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Baby crying and colic webchat, Tuesday 7th June, 12-1pm

Feeling confused about how to soothe your crying baby? Put your questions to Prima Baby expert, Megan Faure on Tuesday 7th June, from 12-1pm.



Megan specialises in baby's under the age of one and helps parents develop an awareness of how your baby is feeling allowing you to establish a routine which suits both baby and parent.



Don't worry if you can't make the time and date, post your question below and Megan will endeavor to answer as many questions as she can on the day.

Replies

  • I am looking forward to chatting with you all in a few minutes. Colic, crying and Toddler Tantrums are all up for discussion and question today! Meg
  • Hi Megan



    Testing for Babyexpert.com live webchat today



    Babyexpert
  • Colic and crying is possibly one of the hardest things to cope with as a new mom. The questions are never ending - is it reflux? Is my baby sensitive to milk or whatever i am eating? Did I over feed or is my baby hungry? Feel free to ask your questions here, today.
  • Hi Megan



    I am due my first baby in a couple of months, and am just trying to get clued up. How will I know if my baby does have colic, what is the difference between that and normal crying and what should I do if it is? Can it happen from birth? Is there a common age to look out for?



    Thanks
  • Hi rtracey80. Colic classically arises at 2 weeks and peaks at 6 weeks so right now you are in the thick of it. We actually call this type of crying 'unexplained early infant crying' simply because there is not always an explanation so your sources are not correct in saying there is always a reason for crying at this age. If you have ruled out hunger and a dirty nappy, you need to look at sensory soothing strategies such as swaddling and baby wearing to sleep. You will not spoil your baby, so use the strategies that work.
  • Hi Miss_Xan. Colic is normal crying for a 2-12 week old. It arises at about 10-14 days, so if you get past this time without too much fussing, you are lucky and won't have a colicky baby. If he is niggly between 5 and 8 at night and cries for 3 hours more than 3 days a week, you call that crying 'colic'. Colic is in fact a misnomer in that colic really means ABDOMINAL discomfort and in fact recent research shows us that crying at this age is not necessarily to do with the tummy at all. In fact it has to do with your baby's immature brain.
  • There are a few things you can do prior to 5pm that can help to prevent colic:

    Make sure your baby sleeps regularly during the day (not awake for longer than 45 min- 1 hour at a stretch)

    Soothing bath time BUT if your little one is very irritable move bath time to the morning.

    Dress your baby in a dark room after bath time

    Feed in the dim room with little interaction.

    Swaddle for sleep time

    Use a white noise CD to sooth and settle your little one.
  • Thanks Megan
  • Frequently confused with colic, reflux has a completely different mechanism.
  • Hi Megan



    What are your views on controlled crying, I get so much conflicting advice. My little one just wont settle unless I'm in the room and it is taking so much of our evening and nights. Plus I have a big softy husband who can't stand it when she's distressed so tends to stay up there for ages but I think he is just creating a rod for his own back (and mine!)



    thanks in advance
  • Hi Anouks_mummy I completley understand your concern around getting your baby to settle herself and therefore your thoughts around control crying. And certainly there is an age when you can reasonably expect your baby to self sooth. However in the 'colic' period - prior to three months of age, babies have a really hard time settling themselves and so they need our assistance. So at this stage I really don't encourage controlled crying at all. Your baby may have 'real' needs such as hunger that you see to first. Thereafter she may just be crying due to overstimualtion and too much interaction during the day. Your husband is right to feel she needs to be comforted. There is a lot of time to prevent habits developing over the next few months, when she is able to self soothe.
  • Thanks Megan, sorry I should have said she's actually 10 months now, and was actually quite good to start. She seems to be getting worse in the clingy way at night, which is why I was thinking that controlled crying might work as she is old enough to learn that she needs to settle on her own. Any tips on gradually getting her self to settle would be great, if you still have time.



    thanks for your help.



  • Hi Anouks_mummy. Her age does change things because at this age, she should be self soothing. Because habits can arise at this time or rather become entrenched now, it is work teaching her to self sooth.

    To do so try the following:

    1. Find something she will settle with (dummy or doudou blanky) and offer that consistently during the day so that she really takes to it.

    2. When you settle her to sleep offer the object into her hands - not mouth. She needs to put her dummy in her mounth herself.

    3. If she fusses, sit with her with your hand on her but dont give her the crutch she was used to (ie feed to sleep or rock to sleep). Be quiet and consistent.

    4. if she lies quietly stay with her until she is asleep, if she performs walk out and stand out side the room talking to her - tell her to lie down (or wahtever you require) as soon as she settles, go back.

    5. Be consistent so she knows you are supporting her efforts to self soothe.

    6. If she wakes at night listen to see if she will settle before going in to her.



    This is different to 'controlled crying' which leaves her alone. But it teaches the same tool - to self soothe.
  • The Baby Sense Secret, my latest book has much more on settling colicky babies. Best wishes and thank you for being part of the webchat today.
  • Thanks so much for you help, I'm much happier with this plan and will try it all as of now.



    thanks again.
  • Thanks so much to Megan Faure for another informative webchat. We hope our users have found it useful.





    Megan Faure's, The Baby Sense Secret, is published by DK Books, costs ??12.99, and is available from all good book stores. For more information click here: http://www.dorlingkindersley-uk.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9781405348232,00.html
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