Question About 2 Mo Old Crying and Colic

Hello S.,

I don't know your baby and I am not a medical professional, but I don't think she has colic.
I think she is a perfectly normal two months old who needs to be held. Young infants are born with the instinct and desire to be held, it is believed this is an evolutionary survival strategy, as in times before houses and heating, babies were kept warm and alive by their mothers body warmth. Of course they don't need the warmth necessarily any more, but the instinct remains.
There are also studies that suggest that infants that are being held most of the time have a reduced risk for SIDS.
I second the suggestion of getting a sling or carrier so you can easily wear your baby while busy with the twins.

It might be colic or acid reflux, I'd talk to the pediatrician to rule out acid reflux...or to get the diagnoses and get her on medicine to help if she does have it.

But, you might consider switching formulas. Not all formulas are created equal. We did breast milk and supplemented with formula. My youngest had a big gas problem and cried all the time. They didn't diagnose her with acid reflux, but recommended that we switch to an easier-to-digest formula. We ended up landing on Gentlease by Enfamil...we also tried Nutrimigen and used that for a while. There are a lot of options with formula now...try a different one. I know a Mom who simply switched brands, from Enfamil to Similac...but continued using the "regular" formula...that made a difference for her baby. There are a lot of lacto-free options now if that is a concern as well. Shop around and see what you can find that might help. Your doctor can give you recommendations, too...and might even have free samples!!! Usually, if you register with one (or all!) of the brands, they will send you a coupon for a free can, then you will get coupons regualrly in the mail. I used to get $5 off coupons for enfamil all the time, and I saw someone in line once that had a $10 off coupon.

Good luck!! I hope it all works out soon!!!

You would know without a doubt if your baby has colic. She will scream unconsolably in the late afternoon, until late at night. She will curl up her legs like her tummy hurts and cry and cry and cry no matter what you do. The Canadians have a wonderful product called "Gripe water" that they swear by for colic. I think I have seen in in Safeway. But if it is just spitting up and a little fussiness, it is probably just getting used to the new diet.

colic is a milk allergy, plain and simple. Unfortunately if you are formula feeding, than your options are soy milk, which is really bad for babies because one, it is high in estrogen, equivalent to giving them 1-2 birth control pills every day. and two, they are extremely high in manganese from being fermented in aluminum tanks, which pulls the manganese out of the aluminum, up to 500 times the daily allowance of it, which can be very harmful to a baby's brain. There are formulas that are milk free, but they are expensive. The best option if possible is to go back to breast feeding, and you to go completely off of milk products, yes everything, even butter, cheese, whey, it is hidden everywhere. But it is so worth it not to have you baby crying in pain every night. Yes they do grow out of it. Their systems just aren't mature enough to handle a protein that large yet because it is designed for an animal with 3 stomachs, not one. Both of my children had it and luckily my midwife knew what to do. I went off of milk products for about 6 months then slowly started reintroducing them, and both of my children were fine, and now both consume milk products. If you are unable to go back to breast feeding, seek out a milk free, soy free formula, your baby will be better in about a week. It takes that long for the proteins to get out their system. Good luck
T.

I think Colic is when the baby cries no matter what, so it sounds like yours just wants company. However, if it is an upset stomach or colic, you can try giving her baby acidopholus (sp?). They sell this at whole foods and other natural stores. There have been a great many studies that say this helps with colic.

No matter how much we help or rocked our son, he would cry in pain from his colic until we found "little tummies" drops to help relieve the pressure in his tummy.

My first baby cried ALL THE TIME...it was not colic it was acid reflux...she DID NOT spit up a lot so I would not have known it if not for reading BABY 411...this book explains colic and acid reflux (and everything else about babies) in depth I got her on medicine for it and it helped somewhat but she still cried a LOT until she was 6 or 9 months old..I can't remember now anyway it does pass eventually and she is a perfectly well adjusted and VERY HAPPY 3 year old now. Good luck and just be thankful that your baby is quiet at nights.

The warmth of your body is easing the pain, the cramping she's feeling. You didn't say why you quit breast feeding. Was it because she was having problems with her digestion? She's only a few weeks old, so why did you mix breast milk and formula. It maybe a problem with the formula. Breast milk is easier to digest. What you eat will effect your breast milk, so if you were eating spicy foods, foods that cause gas (brocoli, cauliflower, some meats, etc.) or even consuming dairy products if she's lactose intolerant, they could all be contributing factors. Burping her frequently while feeding her may help. But because warmth helps a colicky or crampy baby, try using a warm hot water bottle to prop her on her side in bed. A raw rice filled pouch that you microwave will also work as a source of warm heat. There are simethicone drops that you can give her to help with any gas problems she might have. Talk with your pedicatrician. Or she could have a digestive track problem, like GERD. Again, talk with your pediatrician.

It sounds as though you have more than a handful with 3 kids under the age of 18 months. Take a deep breath, breathe.

Get an ergo carrier (or sling, or wrap, or pouch) and carry her on your back. She does need more holding than your twins did -- every baby is born with different needs. Studies show that babies who are carried an extra 3 hours per day during the first few months cry 40% less and that this effect is lasting. Especially since she is weaned she may need more closeness to you to make up for the distance. I know it's hard so also make sure you're getting as much help as you can get and more. Moms need it with the first baby, but in my opinion we need twice as much help with the second (or in your case third)!