The Settle Down Time for babies with colic.
All of us, from newborns to adults, move between light sleep and deep sleep during the night. Anyone who claims that her child sleeps straight through really means that when the child comes up into light sleep, he can go back to sleep on his own without crying or calling for a parent.
Here are some tips to soothe your night time sleeper baby, but I’ve also added some extra tips for older children as well. Hey, most kids have older siblings, so why not add the tips?
0 to 3 months
A newborn's habits aren't fully established yet, so it is during these first weeks it's fine to let her doze off while you're nursing or rocking her. However, I must point out that by 8 to 10 weeks, she can begin learning to fall asleep on her own. Letting the baby fall asleep while feeding her can help to create a link between the two, making her more likely to cry for more when she wakes up later, this will not help.
If she starts to look sleepy during a feeding, you should try to ease her into her crib. You will want to stay nearby as she nods off, but don't hold her or rock her to sleep as she may become dependant on you too much. Babies this age need to feed all the time, so don't expect a completely undisturbed night.
When babies with colic wakes up at night, it's your job to teach them that it's not playtime but feeding time. Don't turn on the lights or play with the baby during this time. Just feed her, change her if she's wet, and set her back in her bed. If you choose not to indulge her in play and stimulation, she'll catch on quicker and lull herself back to sleep.
4 to 6 months
By 4 months, a baby can sleep six to 12 hours without waking up. Don't rush to pick her up as soon as she groans or whimpers because she will lull herself to sleep. If she does wake up and wants a feeding, stall a bit to be sure she really needs it. If she's been fed and changed and is still crying, you can go in and let her know you're there, but do not pick her up. Pat her and speak softly. Let her find out how to lull herself to sleep at this age.
7 to 12 months
Even if your baby made it through the night before, she'll likely start making a fuss at night again now that she is old enough to think for herself a bit more: She can now really miss you when she doesn't see you. Just offer her a bit of reassurance when she awakens and this will help her through this stage.
Babies' sleep patterns are often disrupted when they are learning a new skill. For example, if your baby is learning to pull herself up to a standing position, expect her to practice this in her crib at night, too. Actually it’s really cute. I used to catch my daughter doing it all of the time.
If you've gone back to work and find that your breast milk supply is getting lower, a nighttime feeding can help you maintain a good amount. It's easiest to keep babies with colic in your room if this is the case, but make sure your mate can follow this change.
1 year to 18 months
If your child is still waking up during the night at this age, this strategy may help: Wake her up before she wakes you. Before you go to bed, wake her up to comfort or feed her. Tell her to help herself when she wakes up. Comfort her, but don't take her out of her crib.
You may find that she doesn't wake up later on. For some reason, rousing a child first seems to stop the cycle of waking up in the middle of the night. Be aware that if you've had your child sleeping with you till now, it will be a lot harder to coax her back into her own bed. Babies this age are starting to have opinions of their own, as well as a bigger need to express it.
2 years
This is the age when many children move from a crib to a bed, if they haven't already moved. Toddlers normally go through periods of fear and may come to their parents' bedroom. You might put a mattress or sleeping bag near your bed and tell your child that she's welcome to come in and use her special bed, but tell her not to wake you up when she does.
Should you discuss the colic of your baby with your doctor, you have to be honest with him. You need to tell him the truth about your baby’s reaction to colic, and how his colic is affecting you.
Below you will find some stuff that should help when talking about baby's colic problems with his/her doctor. It may help if you start a colic diary and bring it with you.
Here are some of the things that you can put in it:
When the colic episodes start, how often, and how long they last.
The time of day and what is happening around baby when they occur, such as are they at home, with sitters, when the family is busy etc.
What starts and ends them.
Where you feel the baby's pain is coming from. Give descriptions of oddities in appearance if you can.
A description of the cry.
Details about feeding: frequency, and whether breastfeeding or bottle.
Nature of your baby's bowel movements.
Spitting up: how often after feeding.
What baby's bottom looks like, such as persistent diaper rash or a red, burnt-looking bottom?
What you have tried to do for the colicky episodes, what worked and what didn't.
What you think it is that causes it.
Since most colicky episodes occur at home you have to tell him everything that your baby does because the doctor can’t see it. They can only determine how severe it is through what you say so it is important to communicate this thoroughly.