stopped. I think a lot of it is to get over the first time mommy jitters. Once I was relaxed, so was she. Don't feel guilty if she is screaming. I would have to put her in her crib and let her scream because I was getting upset. Do you have a bouncy seat? or a swing? Those are wonderful. I can't tell you enough thow, it is okay to put her down for 5 minutes to collect yourself, and then try everything again, is she fed, cold, wet, etc. Once that little girl smiles at you for real for the first time, it is all worth it! Don't stress, it will all be okay! M. (mama of 3)

Ok, I didn't have the crying problem at all unless my daughter was sick but she has started it recently, she decided she doesn't like naps anymore. Also my mom and friends gave me lots of adivce before she was born just in case. Like most of the other moms have said, try a different formula. To be honest, my daughter was really good on the Wal-Mart brand (Parent's Choice) formula. It's alot cheaper, by at least $5, and it's pretty much the same thing as the expensive stuff. You may also want to try the organic formulas, they're new so I haven't tried them with Bethany but they may have something in them that will help. Something you may also want to try if you haven't already, a pacifier, I know alot of moms don't want to use them, I didn't, but sometimes they just need something to suck on even when they're not hungry. If you think it may be colic, my mom said putting their bouncer chair on the dryer will help. Of course most bouncers are vibrating anyways now, so that may be outdated. The only other thing I can say is let her cry it out. I know my daughter is quite a bit older but sometimes it's the only thing that will work. Good luck.

I don't know if this helps, but my first son wanted to be held constantly for about the first 6 weeks. It was draining, but for me it was easier to carry him constantly than listen to him scream. I think of it as him just having a harder time adjusting to being outside the womb. Hopefully your daughter will get used to the outside world a little quicker. I am expecting my second in 4 weeks and have bought a moby wrap to carry him in just in case he is like his brother was those first few weeks. Good luck and it does get easier. Soon you will only remember how precious she was when she was so tiny!
~B.
Mom to Hayden 3/21/05 and Logan edd 9/26/06

Hi J.,
Run the vaccuum, run it till it dies if you have to, it worked for my middle son, who was the exact same way. Hair dryer also works great, and when you are in the car stay as close to motorcycles as you can : ) worked everytime.
Good Luck!

I went through exactly the same with my 2nd.daugther. Nothing really worked until she turned 2 month and accepted the pacifier. Dancing with her with laud music used to help for a little while. I believe is their personality. She is 7 years old and still cries for any reason.

Good luck I know it is a nightmare that seems endless! Don't worry the next one won't have this problem!!

HI you have alot of reading to do..lol...one thing that works great is a swing!!!!!!! My daughter was so content in that!!!! I would put her in her swing and play kids music she loved that! also car rides! she would stop cying as soon as the car started moving. good luck!

You have gotten some good idea's. I never had a colicky baby, but mine was high needs and needed to be in my arms all the time, and when not in my arms he cried, I had a sitter quit on me cause of this. anyway I have a copy of the happiest baby on the block if you would like to borrow it I'd be happy to lend it. Just send me an e-mail and we can work it out. ____@____.com

Hi J.,
My daughter was 6 weeks early and she had to be in the nicu a little bit too. When she first came home she was a little fussy too, she did take the breast and when I gave her the formula she got really fussy so i changed it and gave it to her warm and that help alot (i went from good start to similac)...she is now 6 months and is very calm and happy. If you give warm instead of room temperture babies don't get as much colic as babies that have room temp.

It appears that many Moms have written you some great advice. I concur, my first was a nonstop crier and we didn't have a 2nd till 5 1/2 years later. I remember those restless nights for the first 6weeks and my ears ringing. What worked well for us was putting her in the swing- the first swing was one that was designed for the floor and the size of a carseat. It was a used one and I'm not sure where you can find one. It seemed to soothe her and sometimes we would just leave her in it overnight. I breast fed and had that problem so I'm not sure if has to do with formula. What you may find out is that she's just going to be a chatter box- find humor she has a lot to say. Best advice of all you've heard is to get someone to help you with taking a break.

I feel you here!!! I didnt read all the replies for this, but what wroked for me was a bouncer chair. Have you have ever seen the sex in the city episode, where marianda cant get brady to sleep and the neighbor brings her a bouncer chair? Well it really works. Also the vacume!!! We would run the vacume sometimes for hrs. Good luck!!!!!!

