Although colic isn't necessarily a sign that your baby's in pain, take her to your GP if she's crying for long periods. Your doctor can check if anything else is causing your baby to cry.
In most cases of persistent crying, the GP will find that there is no underlying cause. You may start to feel more relaxed about your baby's crying once your GP has confirmed that she's fit and healthy.
So, when your baby is having a bout of crying, just take a deep breath and carry on with the basics. Feed her on demand, wind her and change her nappy when she needs it. Try the soothing techniques that usually work well for her, whether that be singing to her or taking her for a walk in the pushchair.
Bear in mind that your tried-and-trusted techniques may not work every time. Colic means that, even though your baby is healthy, she may just cry for no obvious reason. While this can be stressful, remind yourself that you haven't done anything wrong, and that this phase will pass.
Dealing with colic can be tough, and some parents feel depressed, helpless and even angry when faced with their persistently crying baby.
If your partner is at home, you could take it in turns to give each other a break. But if you're alone with your baby, you could:
In most cases of persistent crying, the GP will find that there is no underlying cause. You may start to feel more relaxed about your baby's crying once your GP has confirmed that she's fit and healthy.
So, when your baby is having a bout of crying, just take a deep breath and carry on with the basics. Feed her on demand, wind her and change her nappy when she needs it. Try the soothing techniques that usually work well for her, whether that be singing to her or taking her for a walk in the pushchair.
Bear in mind that your tried-and-trusted techniques may not work every time. Colic means that, even though your baby is healthy, she may just cry for no obvious reason. While this can be stressful, remind yourself that you haven't done anything wrong, and that this phase will pass.
Dealing with colic can be tough, and some parents feel depressed, helpless and even angry when faced with their persistently crying baby.
If your partner is at home, you could take it in turns to give each other a break. But if you're alone with your baby, you could:
- take your baby for a walk so both of you can get some fresh air
- ask a neighbour or friend to babysit while you have a bath or lie down in a quiet room
- phone a close relative or friend to talk about what you're going through
- cuddle and rock your baby, but put on headphones and listen to happy music, so that the only sound you hear isn't your baby's crying
- If you can't get out of the house, do some exercise or dance to a games console or DVD
If the tension mounts to the point where your stress turns to anger, put your baby down in her cot for five minutes and go into a different room to calm yourself. The last thing you want to do is to direct that anger towards your baby. If you need to, set a timer so you know how long it's been.
When your baby is calmer:
- Have a rest, or some "me time", while your baby is sleeping.
- Listen to a relaxation podcast.
- Enjoy your baby by making a note of the good times you have together.
- Talk to your partner about how you're both coping and what you can do.
- Chat with other mums who have babies with colic in the BabyCentre community.
If you're struggling, it's important to seek help before you become overwhelmed. If you become anxious, your baby may pick up on this, making her more difficult to soothe. Don't be afraid to talk to your health visitor or doctor about how you feel. They're there to support you.
You can also contact the charity Cry-sis on 08451 228 669. You'll be put through to a parent who has been in the same situation as you.
Read more about how to soothe a crying baby.
Author,
Anna McGrail
Medical writer and editor.
0 comments:
Post a Comment