Colic - Milwaukee, WI

Have you thought about getting a baby sling? Leif loved to be held(and nursed) until he was about 6 months old. I got a Hotsling http://www.hotslings.com/ and a Freehand mei tei http://www.freehandbaby.com/styles.php
and wore him all the time. I got all of my stuff done and he never made a peep!
Leif also seemed to be happier when he got some fresh air. He slept a lot sounder if i took him out for a while during the day.
Do you belong to any groups that you can get out too? Being with a high needs baby can be stressful.

My friend has a four month old that was very colic the only way that she could get him to sleep with out holding him was to put him in the car seat tightly wraped.Then she would set the car seat in the bath room with the shower running.

I am not a doctor but has your pediatrician suggested he might have reflux. Gabby had terrible reflux as an infant and was terribly fussy all day long, especially around feedings. She only napped in a swing for the first six months of life. She also would sleep better if I held her upright. I should add that reflux babies do sleep best on their stomach. And some normal babies do also. I wasn't comfortable with it until Gabby was six months. If you do go the route of letting him sleep on his tummy, there is a device called an Angel Care monitor that will go off if there is no breathing for a certain amount of time. That way, you could rest at ease knowing he was fine. The only way to soothe Gabby when she was really fussy was to walk the halls with her, singing. Those were terrible days. You'll get through it. Good luck.

Hi J.,
My 3-month-old daughter is the same way. She has been taking Axid for acid reflux since she was 5 weeks old. The things that have really helped me are:
- holding her upright after feeding for 10-15 minutes (which I know is a challenge with another little one running around! I've got an 18-month-old.)
- having her sleep on an incline, such as her carseat, swing, or bouncy seat. She was so cranky after sleeping on her back and has been a different child since we stopped doing that.
- watching "Happiest Baby on the Block" DVD -- the soothing tips, especially the super-tight swaddling, have been lifesavers.
- lots of Mylicon
- the medication for acid reflux -- she's been like a different child since she started it.

I would tell your doctor about his behavior, and see if medication might be appropriate.

If stomach sleeping works, go for it. Like someone else said, taking care of yourself, especially sleeping, is so important. I was very depressed when my daughter was so colicy, and since I've gotten her on medication, and had a post-partum doula come watch the kids once a week, things have improved so much.

Hang in there -- it will get better!

There's a book and video on how to deal with colic written by a pediatrician: "The Happiest Baby on the Block". He has a website too: www.thehappiestbaby.com. He talks about how it's comforting for a baby to be on their stomach. He gives very specific things to do to soothe the baby and stop the colic. He calls it the 5 S's. Check out the website and definately get the book. It will help alot.

Hang in there, P.

2 things. Get him tested for acid reflux and let him sleep on his tummy. My daughter slept on her tummy from day one. Just make sure nothing can get stuck by his face. As long as he can lift his head, he should be fine to sleep on his tummy.

If the gas bubbles are in his tummy try mylicon drops. If they are in the intestines, pump his legs, that will make the gas come out.

Good Luck and I hope you ALL get some sleep soon!

J.-
I do not want to give you advice that is not in accordance with most pediatricians, but I do want to tell you that I had the same problem with my daughter. We tried everything that we could think of. I did switch her to lactose free formula (she was bottle fed) and that helped a little, but sleeping on her tummy was the only way that she and I could get any rest. I talked to her pediatrician and relayed our dilemma and she said that if she could roll over, that it should be ok for her to sleep that way. Hopefully your son will learn this activity soon! I would still talk to your doctor about it, since it a subject that is really stressed to new parents right now, but there has to be a solution for you. If you are bf, then switching to a lactose free formula makes no sense, babies are never allergic to mom's milk (so I have learned).

I hope this helps!

I let my 2nd daughter sleep on her tummy during the day and at night she slept with me in bed another thing that might help is baby gas medicine

I will suggest babies magic tea to soothe your baby from colic, gas and other tummy pains.

That sounds so much like my life 5 years ago. My daughter had colic and my life was miserable. She cried every waking moment except when I did a certain hold and walked around the house. I too had her sleep on her stomache because it was so obvious to me that is what she liked. I know it is not safe but it's what I did to make it through. Colic peaks at 6 weeks so that's why it seems like it's getting worse for you but usually is resolved at 12 weeks. Also check for reflux because this could be a culprit as well. Good news is my daughter is now healthy, a very good sleeper and is packed full of personality. So keep strong and know it won't last too much longer.

My daughter had reflux and we used the techniques from "The Happiest Baby on the Block" and they really worked. She slept swaddled in a swing in our room until she was 6 months old, and then she started sleeping in her bed. By that time she could turn over, so she slept in whatever position she chose. It was usually on her belly. My neice's son had trouble sleeping for more than an hour at a time on his back. Her doctor told her he could sleep on his tummy as soon as he could lift and turn his head on his own. For him that was at two months.

SIDS is a really devastating thing to have happen, so it is important to try to prevent it, but it is also very rare. If you decide to let him sleep on his belly, you should look up a website about SIDS and take all the other precautions. Only you can weigh the risk to reward of tummy sleeping, but I would definitely consult your doctor in case your son has any undiagnosed problems that are preventing his sleeping properly.