Have you tried putting her in a swing? They really calm a baby and sometimes even puts them to sleep.

Hi J. -

I see you have a record 43 responses to your question - have any of the suggestions worked? Just curious and hopeful.

My daughter was like that for a while but she was rotten... try giving her a bath and calming her down a little, or try to do the belly thing that sometimes relaxes babys!!!

mylicon after EVERY bottle! If the mylicon is helping but not fixing the problem, ask your docotor to prescribe hyoscyamine sulfate oral solution. You also need to call your doctor and ask to switch formulas to either lactose free or soy. Is she pooping? If not, glycerin suppository.
It's definitely gas or constipation! BEEN THERE!!!

Have you tried a baby swing with music and lights? Or maybe swaddling....Good Luck!

Have you tried a carrier? My son now 11 months old, also want to held and was fussy. I would put him in the bjorn facing me. It would calm him and my hands were free do other things. If you don't have a carrier yet, I highly recommend the bjorn sport, which has back support. It is a little pricey, but I used it to take him shoppin and for walks until he was 8 or 9 months old. Also try a bouncey seat that vibrates. My son was not a big fan, but my best friends son loved it and would only settle down when in the bouncey seat. He even slept in it at night. Also don't be afraid to just let her cry. If you have tried everything and she is still crying despite being held, then just let her cry in her crib. I learned that my son started to soothe himself after a few weeks. I figure if his going to cry anyway, I might as well get something done.

Try taking a shower with her, or a full body massage with baby oil, or a swing.

I don't know what formula you are using but it might not hurt to switch formulas. I used Similac Isomil Advance (it's a soy formula). It is a bit more expensive than your basic formula but well worth it if it settles her. There is another one by Similac that is also used for colic symptoms. It is called Alimentum which is used if the Isomil Advance does not do the trick. My second child had colic pretty badly. I was breastfeeding & by 6 weeks we had both had enough. I started her on the Similac Isomil Advance & noticed changes quickly. Good Luck!

Shes probably colic. You just have to be very patient with your baby. I was in the same situation too. my cousin told me about something called fennel seed that might help your baby. You can get in the supermarket in the spice section. Truly I didn't try it, but if you want to try it go right ahead it might help. Basicaly I just dealt with it. I know its annoying, but just be very patient when she gets month or two it will be better.

Hi J.,

My 15 month old grandson was a cryer too. We found two things that seemed to calm him so we could all get at least a few hours of sleep (I'm here with him 24/7, so I know how you feel). FIRST, try putting her baby seat on the washing machine because the sound of the water and the whirling seemed to clam Isaac alot. If you have to, go to a laundry mat and put her on a washer there for a bit! SECOND, right after the morning feeding and again after the evening feeding, put her in her stroller and take a nice long walk outdoors. The fresh air will help tire her out so she will sleep rather than cry. My personal tried and true method that worked best with Isaac was when I would run a warm bath and just lay him on my tummy in the water gently splashing it up over his body.

Even if these three methods don't completely work for your daughter, it will get you out of the house where crying just seems louder, or will give you a chance to just soak away some of the tension while still cuddlying the baby (the tub one...LOL).

Good luck and just remember, when it gets to loud and frustrating, just lay her in the crib and go take a nice long shower. it will calm you again, and doesn't hurt the baby.

R.

Mylicon or Little Tummys. Lifesavers!

She is probably colic. I can't believe your doctor never mentioned that to do. Most babies are colic for the first 3 months which normally is the result of their stomack hurting from possibly gas. Their digestive system isn't fully developed at this time. My daughter was colic for the first 2 1/2 mths all she did was cry day and night and then she just stopped. It was really difficult but now she almost never cries unless she is sick or teething. When she was colic I would take her outside and sit on our hamick this always calmed her down and we had a favorite CD with church songs that I would play and walk with her that worked too. It will pass in a few months and most parents have dealt with this, it is totally normal. I remember how difficult it was but I definately think it helped us bond more. One of my friends use to use some drops for gas that worked miracles for her son but it never really helped my daughter. I think it was called Molicon, you can find it in ever baby section. Good luck and remember it is temporary. I know my brother was colic for 6 mths. The other issue might be that the baby is allergic to milk which was my brother's problem you might want to try a soy formula. Good luck and don't worry about your baby being a crier unless this behavior continues based 3 or 6 mths.

