2 Month Old with Colic

Dr. Sears has a wonderful book called "The Fussy Baby Book". No matter how you feel about attachment parenting, the book is full of wonderful personal stories from other mothers with high need babies. Sometimes exhausted parents have feelings and thoughts they're not proud of, and this book acknowledges the realness of them. It also has lots of baby soothing techniques, possible hidden causes, exc. I found the book to be extremely helpful with both of my fussy babies. You can probably buy it on Amazon pretty cheap.

I know it seems it will never end, but it is true what they say, around 3-4 months you will see a drastic change in their behavior. My son was colicky as well. There is nothing at all wrong about having him sleep with you so don't stress about it. Just make sure that your bed is safe, no covers or pillows near him, no cracks he could roll into. I had a bolster pillow that strapped on to the side of my bed that was not next to my husband to make sure my son was safe, or you could put the mattress on the floor. They will grow out of it, so don't worry about ruining him or spoiling him. When my son was about 3 months I started rocking/nursing him to sleep and putting him to sleep in his own crib. He would sleep fine in there for the first part of the night and then when he woke up for a feeding, I would bring him to bed with me. Before that I kept him in a bassinette or in my bed with me the whole time. Gradually the initial sleep got longer and longer, then I did some active night weaning b/t 12 and 14 months and he started sleeping through. It was hard with him waking still when he was older, but it made it so much easier that I could just roll around and nurse him and we could both just go back to sleep.

Do whatever works for you and your baby. Have you tried nursing/bottlefeeding to sleep? Also, just before my son grew out of it, we found that white noise did a TON to help calm him down. You can get those white noise sound sleeping machines, a CD with white noise or just use a vaporizer or a fan.

If he likes sleeping propped up in a swing during the day, try having him sleep strapped in his car seat. My daughter was VERY colicky as an infant. At night, we used to put her in her carseat and drive around town (the bumpier the road the better). When she fell asleep we would keep her in her seat and put the seat in her crib (make sure he is strapped in and the matress is on the lowest setting. Good Luck, I feel your pain, but remember this will pass shortly.

I thought colic only lasted until 12 weeks? You might want to look closely at his sleeping patterns - I found that exhaustion looked a lot like colic.

But in any case, keep doing whatever you need to do to get your own rest. Two months is still a newborn - you aren't going to create any permanent habits at this point. I slept with both my babies at least some of the time until they were older than that, and they both adjusted to their own crib later pretty easily.

Wow. I felt like I was the only one going through this! I have a one month old that is doing the same thing! We tried everything! Carriers, baths, holding him in different positions, massage, walking, singing, talking, even crying along with him. ;) But the one thing that always seems to work with ours is going outside. Period. No matter what the temperature. He falls right to sleep. In fact, even the process of getting him ready to go out calms him. It's weird. Maybe try that? I will say that I wanted it to be anything but colic, but the doctor says that's what it is, and we have to just get through it. But please write me if you find something new that works! I need all the help I can get too!

Hi B.,

I totally understand. My oldest was 17 months, and our little one was 2 months and colic. We were never actaully diagnosed, I treated her as a colic baby and we switched dr.'s b/c of it. Anyway, there is a wonderful cosleeper that we used. Its a wedge that the baby sleeps in, and you can sleep too. She loved it. and i did too! I think we got it at Target, its maybe $10.00. they sleep on a blanket that is attached and the wedge supports them from rolling or you rolling into them.
And don't worry about the baby developing any sleeping patterns. My youngest is now 3, sleeps full nights in her bed, well, some nights she roams to our room. ;-)

Also, our dr. finally prescibed us Zantac, and I am not one to give medication to a baby, but OMG. it helped like you would not belive! She went from screaming 6 hrs to 4 in a week, to 2 in 2 weeks to 1 in a month to none.
Anything to comfort the baby and she was so happy when we did! And so were my husband and I. Massage helps a little, but the medication helped ALOT!!! Something to think about.

I hope your baby will be over the colic soon, I know how frustrating and stressful it can be.

Best of luck!

;-) H.

