26. Jan, 2022
Babies cry- some more than others. But it can be stressful, especially when you are getting to know your baby & still learning her cues.
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We've all heard of colic -colic is not a medical condition. The NHS defines it as "All babies cry, but your baby may have colic if they cry more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week for at least one week."
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It is no coincidence that most crying episodes occur from mid-afternoon to late evening when your baby is tired! Babies do not know how to fall asleep on their own.
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As cortisol rises, they need an adult's comfort to regulate them.
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Because colic is NOT a medical condition, there is no treatment for colic, just coping mechanisms & tips to help you & your baby feel more comfortable & hopefully reduce the episode of crying.
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For the past 12 years, I've supported families, offering gentle techniques to help deal with crying. I also had a very "colic-y" baby & understand first hand how stressful it can get!
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Here are some tips I have shared with new families over the years…
Elimination process:
You have eliminated all of the above, yet your baby is still crying?
Your body will regulate your baby's temperature, heart rate and breathing.
Breast is more than food, and it is comfort, and no, you are not spoiling your baby or creating a rod for your own back when breastfeeding/ feeding to sleep. It is normal, biological, what babies want!
Heat: you went through your bedtime routine, bathed your baby (in warm water in a very warm bathroom), quickly wrapped up your baby (in a very warm towel), dressed your baby in all of her (warm) layers. You have fed your baby (dressed in her warm clothes against your warm body), she is fussing, crying, pushing you away, she is fighting you... Stop feeding, hold her tightly, and try to calm her down by cuddling her against your (warm or even hot/ flustered) body. Do you see where I am going: your baby is getting too hot to be able to fall asleep.
To fall asleep, babies (and all humans) need to drop their body temperature. A baby who is too hot will struggle to fall asleep.
After the bath, let your baby kick off naked to lower their body temperature; a few minutes are enough.
Review how many layers your baby is wearing, how many layers you are wearing as you do the bedtime, how warm is the room to avoid the overheating situation.
-Baby is still crying: try the bathroom trick. Bring your baby in the dark/ low lit bathroom, turn on the tap/shower and let the water run (sorry environment, or play water sound in a dark room).
This simply calms your baby's nervous system; a change of room will also help your baby calm down (this is particularly true for babies who start screaming the minute you bring them into the room they sleep and start trying to put them to sleep).
Do you feel "triggered" when your baby cries?
It is not unusual for adults to feel triggered and panic when their baby cries. It is often a response from our own experience with our parents. Were you always told to stop crying when you were a child or shamed for crying? Some adults cannot cope with other people's emotions (and their own), making it really difficult to soothe a baby or child. It is always helpful to revisit our childhood and how our emotions were handled.
Remember, you made that little person. You have most of the answers within you!