How to Cope with the Stress of a Colicky Baby

So this is what you waited nine months for. Constant, grating crying. No sleep. A feeling of helplessness as you sing, rock, swaddle and nurse an infant who will not stop crying, no matter what. Colic typically lasts for about 3 months, and it's one of the most stressful things new parents must endure. Here's how to cope.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Remember that baby colic typically lasts only three months. In the overall scheme of things, 3 months isn't that long. It's the length of one trimester.
2. Support your spouse. New moms and dads are often at each other's throats due to sleep deprivation and stress. Instead, they should be comforting each other. Ask grandma to watch the fussy baby for an hour, grab dinner and toast each other, bleary-eyed, over a small glass of wine.
3. Try all tested and true methods for dealing with colic. Dr. Harvey Karp's "The Happiest Baby on the Block" book suggests relying on the "S's": swaddle, shush, sway, suck and hold baby on her side. If this doesn't help, you can at least feel empowered by the fact that you took some action.
4. Find other parents of newborns dealing with this same problem. Your next door neighbor's baby slept through the night whenshe came home from the hospital and only cries when she's hungry. You might need to venture further down the street to find a mom who you can relate to. Set up coffee playdates and commiserate.
5. Talk to your pediatrician about the problem. The symptoms of reflux are similar to colic, and your infant's doctor can help differentiate between the two. Visiting the pediatrician provide a faster resolution of the baby colic symptoms. Even if it doesn't, you'll find some comfort in taking action.