First, was your baby a premie? All (or a high percentage) of babies at birth have tiny holes in their stomach - the stomach hasn't fused together completely. The tiny holes usually fuse at about 4 months - thus when most collic stops. What happens, and some doctor's will say this is the cause of collic, is the formula escapes through the tiny holes into your system, thus making baby very uncomfortable. You may want to change the formula, just to see if it makes a difference. None of my kids (and I have 3) were able to take any formula except for Good Start. Good luck!!!

J., try to find someone to come take care of the baby for a few hours during the day so that you can get some rest. Postpartum doulas are an excellent resource. They typically charge by the hour. Hiring one for a few hours for a week or two would give you lots of help and support.

Dear J.,

As one mother stated, I can't believe your docotor didn't mention colic. She has all the symtoms and it begins at the age of two weeks until 3 months. Sorry. My son didn't have it but my 8 week old daughter started right at the two week mark. We had the same issues as you and my husband works day and night. I too was going out of my mind! Especially with a 3 year old wanting attention as well. Everyone has made great suggestions. Here is two extra ones. Get the book "Happiest Baby on the Block" it explains everything you read here on the posts. Gives you reasons why some things may or may not work, plus it explains in more detail how to make alot of these suggestions work by giving specific instructions on how to do them. I know it may seem like, well how difficult can it be to swaddle or susshh a baby. I treid just about everything you have and was told by several moms to read the book. I finally did out of desperation and it worked!! It takes perseverence but it works. I had results the same day and things just got better as each day went by. Unfortunately this is just the way some babies are and we have to work really hard to figure out what their comfort spots are. One more suggestion, invest in a baby carrier like a Baby Bonjorn. I purchased one at Once Upon A Child consignment shop for $20. She fussed a little at first but she loves it. They like to feel your bobdy next to thiers, the motion of you walking helps, and the sounds while you move around, cleaning, taking a walk etc. help too. The bad thing is trying to keep them asleep when you take them out. I have since purchase a baby carrier called a Ergo Baby Carrier. You can find it at http://www.ergobabycarrier.com. If the baby falls asleep, it's really easy to lean forward and still have them laying in the carrier. Plus you can use it up to 5 years of age. Well worth the investment. Good luck, I know it's tiring and nerve racking (especially with the first one). Hanging in there it will get better, and don't for get the book "Happiest Baby on the Block"

R.

ahhh. colic. My son had this for about 3-4months. It was rough. The only thing he wanted was to be held in an upright position close to my chest and I had to walk. No sitting. Just walking all through the house or outside. He is now 7 1/2 months and isn't much of a crier at all. I know it's rough. Please hang in there.

Hi - my baby boy is not 2 months old and he was the same as your little girl is now. Is it possible she has reflux issue? I ended up using Baby Bjorn front carrier and that calmed down and helped fall asleep my constantly crying baby. I am a stay at home mom and I understand how you feel. I am a first time mom and that constant crying can be very mentally draining. Oh, we also found vibrating Fisher Price "chair" a life savor. Try it....it still is very helpful to us. Good luck!

I would suggest that you try using a different kind of formula. I use the good start purple can. It is gentle on the little stomach. I was breast feeding and that is what I switched to afterwards. I was concened since it's not as expensive as the other brands.
Might also want to try short walks in the stroller. the fresh air seems to also work wonders. Like the other lady said "It will get better" I promise you that!!!!! I know!
Good luck :)

Have you tried turning the dryer on? or the vaccumm cleaner? I know that sounds odd..but it worked for me. My daughter loved the sound of the vaccumm, usually 20 min or so would help for the rest of the day.