Do whatever gets you some sleep. Especially if you have a 19 month old to also take care of. My son was colicky, and was diagnosed with reflux. I finally eliminated all dairy out of my diet, and that helped with his outbursts. I also purchased a "Happi Tummi", which you can find on Amazon, Ebay, or One Step Ahead. It is a herbal wrap that you warm in the microwave, and it helps with gas, colic, fussiness. I have used it a few times and noticed a little difference, but any difference is worth it. My son outgrew his colic time, and it was right after his 2 month immunizations (and me closely watching my entire diet). My son is now such a laid back, happy boy now. It does get better, so hang in there!!

I feel for you my dear. I have a 16 mo. old and he was a bear, hence his nickname Bear. At first Bear wouldn't sleep anywhere but on the couch with me. Then I managed to move him to a carseat beside me or on the floor beside me. I was soooo tired. I always woke up worried that I hurt him or fell asleep with him. It was horrible. Once I got him into the carseat it really helped. I talked to my doc about this because having him sleep that way worried me. She said no problem and not to worry about it for a while. I think Bear was about 4 months old when he finally slept in the crib. I should know the right age but I was so tired, I think I forgot how to count for a while.
Also, I started both of my boys on cereal very early because they were both very good eaters that didn't get satisfied on formula or breastmilk. I did this with my docs blessing. My oldest son was started at 2 weeks. He is now 9yrs. and is doing wonderful. Any way that you can find for your son to sleep that doesn't involve body contact with you will put you a step closer to your goal. It does take some time. I wish I could be there to help you more. At least let you get a couple hours of solid restful sleep. Good luck to you. I know this isn't much but hopefully I've mananged to help some. Shannon G.
SAHM of 2 boys. 9yrs and 16months

I know exactly what you are going through.....my third had colic and OH MY GOD!!! I was a walking zombie for quite sometime. Then a friend of my mom's told me to go a remedy or vitamin shop and ask for something that would calm her. I was at my wits end so I figured what the heck at this point I will try WHATEVER. They gave me a special tea (I honestly cannot remember what it was called) but I know it had "cat" in the name. I also then called my doctor and we went over what was in it and he said to go ahead and try it. I would give her 2 ounces of it luke warm in her bottle each morning and within one week she was cured. That was it!! The nightmare was over. I bought mine at Nature's Door. So maybe give it a try and I hope it works for you both as well as it did for us. Good luck.

Read "The Happiest Baby on the Block". The techniques really work. We did it at 1 month, and the change was amazing and really fast. I buy the book for all of my pregnant friends! It's a fast read too, and what was really amazing is my husband actaully read it with me so that we follow it together.

There is nothing wrong with co-sleeping. I did with our dd until she was 4 months old. She then moved to a pack and play in our bedroom. At six months I moved her to her crib. She had no problems with the transition. I wouldn't worry too much about him learning to sleep on his own. He'll be fine. It sounds like you just have a needy baby. I don't mean that in a bad way. He just feels safe and comfortable snuggled up to mommy, there's nothing wrong with that! If you want to put him down during the day, I would do it gradually. You could lay him down on the floor, but lay with him. Let him know you are still there. Get him interested in some type of toy, then gradually move farther and farther away. It will probably take some time. You may have to try it for several days for several times. Once he realizes that it's ok to be alone for a bit, then you can work on doing the same thing at night. I know it's easier said than done. GOOD LUCK!

Do whatever you have to do!
My daughter was the most colicky baby anyone had ever seen. Nursing her to sleep on my bed and wearing her during the day were the only things that kept me sane.
At 4 months she got quite a bit better and we actually transitioned her to her crib in her own room shortly after that. I was ready for it to be a challenge, but she went in there very easily. We did not follow any of the "rules" for sleep training. I did whatever my daughter wanted to make her feel comfy and happy and relaxed enough to go to sleep. Everyone gave me a hard time for spoiling her and not "teaching her how to soothe herself" and whatever.
Well, she was uber-colicky...and is a high-needs baby/toddler, and is the best sleeper I know. She never cries at bedtime and sleeps 12 solid hours...and does not cry when she wakes up.
So that's my 2 cents LOL
If the wearing is getting painful you might try looking into an Ergo or Beco carrier. They put the bulk of the weight on your hips instead of your back/shoulders and they are sooo much more comfortable.
I used a Bjorn until my daughter hit 13 pounds and then the pain became unbearable. I got a Beco and I can still carry her at 16 months and 26 pounds.
Good luck and do know that it gets better :)