Two of my three kids were tummy sleepers. My daughter prefered to sleep in her bouncy seat upright for naps. I think there were a number of good suggestions made. My first stop would be a good pediatric chiropractor and then I'd get him checked out for reflux. J., the other thing I would stronly reccommend is that you get a relative or neighbor to come over and hold your baby while you get some sleep. Sleep is not overrated and it's really hard to make decisions when you're feeling raw, stressed and hormonal from giving birth.

Yes you will meet your baby's needs but don't forget your own! Healthy and happy mommies make great choices for their families so find a way to take care of yourdelf too.

I did read that it can be more soothing for babies with colic to sleep on their tummy. I might consider going to the doctor to make sure their isn't an underlying problem. Sometimes babies can have a reflux and that can cause stomach problems. Also, do you have a sling or carrier, maybe he that would soothe him while you are walking around and doing other things. Goodluck!

I would definately talk to your pediatrition. My daughter had colic and was diagnosed with GERD when she was 3 months old. We would have gotten some sleep much sooner if I had taken her in right away for the problem. I switched her to soy formula and she was perscribed baby Zantac. The tummy problems disapeared almost immediately. She outgrew it after about 6 months. As far as letting him sleep on his tummy, that is so iffy, do you really want to risk SID?

J.,
I would say it is up to you as the care giver. My daugher did not have colic, but she did roll onto her tummy at 7 days old. She REFUSED to stay on her back. My Ped told me it was ok, but she had to tell me the "risks" of it. I did check on her a lot during the first few weeks. I also would not use blankets/sleepers if he sleeps on his tummy. I found they tend to tangle up in them more. Good Luck and Happy Mothers Day!

My son was colic we tried all the drops and Gripe Water and changed the formula. What worked the best was sleeping with me and I had to wear a sling and carry him around and I found that the bath and rocking him help get him asleep. This will get better. My son is now sleeping in the crib at night but I still have to lay with him and sing than when he falls a sleep put him in his crib. The colic lasted until he was 6 months old and now he has his gassy problem taken care because he can now burp and fart when he needs to and is a much happier baby. Hang in there and good luck. This will pass.

My son was the same way and it took quite awhile to figure out what was wrong. Definately take him to the doctor and ask about stomach problems. My son was lactose intolerant and also had to be put on special formula to help digest his food. He was fussy due to stomach pains and gas. If you are using formula now, try switching to a different kind that is easier to digest. Good luck. L.

I'd definitely check with your ped, but I read that colic doesn't usually start until 8 weeks?

I second the suggestions to check into allergies or acid reflux. My son had reflux and rarely spit up. He had the silent reflux, which is actually more painful. Once we switched him to a soy formula and began giving him Prevacid daily, he was like a different child! It's worth a look, anyway.

I hope it gets a little easier for you all soon!

J.--
My 5 week old daughter was the same way at first! I was at my wits end--she cried all the time, wouldn't sleep, etc. We eliminated acid reflux as an issue because she didn't spit up constantly (not really at all) but my diet became the issue. At the recommendation of our ped., I eliminated all dairy products, and tried Dr. Sear's elimination diet (you can find it online, just search by "elimination diet"). What a difference! She is now, at 5 weeks old, sleeping pretty much through the night. She sleeps in 5-8 hour block every night.(She is over 10 lbs., so our ped. said this was okay to do...you might want to check with yours...) The diet is really restrictive at first, and kind of hard to do, but hey, the sleep to me is worth any sacrifice. We also found that she needed a really quiet place to sleep, so she sleeps in her own room now. If you can stand it, too, it is okay to let them cry a bit before they fall asleep. I know it is controversial, but self-soothing is a good skill, and your sanity is priceless! Good luck and hang in there.

I have a 15month old daughter. And for a while she was like that too. I would lay her on her stomach and she would be fine, I asked my doctor about it and she said that just as long as her face isn't in the floor and there is nothing around her head to get pushed up by her nose or mouth to make her stop breathing she would be fine. I must keep an eye on her for a while to make sure she would be ok.

I'm so excited to respond to your request! I also have a newborn of 6 weeks weeks old. He's exactly the same way, I feel like you've discribed my son to the "T". LOL! I quickly looked over your other responces and saw that no one else has offered the colic secret that I've discovered... GRIPEWATER! I heard about it a year ago while doing an online search for gas drops for a friend, then once looking into it again for my son, I saw that other moms on another mom community site called it thier lifesaver! Also, it's recommended #1 by many Pediatricians who are aware of it. It's a 100% natural, herbal suppliment, and eases infant gas & stomach discomfort associated with: colic, hiccups, and teething. The brand I found is Baby's Bliss. Here's a direct link to www.drugstore.com: http://www.drugstore.com/templates/brand/default.asp?bran... ...We just recieved our 4oz bottle in the mail yesterday. I may seem a little costly but many other moms will testify that it's worth every penny! =) I'm curtian this will help you.
As far as tummy sleeping... this is my second baby and the thought still scares me, I wouldn't do it. I like to lay my son on the couch wrapped in a thick comforter like blanket so that he feels like he's being held by me. It works and sleeps up to 4 hour sometimes. Best of luck to you!