My baby was the same way when she was tiny. She started screaming at 4 days old and didn't stop until 3 months. When she starts to scream, turn on the vacuum. For some reason it is soothing. We almost burned up our vacuum doing this. My husband had to download a vacuum sound effect on the internet and burn it to a CD to play for her every evening for about 3 hours. If you would like I could email you the sound effect if you have a CD burner. Email me if you would like me to send it to you. ____@____.com

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY GO THROUGH AT THIS AGE. I JUST HAD A BABY HE IS NOW 4 MONTHS OLD AND HE CRIED DURING HIS FIRST 3-4 WEEKS. I TOOK HIM TO THE DOC HE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY ALL GO THROUGH AND MY MOM TOLD ME THE SAME THING BEFORE I TOOK MY BABY TO THE DOC, MOMS KNOWS BEST. BUT YOU SHOULD STILL GET SOME ADVICE FROM YOUR DOCTOR AS WELL, COULD BE AN EAR ACHES, ETC.........AND THE WIND COLIC IS SOMETHING ELSE TO LOOK OUT FOR. TOO MUCH WIND DURING THIS TIME IS NOT GOOD FOR NEWBORNS.......

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU! HOPES SHE FEELS BETTER--PRAYER DOES HELP!

Hi....Hugs!!!! I know your pain, I've been there. My 2nd son, now 2.5 yrs old, had colic and acid reflux, really bad to the point he lost weight. Anyhow, he would cry all day, would only cat nap and at 8pm sharp almost every night of the week would start crying till 12-2am. My husband and I thought we would loose it. I too am a sahm. Thankfully my older son, 2 at the time was easy to deal with. Unfortunately there is not much you can do. I would suggest to lay her down in her crib and shut the door, only to give yourself a little down time. There were times I could feel myself loosing it, I would start to hold my son a little to hard and that's when I knew I had to put him down for a few minutes. Try taking him outside, the fresh air may help him if not you. If you have friends and family near ask them to take her for a little bit so you can rest or get out of the house. also, when husband gets home he needs to take care of her so you can get a breather, you need it! My husband did it and it really helped. Also, please know it will pass. For it took a while as my son also had a medical issue w/ the acid reflux, but had he only had colic it would of passed alot sooner. They say normally by 3 months, for me it was almost 6 months but i'm hear to say now that although I thought it would never end it did and he is the cutest little boy ever. One thing you might try if you want to is Gripe water. It may help calm her down. Good luck and try to take it easy. I know it's hard, but it too shall pass, as my mom told me when i was living the same problem.
J. C

Hello J.. My son, Andrew, did the very same thing. I used the generic gas drops - similar to mylicon for babies. I also used the baby swing. I carried him with a snuggly front baby carrier. As a last resort, I would drive him around in the car.

One thing you must do is take care of yourself. Know your limits. Have a friend or family member come over for 30 minutes or longer... Don't feel bad about this. During this break concentrate on yourself. Take a long shower, go for a walk, go to the grocery store or mall..alone. Think about it... do something you enjoyed prior to giving birth. Maybe go to a favorite lunch spot...20-30 minutes. This time will give you new perspective and renew your coping mechanisms.

This may be a good time to "cash in" on friends and family members request to offer you some help. When the next person asks, "What can I do to help?" Let them know how they can help you! They could watch the baby for 1 hour, bring over and easy dinner for you and your husband, come over and help you with tasks around the house.

It is easy to get overwhelmed as a new Mom, especially if your wonderful new baby has colic and cries a lot!

Your baby girl is going to be just fine. Honestly, this occurs because of the baby's immature digestive system..causing gas and irritability. It is TEMPORARY!!

Good luck!

M.

Also, rock your baby gently in a rocking chair. My son, Andrew loved this and this aided in creating a very close bond between us.

Hi My first daughter cried also I switched her to Similac lactose free formula and she turned into another baby. some times they just can't handle the milk protein when they are so young. So I automatically put my second on it in the hospital even though I got questions about it from doctor and nurses and never had a crying episode. Also mylacon drops which are gas drops and totally safe does wonders when nothing else works for some reason. By the way both my girls 1 and 4 now drink whole milk with no problems. hope this helps.

Hello, my mom got me a blanket when my baby was born, that he LOVED! It really seemed to comfort him when I could not. He has slept through the night since he was 2 months old! usually form 9-6. He now is to big for it, but I tell everone about it!
This was honestly the best gift I got. In any case here is the website, and best wishes to you and your little one!

http://www.miracleblanket.com/

H.

Actually, you can hold her all day. Get a sling, all she wants is to be close to you.

