Soothing a Colicky Baby

For example, most baby experts agree that methods such as swaddling, sucking, body positioning, movement, and white noise can soothe a colicky infant. I do not know many parents who do not swaddle their newborn in a blanket to create a sense of comfort, safety, and security. I am uncertain who invented this method first, but it is clear that it has been around for centuries.

Also around for centuries are the methods of sucking and body positioning. Breast feeding, bottle feeding, pacifiers, and even a pinky finger have all been utilized by parents to help calm a colicky infant. If the baby is sucking on something, he cannot cry, and the act of sucking causes the baby to relax. In addition, when trying to comfort a baby, many parents place them on their stomachs. Babies are not used to being placed on their backs. In fact, when they are held in this position, they experience distress due to the Moro reflex (a falling sensation). Doctors highly recommend that babies sleep on their back and not on their stomach due to the many occurrences of SIDS. The side position has become more popular as a compromise.

Lastly, movement and white noise are utilized by parents to soothe their newborns. Walking, swaying, bouncing, and swinging are just a few of the ways parents use movement to calm their fussy infants. Shushing in a baby’s ear is often commonly used. This sound mimics the sound of blood flow in utero. Therefore, it is familiar and comforting for the baby. Over the years, parents have creatively found other ways to produce white noise for their colicky infants, such as static on a radio station or the sound of a blender or vacuum cleaner.

For best results in soothing a colicky infant, use a combination of the methods. For example, when the baby cries, swaddle him in a blanket, draw him close to your body, and say “shhhhhh” into his ear. Sing or talk to him softly as you move around the room. Don’t be afraid to get creative. One of my friends did a “rain dance” while holding his daughter in one hand and her pacifier in place in the other. Another friend swaddled her baby tight, turned on music, and held her close to her body as she practiced her “marching band” routine in the living room.

Jason and I invented a swinging technique for Tyler. We strapped him into his car seat swaddled tightly in a blanket and swung him back and forth for hours at a time. When his colic was really bad, we added a pacifier and white noise. No matter where we were or what we were doing, this technique immediately soothed him so we used it all the time. We swung him at church, the supermarket, baseball games, even my graduation ceremony to keep him comfortable and soothed.

The feelings of hopelessness and helplessness that result from constant inconsolable infant crying often prevent caregivers from recognizing that their interventions and efforts do indeed work. Instead, the caregiver gives up too quickly before gaining at least some success in calming their infant. So don’t give up. Do what is safe for your baby and what works for you both.

Our family’s attempts at finding a solution compelled me to share my experiences with others and write a book called, When Your Baby Won’t Stop Crying: A Parents’ Guide to Colic. Every child and family situation is different. I would never suggest that this book unlocks all the mysteries and manifestations of raising a colicky infant. However, it will increase the knowledge base of colic while emboldening parents that they, too, can survive an infant’s colicky period.