Hi everyone,

I don't get a lot of time to come here as often as I used to. With my 6 and 4 year old ds's and my new dd my time is valuable these days
But, I did want to ask about Cassidy and her fussiness.
She is 4 and half weeks old now and when she was about 2 weeks she started getting very fussy. Every night starting between 4-6 until about 9pm she cries.
I always check to see if she is hungry, wet, wants to change positions, or if she wants held, rocked. But, nothing seems to console her. She acts like she wants to suck but when she is fussing she won't eat or take a pacifier, sometimes she will suck on my pinky finger but that is just about the only thing that will do the trick.
I've looked up colic on the web and I think she might have it. Neither of my sons had this so it's new to me.
I've read that colic can sometimes be because of gas so I bought some infant gas drops. I've given it to her after 2 of her feeding today and she has been SOO content! I REALLY hope that this helps her!
She eats well, and never vomits, and has about 2-3 bowel movements a day so I don't think it's the formula. Hopefully it's just gas and I hope the drops help.
Does anyone have any other tips on how to console a colicy baby?

Mara

By Insaneusmcwife on Monday, September 8, 2003 - 02:09 pm:

Have you tried to bundle her up like a burrito? I found this helped with my 2 little ones.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, September 8, 2003 - 03:23 pm:

Sounds like my oldest daughter. I never did try the gas drops. It just got better with time. A few times what helped was driving her in the car in the middle of the night. Of course, with older kids around, that isn't as easy to do.

We just held her and sometimes didn't hold her, took turns holding her. It was hard! She cried so much, especially at night. By two months, she was crying in the evening and then sleeping all night, and by three months, she was going to bed at 7pm and sleeping all night.

By Mommyathome on Monday, September 8, 2003 - 03:41 pm:

I agree with the burrito thing. Have you tried that? Babies seem to enjoy the safe feeling that it creates for them. Sometimes rubbing the tummy will help if it is gas. Also, holding her so that she is tummy down on your arm. I remember Seth posting a picture of himself and his new baby being held this way. That is the way we held our fussy/gassy babies and it seemed to do the trick. I guess the slight pressure on the tummy feels good to the baby.

Good luck to you and Cassidy!

By Karen~moderator on Monday, September 8, 2003 - 07:24 pm:

I had 2 colic babies, Jeff was the absolute worst. The Mylacon drops helped. Have you discussed this with your Ped? I also did the rubbing the tummy thing and holding him tummy down on my arm, that helped also.

By Karen~moderator on Monday, September 8, 2003 - 07:26 pm:

Oh - another thing we did was use an infant sized hot water bottle and use warm (not hot) water, and lie the baby down and place that on her tummy for a while - definitely don't leave her unattended if you do this.

By Joan on Monday, September 8, 2003 - 07:37 pm:

So far no major crying spells! You know just the normal crying
I've tried the tight wrapping thing and yes she did like that but she stopped liking it about 2 weeks ago. I also rub her belly and sometimes hold her belly down on my arm. Those seem to work some, but these drops seem to be best.
I did'nt mention to the ped. on her first visit because that was when she was only 2 weeks old and the crying spells started right after.
I will mention it at her next app. or if things don't improve.

Mara

By Lauram on Monday, September 8, 2003 - 09:04 pm:

My youngest SCREAMED from 3 Pm- 11PM every night for the first five mo. The one thing that "kind of" helped was movement- in the sling, lots of rocking, bouncing, car rides, the dryer.... Really you have to find a way to live through it (sorry!) All I can say is "This, too, shall pass!" I feel your pain (and fatigue!)

By Jtw on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 - 12:52 am:

I was going to suggest what she is eating, but mom knows best, so it probably isn't that. My doc said that if you lay the baby on her back and grab her ankles and push her knees up towards her belly this helps get the gas out. Also, if you keep her upright for a half hour or so after she eats, this helps so they don't spit up as much. We had to do this with our ds because he had reflux. We either held him or put him in the car seat or bouncy seat for a little while. BIG IMPROVEMENT!!! Have you thought about taking a baby massage class? Some babies benefit a lot just from being touched often.