Posted on 12/29/2009 6:11:47 AM PST by netmilsmom
Help. My Godson is a miracle baby. He was due on Halloween day. The mom (my niece) was in a car accident and delivered early on October 10th. It was discovered that had the baby gone to full term, because of a major knot in the cord, he would have been stillborn. We thank The Lord every day for this baby.
However, he is a screamer. He cries for hours at a time. (seven hours straight last night) My niece is breastfeeding. She has now, cut all dairy in her diet, and tried anti-reflux meds for him. Nothing is working. He just cries and cries. Whether he is being held or not. He doesn't like being bunted either.
Any suggestions?
I agree with everyone’s suggestions, however... Some children are just inconsolable. My daughter was inconsolable. Now that I look back, it was one part personality and one part reflux. Babies also react to tense situations and tense people. My only advise, do your best, comfort yourself with that, relax, it isn’t personal.. well maybe it is LOL. Play some soothing music and let him cry himself out. When he finally runs out of energy to cry, pick him up and rock him. BTW.. she is thirteen, still inconsolable at times. Read “Strong Willed Child” by Dr. Dobson.
How to get rid of breast milk: ice packs, witch hazel, bind breasts. The whole process is rather uncomfortable, but much less this time of year than in the summer.
LMAO! How ‘bout Bose’s Noise Canceling Headphones? ;-) Hehe!
If the baby is gassy, you could try an over the counter gas reliever for infants called Mylicon for some relief. My three kids were coliky criers too, and that worked like a charm. I also breastfed, but somehow I never made enough milk, fast enough, to satisfy their voracious appetites. Copius breastfeeding and an additional supplemental bottle here and there might quiet the little one down.
It will dampen the noise, as well as give him a sense of purpose and authority. Additional fun can be had by having dad come in and announce his paternity in a low, breathy voice. 
Here we go - EVERYONE is going to give you advice - including me...*grin*...I had my son while I was a Naval Officer with another officer in my command having her daughter a month before. I wanted to nurse, she wasn’t too cool with that for her daughter. After the kids arrived, we swapped philosophies: My son was a 10 lb-er so I stopped nursing after two weeks to get him fed well. She went a looooooong time nursing her daughter who screamed her head off for a solid year - mom refused to adjust her love of mexican food during this time (hmmmm). I would say that ceasing the nursing would be a relief for both mom and baby - he’ll survive, truly - and all could have an easier time of it - and it is a wonderful time in life! Also, this woman’s husband wore ear plugs for a year too...dopey!
Gripe water.
Used it for all my kids in the 60’s, got it in Canada.
http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071228065518AAH0ER2
Mine screamed every evening for about 4 hours for a year.
The solution turned out to be heating cow’s milk just to the point of boiling. It does something to the lactose.
We never left her alone to cry, we always carried her around, passing her back and forth. She’s now a healthy, happy adult who can’t eat dairy products.
HAPPIEST BABY ON THE BLOCK - DVD
http://www.happiestbaby.com/book-dvd-excerpts/the-happiest-baby-book/
As a baby, my daughter would scream bloody murder from colic. Out of desperation, I started my dryer and waited until the top got warm. Then I wrapped her in a warm blanket and placed her face down on top of the warm dryer, with my hand on her back of course. (I had put a towel or blanket on the dryer as padding under her.) It worked like a charm, and she was settled in a few minutes. Other times, I would put her face down on my knees, using my knees as gentle pressure on her tummy. These approaches work well even today with grandchildren.
I do admire you greatly!!!!!
Wrapping him up in a blanket.
1) If you are nearby or know someone who is, offer to come give her some relief. Even if it’s just for 30 minutes for her to lock herself in the bathroom and take a nice hot shower
2) Help her find her local Babywearing group. Try www.thebabywearer.com/forum - My first was colicky and wearing her close to me really worked. It wasn’t an instant fix, but it did help.
3) Find local vitamin shop/health food store, etc. and get some Gripe Water. It’s ginger, fennel, and chammomile. It helps sooth the stomach and calm the baby. Seriously a sanity saver. Our 2nd only needed it a couple of times to help with gas, but we never would’ve had a 2nd baby without knowing about this with our first.
4) Encourage her to continue breastfeeding. How long has she been off dairy? It can take 3 weeks before you will see the affects in the baby. She may have to do a total elimination diet (http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/T041200.asp) to see if it’s something else. But, especially since the baby was early, breastmilk is the best option. Does the baby have other signs of reflux (like arching the back while eating, spitting up a lot, etc.)? Or did the doctor prescribe the medicine b/c he/she just thought it might help the crying?
Feel free to FReep mail me.
I saw one that said to quit nursing and go to the bottle. I do know everyone has a bit of advice as well but with my first one (a colicky one) - pediatrician told me it was a good thing I was nursing, that he’d probably be in the hospital with severe colic if he was on the bottle. Just a thought.
I found the tea ideas interesting. Wish I could have checked into that with him. I would check with his pediatrician before giving him teas - or at least a wise old midwife.
My oldest son grew fast and was quite fat, I do think I let him nurse too much, he found it comforting but I think he got too full which didn’t help his stomach.
Try white noise in the background (the sound of a vacuum cleaner in the other room), put him on the dryer in his car seat when the dryer is running, drive him around in the car. They also have some tapes now I think that have “sounds of the womb”, that may comfort him.
Ultimately, you will all just have to wait till he grows out of it.
I trust you have talked to his pediatrician?
Make sure mom rotates her diet. I disagree with the calls to try anything other than breastmilk—nothing is easier on baby’s tummy than that. She will have to be careful of nuts, chocolate, eggs, and milk. I had to do that with my kiddos since some things would just set them off. It was a process of elimination, really.
This really is a, “this too shall pass” time for her. I suggest finding a good “nursing moms” board for some more suggestions.
try a vacuam cleaner or a classical music cd.
I am not a mom, I am a dad. Our second son was a colicy? kid, and I found the perfect solution. The Gettysburg Address. In order for this to work, you must do the following. Have yourself a good stiff drink to relax yourself ( the baby can tell if you are tense or relaxed )cradle the kid in your arms, sit yourself down in a comfortable chair, and in a semi-monotone, soft voice begin to recite the Gettysburg Address. Remember to remain relaxed, and keep your voice in a soft steady semi-monotone. By the time you reach the end, the child will be asleep. Stay in your chair, totally relaxed, and enjoy holding your child. Works every time..... :)
How interesting that you mentioned Dr. Denmark! I live in the town she does. At last report, she is fine. I ran into her daughter in a store a couple of years ago. That lady is quite a legend!
I meant to add that my daughter was breast-fed, too. Breastfeeding is so important, even with the crises along the way. La Leche League was my lifeline back in the day.
He'll be shocked to silence, much like I was.
Or he'll barf for three days.
Seriously, I had two that did the same thing.
My long suffering wife (as much from me as the children) simply kept on keeping on, keeping the babies to her breast, cuddling and holding them constantly, until the "affliction" or whatever it was, passed.
But it takes the patience of a saint.
Assuming that the child is not otherwise sick or suffering, which I'm sure has been eliminated by the consultation with a physician by now, if it were to be the case, some babies just cry.
My Grandma had a potion for such things...involving the mixing of rock candy, rotgut whiskey and other unmentionable things that probably worked for no other reason than that the child came to the realization that if they did not stop whatever the "sickly" wailing was, they would have to consume more of the vile mixture.
Children know things, even at that age.
My first taste of castor oil came at the tender age of 1 year.
Yes, I remember that.
Damned near 60 years ago, but I will never forget it.
Thank you so much everyone!!!
I’m sending this thread to my niece.
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