Sweep Away Colic Baby Crying with White Noise
It doesn't make sense does it? You do everything possible as a new parent to keep your baby healthy and happy. So why is it, your baby decides to start screaming inconsolably right around dinner time? Just when you need it least.
Ask yourself?
? When your baby starts crying, is it for spells of 3 or more hours at a time?
? Do these crying spells happen 3 or more times a week?
? Did you notice the crying spells becoming more apparent about the 3rd week after you brought your baby home?
If you've answered yes to the above questions, you might have a baby with colic.
Colic is the diagnosis many pediatricians tag on a baby who is otherwise healthy and thriving, but follows the "Rule of Threes" as stated above. A colic baby has episodes of inconsolable crying beginning around the 3rd week of life, lasting at least 3 hours a day, for at least 3 days a week.
Attempting to calm a colicky infant can leave a parent emotionally battered and physically exhausted. Some doctors believe the cause of colic stems from your baby having a pain in the gut. "Colic" actually comes from the Greek word kolikos, which means "suffering in the colon." Sometimes, simply changing the baby's diet can help dramatically (or changing the mother's diet in the case of breastfeeding).
However, another theory is emerging about the cause of colic.
Some doctors believe an underdeveloped and immature nervous system may be the cause of colic crying. When a baby is born, its head isn't big enough to house a brain that is mature enough to have all the survival tools a human infant needs. A baby's brain is only the size of an apple. The birth canal cannot handle a bigger head. So, when a baby is born, the only inherent survival skills they possess are sneezing, sucking, swallowing and?.CRYING!
Eighty percent of babies are capable of crying for a reason, and then calming themselves down. They are awake for awhile to learn and accept stimuli. Then they sleep to recover and awake to take in more stimuli.
A colicky baby is high-maintenance. Their nervous system is overloaded with all the sights and sounds of a new world. And by about dinner time, they've had it. The crying begins. Once they start crying, they lack the mechanism to calm themselves down. In my experience, most mothers with colicky infants tell the same story. Their baby fights going to sleep. They won't take a nap. They won't stay asleep once they do finally go to sleep. These poor babies never take the time to recover from all the stimuli they have taken in over the course of a day.
What can you, as a parent, do to eliminate these crying spells?
An effective method to calming a colicky infant is by using white noise to mask environmental stimuli.
White noise is something we hear all the time, but rarely pay any attention. You hear white noise from:
? the roar of you wheels while driving in your car,
? the hum of your fan while working at your computer,
? the hum of the motor while running a vacuum cleaner,
? and even from the roar of a crowd while watching sporting events.
White noise is the full spectrum of sound frequencies a human ear can hear combined together all at once. When you hear something that creates a monotonous hum, and maybe kind of makes you sleepy, you are hearing white noise. You can purchase white noise cds and white noise generators, download white noise mp3s or, even try running an appliance (like hair dryers, air conditioners or fans) to create the white noise necessary to calm your baby in the midst of a crying outburst.
Remember, in the womb, your baby was packed in tightly. It was dark. It was warm. And the prominent sound she heard was the "whoosh" of blood flowing through the placenta (a little louder than the noise of a vacuum cleaner running). This "whoosh" of sound actually acted as the white noise your baby heard while in the womb.
You can recreate the feeling your baby had while in the womb. If you lower the lights, swaddle your baby in a blanket, and play some white noise, a colic baby outburst can be eliminated in no time.
Cherie L. Stirewalt is a colic baby survivor and shares her colic experiences on her website Colic-Baby-Bootcamp.com. The site offers a one-of-a-kind white noise download and white noise CD to help frustrated parents cope with their fussy baby fast! Join the Free Colic Baby Bootcamp newsletter and receive more colic related tips and tricks at http://www.colic-baby-bootcamp.com/newsletter.html.
MORE RESOURCES:
Police investigating injured baby taken to McKeesport ER Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PA - Allegheny County police are investigating after a couple took an injured toddler to UPMC McKeesport yesterday. The parents said their son fell down the ... |
Kids' rooms that will grow with them Chicago Tribune, United States - By Judith Crown | AP Jennifer Cohen wishes she had had the sense to think about the cents she was lavishing on decorations for her baby daughter's bedroom. ... |
Wichita mom arrested for leaving baby in car Kansas City Star, MO - The mother of a toddler who went briefly missing when the family's car was stolen was arrested late Friday on charges of child endangerment and released ... |
Tom Germond I’ll keep running until it kills me Tampa Bay Newspapers, FL - By TOM GERMOND On a cool evening, as I was jogging on the sidewalk along Vonn Road, a woman and her two children were walking toward me. ... |
The Parent Company Receives Nasdaq Delisting Notice PR-USA.net (press release), Bulgaria - Through its baby business, the company is a leading online retailer of brand-name baby, toddler and maternity products sold through the BabyUniverse.com and ... |
Injured baby in critical condition TVNZ, New Zealand - A 15-month-old toddler with serious injuries is in a critical condition in Starship Hospital in Auckland. Police are investigating the cause of the injuries ... |
Baby Jaheim was beaten, says autopsy Trinidad & Tobago Express, Trinidad and Tobago - A FRACTURED skull and blunt force trauma to his head, killed two-year-old Jaheim Roberts, an autopsy performed on the toddler revealed yesterday. ... |
Children's programs begin soon at library branches Niagara Falls Review, Canada - Register soon for affordable winter children's programs that begin Jan. 5 at all four branches of the Niagara Falls Public Library. ... |
The Parent Company Voluntarily Petitions for Reorganization ... Reuters - Through its baby business, the company is a leading online retailer of brand-name baby, toddler and maternity products sold through the BabyUniverse.com and ... The Parent Company Voluntarily Petitions for Reorganization ... |
Community to come together for tragic Baby P Wigan Today, UK - Balloons will be released in memory of the toddler, who suffered appalling abuse at the hands of his mother and two other people, which eventually led to ... |
|
RELATED SITES Apply Online for Credit Card. Bad Credit, No Credit, No Problem.
