How Can You Tell If Your Baby Has Colic?

One of the challenges of the bottle fed baby is that the "hungry" cry and the "oops, you fed me just a bit too much" cry sound the same. Since you are also dealing with reflux and trying to find the right formula, it's very possible she's simply trying to deal with too many things all at once.

It's been a while since my guys were that little, but I thought I heard the recommendation of waiting a couple of weeks before switching formulas. This was to give the baby's system some time to adjust and to help you determine exactly which formula it was that was producing the good and the not so good results. You might need to just give each formula more time before switching.

Have you tried the 5 S's? Swaddling, swinging, shushing ... can't remember the others. My boys loved the swing! Sometimes I would put the in the swing after feeding them, and they would just swing into a nice nap.

I'd have to look it up, but I'm pretty sure "colic" is just the word doctor's use when the really mean, "I have no medical rational for why your child is crying."

With my oldest, I spent many hours in the rocking chair watching tv. I also went to a M.'s group, and many of them said the same thing. One of the gals would say (3 or 4 times), "I was watching "Bringing Home Baby ... " It soon became a joke.

We also took walks in the stroller. Motion seemed to be good for him. I think the swing and the stroller also helped because he was slightly inclined.

Hang in there and good luck!

Colic is defined as uncontrollable crying for more than three hours in a row, more than three days a week and for more than three weeks. Both my kids had it and it was awful. There is usually nothing that can be done and they eventually grow out of it. Here is a good description http://www.babycenter.com/0_colic-the-basics_77.bc
I would try what Gidget said and make sure she is getting plenty of food and try to swaddling, swinging etc. Shushing never worked for my kids and just made them scream louder and harder LOL. GL mama I really hope it's not colic. My daughter had it until she was almost 6mo it almost made me go insane.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/colic/DS00058
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/colic/DS00058/DSECTION=s...
Mayo clinic is usually a trusted site so the above is what they have to say about it. When my daughter had colic her stomach got harder and she seemed to have pain, nothing helped ( walking, holding, rocking, swing, food, nothing helped). She outgrew it by 3 months old or around there. Her brothers wanted to send her back up until that time. Then they wouldn't trade her for anything.

Is she coughing at all? Is she spitting up alot? Those are both signs of colic.

Are you making sure she is burped completely after she eats?

Are you giving her enough food? At 5 1/2 weeks she will be wanting more than she did at newborn to 4 weeks. You might want to speak to your Ped about adding cereal to her formula/water (don't' know if you are bottle or breastfeeding) she may just be hungry.

I am thinking so MANY different reasons she could be unhappy, so many avenues to go down, not enough sleep, not enough cuddling, cold, hot, etc..

I really would talk with your Ped though & see what he/she has to say. I am sure you will be getting a few answers here as well.

Feel free to post to me if you like. I am sorry you are having such a tough time. :(

I suggest you look into the possibiliy of Acid Reflux - according to my pedi that is the leading cause of colic ... worth a phone call.

Yes, this is colic! I had 2 kiddos with it, and our lives were hell, so I know how you feel. It can be a combination of reflux, the flap on the esphogus not closing (thus the spit up), and an allergy to milk. If you really want to know, and you can't take her to the doctor today, go buy some Similac Alimentum, and give that to her. She should stop crying so much all the time within a 24 hours. Also, how often are you feeding her? She should eat every 1.5 to 2 hours instead of every 3 or 4. But, she will eat less. This is easier on the tummy. You can also try some Mylanta. This is safe for babies and it neutralizes the acid and has the simethicone that is in gas drops. You can use 1-2 ml as needed. I just used a syringe from the pharmacy, this squirts in right behind the binky really well. Don't mix it with the formula because it doesn't work nearly as well for some reason. You can also try Hyland's Colic pills, these were a life saver. Oh, if the alimentum works, you can try soy and see if it works too. I know its a lot cheaper, and my dd could have it, but my son is allergic. If it is a milk allergy, then the lactose free formula won't work because it is a milk protein allergy and not a lactose alllergy, and they are very different. So in a list:

1. Alimentum formula
2. get and use a binky
3. mylanta
4. Hyland's Colic Pills
5. Sleep in an upright position, and infant carrier/carseat is perfect for this, or a swing
6. feed less more often.
7. PM me and I will help you with more if these things do work because then there is more that you can do

I know how hard this is, but you can do it and you can make your baby not hurt so much! Hang in there mama~