Hi J.. This is C. and I have a four year old. When he was that young I found that letting his father hold him while he cries worked for me. Lay the baby on his father chests with her head very close to his adams apple and tel him to hum. It worked for me everytime. Let me know if it worked for u.

i hate to say it but he's right,some babies are just fussy. But you may want to ask if he would suggest letting you switch formulas anyway. and dont be afraid to use a pacifier. they arent as evil as you think. some babies just like to suck. my first one never used one and my second one needed it all the time. we went three weeks before using one, but when we broke down and did it, it saved our lives!! you probably have all the gadgets, but a vibrating chair really helps, or a drive in the car. If none of this works, ask for help. just because your a stay at home mom doesnt mean you dont need help. have the grandmas or aunts or anyone who you trust come over to watch the baby while you go somewhere to sleep. your tension doesnt help the baby rest either. Good luck! hope it helps.

hi J.: I had a cryer too. my 6 y/o son cried from birth to about until he turn 4 month old.
there's really nothing you can do but try to stay calm and (even if it sounds bad) ignored her crying and get used to it. It gets better, believe me. I know how you feel. Try and take turns with somebody so that you can rest a little maybe away from her. Also with my son I tried riding with him in the car, that kept him asleep for hours.

Hi! I noticed you got a lot of response so I didn't read all of them so if this redundent sorry..Did your Dr. say anything about colic? Both of my son's had it. Try giving your baby mylicon (sp) It's for gas. Your baby's digestive tract may not be fully developed. I know for sure Target has their own brand so it's not as pricey. Also like someone else said a swing. My second son would not sleep in a bassinet or anywhere else but his swing. He slept all night in it. Boy did we go through batteries:) But so worth it. We had the aquarium swing by fisher price. Hope this helps!

Hi J. - having 6 children kind of helps you along with this kind of problem. My oldest is now 21 and my youngest is 1 ssoo...I am still working through this kind of stuff. I have found with the last 3 babies (now ages 6, 4 and 1) that one may have wanted to be swaddled - one liked to hear the vacuum cleaner running and one had to have complete silence - you really just have to try several different things until your baby lets you know what she likes. ALL of mine loved to be shushed, I saw this on Oprah, you swaddle your baby (if they like that) and you hold them close to your chest with their head up around your shoulder and loudly shush in their ear - mine (especially the one who liked the vacuum) loves this. He is one now and when he is upset or over tired we still sit and shush and he calms right down. Good luck and let me know how things work. Just remember if you feel overwhelmed HAND THE BABY OFF to someone else for a little while. K.:-)

The thing that worked for me and allowed me to get some things done round the house was to carry my son in a Babt Bjorn. He liked the closeness and would quickly settle down. I was able to get household things accomplished and keep my sanity. Good luck and hang in there IT WILL GET BETTER! Make sure you have someone who can give you breaks and allow you to have some me time.

Hi,
Sounds to me like she is colicky. My oldest was so I know how frustrated you must be. I changed formula to Allamentum its alittle expensive but so worth it. Also, try mylicon drops.if that doesn't work tell your Dr. to recommend a specialist to check if she has acid reflux, they will put her on zantac 2x a day. Hope it all works out.

Do you nurse her. Its not to late to try if your not nursing.

Sounds exactly like colic. I know how tough this is - my daughter was the same way. My husband wasn't much help at all because it upset him so much to hear her cry, he'd get all anxious and end up starting fights with me, which didn't help anyone. I know how hard it is to hear, but there really isn't a whole lot that will help. But it DOES get better. Everyone told me that, and I thought I'd lose my mind before it did, but I hung in there, and finally it did get better. Sometimes the only thing you can do is just hold her and tell her how much you love her while she cries. DON'T WORRY about getting anything else done around the house - all that other stuff can wait. Right now, the most important thing is your little girl there, period. One of the only things that worked for us was our kitchen lights. We have an older kitchen, with those horrible flourescent lights that buzz. I'd put a towel on the countertop, and lay her on that, and she'd stare up at the lights. But it didn't work everytime. The Dr. also said to put her in her car carrier and put that on top of the dryer while it was running (of course, stand right there with your hands on it), and the vibration might help her sleep, at which point you could carry her to her room and turn on baby monitor (we weren't able to try this because we have the stackable washer/dryer). I tried the sling, but I think I got it too late, and she didn't want to be so confined by that time (8wks). Also, I had nervous papa looking over my shoulder, so the first little noise she made, "Get her out of there, she doesn't like it!!!", KWIM? Should have waited till Nervous Papa wasn't around, silly me. Since your daughter is so young, it's worth a try. We got the Infantino from Target, less expensive than the Bjorn (in case she doesn't like it, you're not out almost $100), and it was a really nice one that had built in swaddling:

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_12/602-###-...

