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I have four boys and three of them had colic. It was a lot of dark lonely nights and almost losing my sanity. Hours and hours every night of screaming and my attempts at soothing.
I’m glad to say that we all made it through alive and well, but when I was pregnant with my last baby I knew I didn’t want a colic repeat.
Unfortunately the first night we were home from the hospital (he was 3 days old) was a nightmare. He screamed from 8pm to 3am. Nothing helped. We called the pediatrician and were seen the next day.
Determined to not go through that EVER again, we armed ourselves with every possible remedy. Here are the things that worked the best for us.
1. Gripe Water
Hudson loved this brand of gripe water. We gave it to him throughout the day and night and it really helped soothe. It contains ginger and fennel which are calming to an upset stomach.
2. Gentle Baby Essential Oil
Gentle Baby is a blend of coriander, geranium, palmarosa, ylang ylang, roman chamomile, jasmine, lemon, rose, and bergamot. I would dilute it with a carrier oil (like coconut or jojoba) and massage his stomach gently. He could be crying but within just a few minutes he would stop. This was a life saver for us!
3. Rice Sock
We had a rice sock which we would warm up and place on his stomach to help soothe.
4. Windi
We didn’t use this very often but when we needed it, it really helped!
5. Elimination Diet
Food sensitivities are very common in babies. The most common being dairy, soy, and egg. Wheat, peanut, and shellfish are also common. For us, eliminating these foods made a huge difference. Make sure you read all food labels. These ingredients are very common in processed and premade foods. Salad dressings, baked goods, sauces etc all commonly contain these ingredients.
6. Time Out
This time out is for you! Getting a few minutes to yourself is important. Take a warm bath, a walk, do some yoga. Just take some time to recoup and calm down. Frazzled mama equals a frazzled baby. Plus, you deserve some self care too!
7. Quiet Anti Stimulation Zone
Have a space in your home that has low light and adequate white noise. Swaddle your baby and take them there every evening prior to them getting hysterical. Swaddle, rock, nurse, and wind down. Also keep some bottles of water and a couple snacks for you. Make sure you have a comfortable spot to sit/rock. Make it a calming and soothing space for you and baby.
Lastly, if you are going through colic right now know this: Colic won’t last forever and you will survive it. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. In the meantime, you aren’t alone, mama. Arm yourself with an arsenal of soothing products (for you and baby) and remember this too shall pass ?.
