In this article:
- What is the cause of colic crying in infants?
- The “Five S” strategy to calm down your baby
- Swaddling
- Sounds from the womb
- Swinging
- Sucking
- Stomach or side-lying
- What If Your Baby Won’t Stop Crying During Colic?
Having a baby is one of the best feelings in the world. You can do anything and everything for your baby. But what about the sleepless nights? What about days when they just won’t stop crying, no matter what you do? You are not parenting the wrong way, and you are not at fault.
Your baby’s constant crying does not indicate that they are ill or have a problem. It simply means that they might have colic. Let’s see what colic means, how to calm your baby if they have colic, and what to do if your baby won’t stop crying even if you have tried everything.
What Is the Cause of Colic Crying in Infant ?
Colic is not a disease or a physical condition. Instead, it is a term for long bouts of crying for no clear reason. The condition is relative, and whether your baby’s weeping is “normal” or “extreme” is determined by your tolerance for it. However, many doctors employ the “rule of three.”
According to the rule of three, healthy babies might have colic when they cry for
- A total of more than three hours per day
- At least three days per week
- for at least three weeks
Nonetheless, don’t get caught up in any formal colic definition, which is of no use. There is no blood test for colic, and specialists disagree about the cause, management, and even the meaning of colic.
The “Five S” strategy to calm down your baby:
Swaddling
Wrap your baby’s arms around the sides. Leave the legs mobile to allow the hips to move.
Sounds from the womb
The uterus is noisier than a vacuum. Simulating uterine sounds helps babies sleep longer. Rain recordings or hair dryer noises resemble womb sounds. These sounds may be loud to you, but they’re calming to infants since they’re akin to womb sounds.
Swinging
It calms newborns. Holding them and rocking them are safe for your baby. In the uterus, babies are cuddled and rocked 24/7, so 18 hours a day is a cutback for them.
Sucking
During the first few months, babies have a strong need to chew, and satisfying that need can calm a fussy baby. Give your baby a pacifier. Some newborns may reject it, but others will find relief.
Stomach or side-lying
Lie on your side or stomach with your baby’s head in your hand. A crying baby is easier to calm when on their side or stomach. However, do not let them sleep in that position, as it may lead to suffocation.
Each baby is different. Some require swaddling and shushing, while others need swinging. Four of the five S must be completed quickly and enthusiastically to calm down extremely fussy infants.
What if your baby won’t stop crying during colic?
- It’s difficult to care for a colicky baby and calm them down during a colic attack. If nothing else works, place your baby in a crib without blankets or stuffed animals on their back, close the door, and check on the infant in 10 minutes.
- Do anything to relax and calm down during those ten minutes. Take a shower, eat a snack, take deep breaths, or listen to music to relax.
- Don’t condemn yourself or your little one for crying. Colic is the result of a combination of factors. Relax and remember that your baby will grow out of this stage.
- Put your baby in the crib and call for help if you ever feel like you might damage yourself or your baby. Never shake a newborn, it may lead to shaken baby syndrome.
- If your infant won’t stop crying, call a friend or family member for support or to watch your baby while you take a break.
In conclusion
Colic is a phase, and it will pass. It is not easy to parent a baby with colic, but with a little bit of patience, some care, and lots of love, you can easily pass through this phase. Remember that colic won’t last forever, but your memories with your little one will! You will not remember the crying spells, but the moments of intense joy, protectiveness, and fierce love you have for your child. It is okay to leave your child crying for a while if you have tried everything else and they are not calming down.
What are the tips you have followed to calm your baby? Have you ever tried any of the tricks mentioned above? What do you think about the five-S strategy? Let us know in the comments below!