Hang in there, it really does get better.

We had one of these also! First of all the doctor is right it does get better. When she was around 9 weeks she was still fussy but was consoled by us a little bit easier. She was a day time crier so I will share what worked for her during the day. Standing with her by a faucet of running water worked great, also the vent fan to the stove on high, her vibrating chair set up by the washing machine or vent fan, and what ended up being wonderful was the front carrier baby bjorn...would walk/bounce around and pat her back. We also saw a huge difference when we switched to Alimentum formula. Hope you find something that works and like I said it gets better and she will be consoled by just you in a short amount of time!!

Hello J., I am sure your nerves are probably fried by now. I didn't get adequate sleep for a couple of my kids when they were in a fussy stage and boy, does that makes a difference. I am mom to 6 blessings, my 2 youngest are twin one year olds and they were very fussy and needed to be held a lot and still fussed. I was shaking some days. I found it helpful to have friends come over to be "holders". I would just ask them to sit on my couch and hold or walk with a baby. My husband calls it the "gravity thing" which means you can't sit down, you have to be standing. It was so hard and I had a 22 month old also. I found a sling carrier very helful and kept my back from getting achy, also the snuglis are good. You definitly need to practice to get the hang of them and it's best to practice when your little one isn't extremely fussy. It's okay to hold them a lot even though you might have been told or read somewhere not to because you're spoiling them. I always found that if I could hold them around 6 hours a day that they would sleep better at night. Sounds crazy but it would work most of the time. Some babies feel so insecure and are reassured by being held. You are helping her confidence for later on which doesn't help too much now probably!!

You may have already tried some of these but...
- I used to just walk outside with one of my kids and she would settle down.
-take a regular stroller walk(early if possible or find a shady path)
-put her in her car seat or baby seat and put it in the bathroom so you can take a shower-white noise.
-Sing silly songs.
-if I suspected gas pains I would lay a towel down on the dryer and lay them on their tummy for a few minutes-vibrations and heat.
-The swing-not all swings are alike. I had three bouncy seats and they preferred one over the other 2.
-My 1 year old son would only sleep at night in his swing. I had kids with reflux and they slept in their car seats at different times(when they were little).
-My twins did not sleep much at all and I was probably accumulating about 3-4 hours of sleep a day and I don't know how I got through it but I did.
-I slept with a baby on my chest in a recliner many nights. It's temporary and whatever it takes to get the baby to sleep at first and help you try to catch up on sleep also.
-Have your hubby take over for baby care and you step out for an hour or so here and there. I would realize it had been weeks before I went out "by myself". Even a trip to KMart was helpful.

Never let them see you sweat. That's advice someone gave me about childrearing. Even babies sense our stress. Pretend it's not bothering you and when you can't take it any more try going in the bathroom or a room where you can't hear the baby cry and you have a good cry. Then come out smiling. Also, music and a good rocking chair. Trust your instincts. You know what's best for your baby. Lower your expectations of what you THINK you should be getting done. I'm still digging out a laundry situation. I think I always will!!!
Hang in there. This is a short chapter of things to come. You can get through this. Take friends up on coming over to help but don't feel obligated or pressured to entertain anyone.
Wishing you the best, LaurieK

This advice may have been put out to you already (I'm sleepy and cannot read through all 72 terrific responses), however, you might want to check out "Happiest Baby on the Block". It is a VCR tape or DVD and you can find it at the library. The doctor is a "baby whisperer"...truly! The lactation consultant at BRCH recommended his methods as well as used them on a newborn who was wailing.
I am sure you have received a ton of guidance but here's just another method of achieving peace.
Good luck!

Hi J.:

My daughter did the same thing...cried all day and night. The doctors told me she was fine. I started doing research and took her to a gastro doctor by Palms West. She was diagnosed at 7 weeks of age with very bad acid reflux. They put her on prevacid (which she is still on at age 2)and they switched her to Alimentum. I have learned one thing over the 2 years...trust your instinct. The pediatritions are not very good and often dismiss problems. Once she got on Prevacid and the correct formula she was like a different baby...happy and content and no longer in pain.

