colic or fussy??

[kim]

What's the difference?? Just wondering if someone can clarify...

[Premommy]

Colic is defined by the rule of threes--- crying for three hours a day, at least three hours a week. Hope that helps some.

[buttercup_97140]

I think colic also makes babies cry around the same time each day and it's hard to console them. I don't think I have ever had a colic baby, but we did give Hyland's colic tabs for gassy tummies (docs think colic is spasms or painful intestinal issues) and they have always calmed down. They are homeopathic and really seem to work, even if they are not colicky or gassy.
I hope you don't have a colicky baby, that would be hard! Praying for comfort for your little one!!!
Did you look colic up? I'm going from memory so I could be off a bit, but I think that is what colic is.

Blessings,
Amber

[buttercup_97140]

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162806.php Good article!

Blessings,
Amber

[kim]

Honestly, I don't *think* it's colic. Sometimes he's consolable. Others it's more difficult. He fights sleep something fierce during the day. He does have some gas issues that cause him to stiffen in your arms when he cries, but I'm working on sorting that issue out. He seems to be sensitive to being passed around to multiple unfamiliar people in a day. (ie. right now that means anyone other than myself or hubs.) He's just more cranky and difficult to keep happy on days when we visit others. So I may have to limit his 'visiting' time, which could be awkward. Sigh. He's just overall more high maintenance than all the other kids. However, he sleeps 7-10 hours straight at night, so I'm not complaining.

[Premommy]

Fighting sleep may be an indication that he is being kept awake too long. Watch for his sleepy signs and don't wait to put him down as soon as he shows any (even if he hasn't been awake very long). That prevents him from getting the "second wind"-- which is usually manifested in extended crying.

Have you tried swaddling him while he's being passed around so maybe he'll feel more secure?

Hope you get the gas issue figured out! And good baby sleeping so long through the night!

[Margi]

In my experience, colic was basically crying that couldn't be consoled, usually caused by pain in the tummy. Nick had SUCH tummy issues - you could feel his tummy just gurgling and churning! It was awful because we felt so helpless!! It started around 6-7 weeks and ended 6-7 months. That's the normal time frame for colic.

He continues to be our sensitive child... e.g. lower pain tolerance, fairer skin, more prone to rash, also more sensitive emotionally. I think it just took more time for his gut to mature and that's what caused all the crying.

[kim]

I don't think he is being kept awake too long as a general rule. He just fights it. *shrug* He's also an incredibly light sleeper so *everything* disturbs him during the day. (Not at night though.) Most days I feel like all I do is put him to sleep over and over. lol Even when he is sleeping with me in the wrap he's easily disturbed - just easier to settle back to sleep. So I'm trying to wear him for either the bulk of the morning or the bulk of the afternoon so that he gets a good stretch of sleep and that is starting to make a difference. I think. lol

Margi, I certainly hear/feel Malcolm's poor little tummy gurgling a lot. I'll keep working on my diet to hopefully sort that issue out.

[melloyellochelle]

Kim, I know you saw the article about oversupply/strong letdown. Do you think that could be contributing to it? Have you tried anything to help him with that, if so?

I know Charlie had a rough go for awhile too. I remember holding him tight in my arms, and rocking/swinging him, and trying to stay in a conversation with a friend that was visiting! LOL! Why didn't I just go put my baby to sleep? Poor kid! But, that was fairly normal for him those days. Fought sleep, gurgly stomach, not too happy BUT I could tell he wanted to be a real cuddle bug and just a sweet guy. Today, he very much is a sweet cuddle bug.

[melinda]

I only had one baby I thought was colic and that was my 1st, at 6pm he would start screaming and wouldn't stop till 9pm when he fell asleep, he did this for a week and then time became less and less 2hrs some night just 1hr another night, maybe 30min other nights but absolutely nothing made him stop, it was horrible, I spent many evenings crying with him lol which I am sure didn't help, I remember reading up on it and tryin all the things they said would help and that was 10yrs ago and don't remember any of it lol except one I found silly and that was putting them on top of the dryer while it was going lol it didn't help that actually freaked him out worse, thankfully my other boys were pretty much content as long as I held them(couldn't put them down or let anybody else hold them lol) I know ds1 cried a lot anyways when he was little, he didn't like noise so he didn't like the public, didn't like people over, I could calm him down if I went in a room by myself with it dark or dimly lit before I could get him to stop screaming when company was over or when I was visiting friends or family, yeah it took me until he was 2yrs old before I even wanted to try for another child lol I am sure you covered it all since you do have 5 babies but gonna throw some things out there, maybe when company comes over or your going to visit someone offer him the breast to maybe top his belly off lol which might relax him more, and maybe when he lays down for a nap play soft music so that he will get a little use to noise and maybe not be so much a light sleeper, if he naps strapped to you then maybe playing music softly if you can while you do whatever you doing, idk just throwing things out there