How to Calm a Very Colicky Baby

Tried everything to soothe your colicky baby? Learn an alternative way to calm your baby...

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• pacifier
• baby sling
• pilates/exercise ball

1. 
   Wear your baby - photo courtesy of pippalily-baby-slings

   Baby wear. Try to wear your baby as much as possible throughout the say. Get either the pouch kind or a carrier type. The mei tai is good for holding your baby close, but the pouch or ring sling is the best option because it is the closest to recreating the environment of the womb. If you are unsure as to how to wear your baby, most slings come with directions and there are numerous video how-tos showing you the correct way to wear your baby.

2. 
   courtesy of rainreflections.com

   Gather your pacifier. The sucking action helps calm your baby. I started-out saying I didn't want my baby to use the pacifier, but after a few nights of colic, I got one really fast and found it did help calm him a bit. Pacifiers are also found to decrease the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)in infants when put to sleep with one in.

3. Dim the lights and lower your tv volume (or better yet, turn it off altogether). Some instances of colic are related to over stimulation through the day. Dimming the lights not only recreates a more womb-like environment, but can help calm your nerves as well, which some say the baby can sense your energy... and during a spell of colic, I don't know anyone who remained completely unaffected.

4. 
   The Ball

   Get on the ball! I highly recommend a pilates/exercise ball with a diameter minimum of 65cm (depending on your height), 75cm was a good size for me, but I am 5'10". You can buy them on eBay and TJMAXX and the like. Sit on the ball with your knees spread to give you stability. Do this WITHOUT your baby first, and bounce. Once you feel secure doing this with your baby in your hands, get your baby. I know this can be done when my 57 year old mother did it.

5. Get your baby, sling, pacifier, and bounce! This was the only thing that worked for my baby!!!! It started out as a way to work my abs after having a baby, but turned onto the best colic soother ever!!!! I started-out holding my baby in the cradle position, pacifier in hand, and would bounce. He would calm down after a few bounces. The benefit of bouncing while wearing him in the sling was that I could get him to sleep and then I would be able to walk around after he fell asleep, I wasn't attached to the ball the whole night. Movement is essential during the colic spell and even after the baby falls asleep for most of the duration of the colic time! After bouncing on the ball and calming the baby to sleep, you can walk around, fold laundry while swaying, or rock in a rocker with the baby still in the sling, sucking on the pacifier.

Tips & Warnings

• Breastfeed your baby: Don't make the same mistake I did! I thought the colic was because of my milk supply or something I was eating... it wasn't. After changing over to formula (the very expensive stuff) I found that it was even worse. Breast milk is SO much easier for babies to digest and absorb, and it also builds a very close bond and connection with your baby that you can cherish forever. Also, constipation is another issue you won't have to deal with.
• Please wear your sling according to the manufacturer's directions.
• Please feel safe and secure on your pilates ball when bouncing your baby.