Planning a wedding day soon? Everything you need for a beautiful and memorable wedding day
|
Baby Massage: A Cure for Colic
Colic hurts. Any parent who has an affected child will know that there is almost no pain like it - the physical and vocal response to the problem can be highly tiring and its very difficult to stand by and cope as a parent.
Advantages Of A Sheepskin Underlay For Babies
Sheepskin offers unique advantages as an underlay for babies. One of the advantages of a sheepskin underlay for babies is portability.
When Not To Begin Potty Training
Potty training can be a stressful experience for you and your child. It's best to start potty training when your child has an established daily routine and is not dealing with any additional stress.
Fun & Unique Baby Shower Favors
A baby shower is often the highlight of an expectant mother's pregnancy. Planning a baby shower requires some thought and consideration for the expectant mother's special event.
Baby Sleep Tips
Getting a baby to adjust to a normal sleep schedule can be a challenge for new parents. Here are some tips so that both you and your baby can get a good night's rest.
4 Tips for Taking Great Baby Pictures - Even If Youre Not a Professional
When my daughter Layla was born I had a hard time putting the camera down. And apparently I wasn't the only one.
Will Kids Eat Vegetables? Yes, They Will!
You have made the decision to grow your own vegetables. It's a lifestyle and health choice.
Tantrums - Breaking the Cycle
Tantrums don't suddenly appear. They are learned.
Sharing Baby Photos Online with Birth Announcements & Baby Photo Album Services
Congratulations! You're a new parent and you've brought your precious, beautiful baby into the world. You want to shout from the rooftops that you have this wonderful bundle of joy and you are so proud! You have seen or heard about online birth announcements before, and realize that they are a quick, easy, and no hassle way of spreading the news of the birth of your precious baby.
Baby Shower Invitations Add Style To Baby Announcements
Baby shower invitations set the tone for the big dayBaby shower invitations reflect the joy you feel at this special time in your life. Pregnancy is often a time for people to reflect on the meaning of family.
Selecting The Right Type of Stroller For Your Lifestyle
Having a baby is exciting, but also very tough! There are tons of decisions you will make throughout your pregnancy, throughout your babies infancy and during their entire lives! One of those early decisions you will have to make is what type of stroller to by your precious baby. In case you weren't aware, a stroller is a must have item for all new parents! Most parents buy their first stroller before they even buy a crib for their newborn.
Baby Girl Shower Invitations
Baby girl shower invitations basic theme is the welcoming of baby girls into the fold of a family. Baby showers celebrate the arrival of a baby/babies into this world.
Baby Shower Hosting 101
Are you ready to host the best baby shower ever but don't know where to start? Baby showers are fun, but planning one can be tedious. In this article we'll cover the basics to get you started.
Potty Training After a Divorce or Separation
Many parents share custody of their children, which presents a unique problem when it comes to potty training. It's best to discuss potty training and agree on a strategy before you start.
Is It Colic, Infant Reflux, Or GERD? Learn How To Tell The Difference
It can sometimes be difficult for a parent to understand whether the baby has colic or reflux (and even GERD) since some of the symptoms (eg. poor sleep, constant crying) can be similiar.
Baby Carriers - Choosing the Right Pouch, Ring Sling, or Carrier for You
With so many options out there for baby carriers it is hard to choose the right one for your needs. Listed are all the different types of carriers with the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Baby Strollers Tips and Advice
You have just learned that you are expecting a bundle of joy and now you need to begin getting the things your baby will need. If this is your first baby all the decisions you need to make may seem overwhelming at first.
How To Stop Toddlers From Biting
It is an unfortunate fact of life but, unfortunately, toddlers and biting frequently go together. It is a painful time for both the toddler and their parents and trying to stop the toddler from biting can be quite a challenge.
White Noise and 10 other Soothing Sounds for Calming a Colicky Infant
The crying - oh, the crying. A colicky baby can really drive you to the edge.
The Colic Baby
When a baby has colic, the family environment is stressful and many family members may become upset or on edge. This is most often seen in new parents.