Good luck!!!!! I saw Dr. Roberto Guerrero (Gastro doctor) has an office by Palms West and in Boca...excellent doctor and saved me from endless crying nights and days!!!!!!

L.

J.,

I so totally feel for you on this one. My daughter screamed almost nonstop from 2 weeks to 2 months old, and it was so agonizing; my love seemed to go nowhere with her, and all she could do was to cry and scream and glare at me all day. Some nights my husband would come home from his typical 14-hour workdays to find me just glaring right back at her, and that was when he'd send me out to get a break. I hope someone can help you do the same; you need that before you start finding yourself thinking the unthinkable. SHE WILL STOP CRYING SOONER THAN YOU THINK! And before you know it, she'll be smiling, then laughing, then learning to crawl and walk and draw valentines for you; and someday soon you'll be sitting beside her at the zoo watching her learn to eat an ice cream cone, and your heart will nearly burst with love as you realize that everything you've ever hoped for from motherhood is coming true. You can make it through this! Just keep loving her with all your strength, you can do it.

MEANWHILE... something that my midwife suggested that really helped was to lay my baby on her back and bicycle her legs, in case she's gassy. Mylicon never did the trick for us, but this exercise usually brought about at least a few minutes of relief. I also later came across the tip to roll colicky babies, belly down, back and forth on top of a beach ball--same general concept, just massages out some of that "tummy music".

Another thing I would have tried if I could is to get her checked out by a chiropractor. Yes, many chiropractors treat newborns, and for them all it takes is the tiniest bit of pressure (equal to the weight of a nickel), precisely delivered, to permanently relieve a pinched nerve that may be disrupting your baby's digestive system. In fact, very often, the first neck injury a person gets occurs during birth itself! Hey, it was hard on both of you, right? You may want to check the website www.upcspine.com to find out more and look for a technique/practitioner that you'll be comfortable with.

I wish I'd known about all these other suggestions, too. They sound great. I'll be praying for you and for all the other moms who have to go through this!

Hi J., I know you have received lots of advice, but I hope this helps. I have two babies and my 1st was an angel and my 5 mo. cried non-stop from week 1 until 4-1/2 mos. Both of my babies had really bad acid reflux. My 5 mo old had the silent kind of reflux where she didn't have the projectile vomitting that is the usual characteristic of AR. Both my babies took the AR Enfamil and Zantac & Prevacid. After the medicine & formula change she started to smile & get some "happy" times. But she was in real pain from the reflux so she would just cry and cry. We tried "gripe water" (your doctor can write a prescription for it) or you can buy the over the counter kind. The mylicon drops just didn't work for my 2nd baby. We also bought a white noise machine and she sleeps so much more deeply now. She doesn't wake up and spend the whole day crying just because someone closed a door too loudly. Also, our Michelle just doesn't like to be alone. She hates to be left alone.

I know you pain and it is so hard. I remember telling my husband that I didn't want anymore kids if they were going to be like Michelle! Please stick it out and take/gets breaks when you can! You are working a full time job taking care of your baby all the time! Get family/friends to come over and help you as much as possible! Don't worry about cleaning/chores/cooking. You are doing a great job! It is not your fault! Do you have family nearby? Maybe a relative can take her for the night so that you can get some solid sleep??? I am a stay at home mom too, please email me if you need some reassurance or someone to talk to at ____@____.com's hard to take, but sometimes you need to just let her cry. Just make sure you put her someplace safe (crib, pack n' play) in another room and go do something else (I did a lot of dishes so the crying wouldn't be as loud).

MYLICON SAVED MY LIFE! :)

L.

Try putting her in the carseat and driving her around. They usually fall asleep in the car easily - the vibrations seem to soothe them. Then you might be able to transfer her over to her crib/bassinet for her to keep sleeping. They also sell some portable bassinets that vibrate and work well too. She might like sleeping in that. I've even heard of putting babies in the bouncy seat (which also vibrate in some models - although her neck control is probably too weak to sit in a bouncy seat right now) and putting it on top of the dryer while it's running. Anything that vibrates seems to soothe.

