The debate on the existence of the condition known as "colic" means nothing to the desperate parent seeking to softly soothe or simply calm down a screaming newborn or infant. 

Beyond the sheer discomfort to the baby and disruption to the family, it can become a 24/7 terror, especially for new parents. See the article Postpartum Depression & Colic - Risk Factors, Warning Signs by Shoshana Bennett, Ph.D., or My Baby Cried More Than Yours and Noone Knows Why, by Elizabeth Preston.

While reflux ruled the world of my second child for nearly two years, with my first I experienced incessant crying, colicky symptoms, and intense fussiness, for at least the first two months. If I didn't go through it myself I might find myself seeing the side of the doubters, but it was a level of crying and discomfort that I really couldn't explain, fix, or wish away; we just had to get through it. 

That all said, I didn't document this time of my life or how I coped (and frankly blacked out most of it). Fortunately I was recently connected with a very helpful management guide - and extremely accurate title -  for parents: How To Soothe Your Colicky Baby Without Losing Your Mind via MomsLoveBest.com and author Jenny Silverstone.

​Check out an infographic from the guide below and click to learn more.

View more colic posts on DWSU and thanks to Jenny for sharing this with us!
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Jamie Lee Curtis may have persuaded you to hop on the probiotic train years ago when she was plugging for yogurt. But are probiotics a possible solution for infants with symptoms of colic, reflux, etc.?

News came out of Canada recently; a study from The Hospital for Sick Children. According to the Oct. 23, 2014 article: 

The article describes probiotics as supplements, which introduce live microorganisms into the gut, to help regulate intestinal bacteria patterns and suppress inflammation.

Earlier this year, WebMD published news from an Italian study, Probiotic Drops Might Ease Colic. It states that according to Italian researchers, infants given probiotics during the first three months of life appear to have fewer bouts of colic, acid reflux and constipation. However, more research is needed before doctors can "embrace the results."

In any case, it's a topic worth following as the debate continues to flare between the "over-diagnosis" of colic and reflux, and the decision to medicate, or wait it out as a natural part of development. 

I cleaned out my fridge this week. Now before you go giving me a gold medal for this incredible feat, I had to do this because leftover containers had stacked up so high there was no room for this week's grocery trip. Necessity breeds opportunity I guess.

What I found in the back was a bottle of gripe water, leftover from my son's turbulent first nine months of reflux/spitting up, colic and overall discomfort. 

Now, at 13 months (at the time of this post), I hadn't thought about this staple in quite some time. It brought me back to a truly difficult period, where I put a whole lot of faith in this tiny bottle of fennel water. 

• So what is gripe water? Sorry, but it's not something YOU can drink to stop your crankiness. I tried. As described in the What to Expect article, "Is Gripe Water Safe for my Baby?" sodium bicarbonate is the main active ingredient along with fennel and dill, and it's available in the US as an over-the-counter medicine, and is regulated by the FDA. It's a liquid given to infants via dropper. It's not the same as gas drops, which didn't seem to help us this time around, but did help with my first.

• Where do you get this? This product is available online, at your corner drugstore, grocery store etc. You wouldn't know it exists unless you look for it. I found it, in an early morning of desperation, just by scouring the baby products aisle. Then I looked it up online and found a bunch of articles and forums talking about it.

• Does it work? For us, it wasn't a cure-all, but I felt that the times we used it that my son was calmer, less burpy and more restful. It was the first thing I thought of when my sister-in-law from Florida told me of her ongoing frustrations for her then four month old. My nephew had tried it all: breastfeeding changes, specialty formulas, medication, you name it. Something about the gripe water helped to ease the reflux, especially for the night. I don't know if it would work for you, but I do know that I was willing to try after my doc said it was ok. 

Who knows? Maybe just having something that slightly lessens the problem actually counts for more, because it helps calm you and caregivers as well. Call it liquid encouragement of a different kind. 

And that's what these babies need most: a level-headed person in charge, taking each day as it comes.