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Babies cry. There's no getting around it. It is the only way these tiny human beings are able to communicate with the rest of the world.
They cry because they are hot or cold, because they are hungry or gassy, because they are overstimulated or have a dirty diaper. And sometimes they just cry for no reason at all.
But some newborns do more crying than anything else. These babies are often said to have colic.
The Mayo Clinic's website defines colic as when a healthy, well-fed, clean baby cries more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, for more than three weeks in a row.
This incessant crying can be agonizing to new moms and dads.
Many experts just urge parents to grin and bear it as the colic period is typically fairly short in the big scheme of things.
However, Dr. Bryan Vartabedian, a noted pediatric gastroenterologist and father of two babies, believes that is not the only course of action.
Vartabedian has dealt with colic on a personal level as well as on a professional level, having treated more than 5000 cases and is the author of "Colic Solved: The Essential Guide to Infant Reflux and the Care of Your Crying, Difficult-To-Soothe Baby".
Below is an email interview with Dr. Vartabedian regarding his expertise on solving the mystery of colic in babies.
1. What's the most important thing mothers who have babies with colic should know?
Dr. Vartabedian: "Perhaps one of the most important things for a parent to understand about colic is that we do have treatable things that we can go after in an irritable baby. That’s a big change or departure from way back when all we did was offer shush and whisper noises to babies that were irritable."
2. Is this book/method for everyone or are their certain babies who will respond better?
Dr. Vartabedian: "So my book, "Colic Solved", was written as one of the first books to suggest that we have treatable or fixable causes for irritability. It centers mostly on reflux and milk protein allergies, so it’s not intended for every parent.
Add a Comment1 Comments
I have never felt like more of a failure during the early months that my son screamed endlessly for hours. I tried everything to get him to stop. Back in those days, I would have rushed out to buy this latest book, but my views on colic have changed alot since then. As a child psychologist and a mom, here's my recent thoughts on colic:
http://www.themommypsychologist.com/2012/07/26/what-is-colic/
July 26, 2012 - 9:57amThis Comment