Have you tried Mylicon drops - for gas?? They're over the counter and don't hurt at all. I used them round the around 15 minutes before each feeding with my second, and they really helped. Sometimes a little gas gets trapped and it hurts them. Good luck. If you're able to get her to sleep more, that will also help her feel less irritable and cry less.

get ahold of humphries #3 for teething. its an old spanish remedy. It has belladonna in it that calms and soothes baby so she can rest. She may be colick....or just have gas you can also try mylicon drops. but anything that will help her get to sleep is better she needs her rest. The humphries worked great with my first son..First baby colicky constant crying someone told me about the humphries worked like a charm ;) Good luck

My first baby had GERD, and that was a nightmare. One of the best things we found was something they showed us at the hospital, swaddling. Wrap them up TIGHT. Babies are used to being scrunched up, and they have a startle reflex that can be pretty violent, and it scares them awake. We stopped doing it after a couple of weeks, and then saw a Dr. on TV talking about it. He actually would swaddle then sort of hold the baby on an angle upside down. Believe it or not, it worked for us with a baby that had beem screaming for days. Here's a site that shows another technique to help keep the blanket tight:

http://www.adviceforbaby.com/swaddling.htm

The other thing was carrying him in a sling. When he was very small, I used a pouch, then moved to a sling. He just curled up down in that thing and went to sleep. It was especially good for a baby who was in pain because of the GERD. Out of all the different carriers I tried, I liked this one the best:

http://zolowear.com

Try to ignore the ugly Hawaiian Punch pouch on the first page! I just got a plain cotton sling. They also have some nice silk slings.

Good luck!

So...as advice goes, you now know that this is life with a baby. Babies have their own needs and wants and demand a lot. You may have to hold her all day and that just might be the reality of it. As other moms told you, try a sling or front pack carrier. Try a swing as well. (see if a friend has any of these you can borrow before you go out and buy one) Try a pacifier - she may spit it out, but keep putting it in and holding it. It will be foreign so she will instinctivly spit it out; plus she won't be getting anything out of it, like milk. You will soon know if she will take it or not. Get one similar to the nipples on the bottle you are using - same material and similar shape. If it is colic, read up on it and know there is not much to be done except waiting it out. And try the generic gas drops too. One day it will just stop and you will be like, "Hey, when did she stop fussing!"

For your sanity, just keep talking it out. Nothing is going to happen to her if you just put her down and let her cry for a moment. For your sanity and in case you end up suffering from Post Partuum, know it is OK to get frustrated and feel insanity creep up. At the worst time (or any time), put her in her crib, close the door and walk away for a moment. Breath, relax yourself for 5 minutes and then go back in. People's opinion vary about crying. Some say to let them cry until they settle themselves, but this does not always work and at this age, most doctors will tell you, it is important to hold your child and let her feel close to you and bond. This moment too shall pass like a blink of an eye.

Have you thought about wearing your baby? This is what i would suggest. Babies need to be close to their mommies and babywearing almost always sooths a crying baby. Check out these links for info and advice. They really helped me. GL

http://www.mamatoto.org/
http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&am...

I have a thing you could try that worked on my daughter Haylie. Like your daughter all she did was cry so we would "bounce" her to sleep. Because it was so difficult for her to fall asleep unless she fell asleep while breast feeding. BUT... my husband used our exercise ball to gently bounce her and she would actually stop crying and fall asleep. I have even seen something like that sold in a catalog for babies. So give it a shot, maybe it'll work for you. It was a miracle worker.

I am a single mom and my preemie screamed for 4 months straight. Switching to Soy formula worked IMMEDIATELY. My Doctor said that this was one of his worst cases in 30 years, and we had her hospitalized for testing. He didn't want to try soy because he thought it would make her more gassy. Hmmmm.
Buy it and try it.

I live in Winter Garden and if you would like to meet, I am not working right now. If you are at wit's end and don't have anyone to relieve you, please contact me. I know the feelings of desperation that come from being alone with a screaming infant and no one to turn to for help.

My daughter started crying continuely when she was about 4 weeks old, the doctor said it was colic, it lasted about a month. I remembered watching something in our childbirth class about Dr. Harvey Karp, he is the author of "The Happiest Baby on the Block" (I think there's a DVD also) so I went out and bought the book and started doing the recommendations he talked about for calming and soothing crying babies. It really helped with my daughter, now if she does get upset about anything we revert back to doing those things again (swaddling, swinging, etc.) and it always seems to calm her down. I really hope that helps and good luck! It will get better!!