Hi J.,
First of all, wow - you're amazing having 2 that close together!!! :) Happy Mother's Day to you!

My 2nd baby screamed for the first 8 weeks of his life. I didn't know what was wrong or what to do, but he'd only sleep either in his swing or in his carseat. When I took him in for his 8-week check-up, they mentioned acid reflux - he's been on Zantac since then and he's fine (he's 18 months now). I'm hoping he'll be off of it someday, but it seems to be helping.

Good luck! :)

C.

This sort of thing is all up to you. There have been a lot of great suggestions and I would talk to the doc. about the situation. As for me, I can understand. My daughter never really slept well except when in her swing and on her tummy. IF you don't have a swing I would suggest one. For some reason I didn't want one before but those sorts of strange things fly strait out the window when your going on weeks of no sleep. AS for the tummy sleeping. I told the doctor that she kept turning to her tummy in the night and they said to just keep turning her back over. Honestly I just gave up and let her do what she wanted. She was so strong willed it wasn't worth it.

My daughter was the same way. I took her to the chiroparctor they did a liitle adjusting and she was all better. I took her to one that actually specializes in infants. Think about it they were crammed in there for 10 months and then you gave birth to them, thinks get a little out of wack. Otherwise if your not interested in that they do have a Colic belt type thing that I have never used but they have them online at www.onestepahead.com I am not sure the price but worth the try when it comes to getting some sleep. GOod luck sounds like you have your hands full.

I feel your sleep deprivation. My daughter was like that from the start. She was spitting up her formula quite often as well. Needless to say, after about 4 visits to the doctor within three weeks she was diagnosed with acid reflux at 6 weeks of age. She was put on zantac and it was like night and day. At first we thought she had colic. The zantac worked like a charm and she outgrew it by about 6 months of age maybe even a little earlier.

The doctor told us to have her sleep in her crib on her tummy with the mattress propped up at the head. We didn't follow that one as I was too scared to put her to sleep on her stomach because all I could think about was SIDS.

I saw someone posted about ear infections as well. My daughter was prone to them as well. She had her first ear infection at 3 weeks of age. By the time she was ten months old she had 10 ear infections and we got her tubes. She is now almost 3 1/2 years old and she has had one since the tubes.

I was lucky not to have a colicy baby but I do remember when he got his first ear infection. He was about 11 months and sleeping very well (except when teething). All of a sudden he would just scream when we would put him down in his crib. He would be fine if I was holding him or if his head was propped up. I actually called the doc that night and took him the next day...I found out then that he inherited my husband's pain tolerance because he already had the ear infection for at least a week (he showed absolutely no signs of pain before this night). The doctor suggested putting a blanket under his mattress on one side to raise it SLIGHTLY. Maybe you could try this tonight and see if it helps. I would call the doc anyway just to make sure.
It could also be that laying on his tummy helped to relieve some gas issues he might be dealing with, but I wouldn't let him sleep on his tummy (through the night) until he can roll over by himself. We had a couple tricks for gas... we would rub his tummy gently in a circular motion and bend his legs up to his belly gently and slowly (I would recite the ABC song or something while doing this - mostly to keep myself awake LOL). After my son would let a good one go, he would be right as rain, so to speak. Maybe he just has some extra gas building up. Hope some of this helps and you can get some sleep!!!!

J.,

My daughter seemed to have colic too. We tried a bunch of different things and what ended up working was wearing her in the Baby Bjorn during the day as much as she liked, giving her Maalox to calm the mild reflux that she had and having her sleep in her bouncy seat at night. I was worried about the transition to the bassinet and crib, but she did just fine. I never tried letting her sleep on her tummy, but if your son is happy there during the day, I'd say go for it if you can keep an eye on him. You have to do what's best for everyone in your family and it sounds like you all need some sleep! :-)

I would say that you have a colicy baby. There are a few things that I did with my daughter. Mylicon drops were a godsend, I would of died without them. I have put all three of my kids asleep on their tummies. I did not have any issues with it, it helped them sleep a lot better. I would also suggest hold him in a football hold or lay him flat on his tummy in your lap. I hope these work for you, and that you get to sleep soon. Best of luck!

I definitely think it is ok to have your baby sleep on his tummy so long as you are there with him in the room. Personally, I wouldn't lay my baby in her crib on her tummy, but if he'll sleep like that in the living room while you are there, I would do it. It might help him to get into a sleeping schedule if he can start taking regular naps like that. Then you could wean him away from sleeping on his tummy. Good luck!

HI J.-

I have a 7 week old and he will not sleep on his back. I put him to sleep on his stomach and he sleeps very well. You just need to make sure he is on a firm matress, with no blankets etc. I know they have said back to sleep, but we had the same problem with my daughter, who is now 3 years old. We also put her on her stomach and she is fine.

Andria
SAHM to a beautiful 3 1/2 year old, Haley and a 7 week old son, Caden.