When you find out you’re expecting a baby, you’re overwhelmed with emotions:
Joy
Excitement
Nervousness
Fear of the Unknown
You welcome your little bundle to the world and have a whole new flood of feelings, including
Relief that your little one is here
The Ecstasy that your body did miraculous things and your family has grown
Worry about how to take care of this little human
Mixed emotions and hormonal changes that come with postpartum
All these are normal and valid.
Then the day-to-day slowly begins to take shape. Your baby starts to cry incessantly for no apparent reason… for hours on end. You find out that your little angel has colic. It might feel like the world has stopped. But your mind keeps spinning.
What’s colic?
Is it a disease?
Is there a treatment?
How can I get support during this time?
And when will colic end???
There’s no specific cure for colic and no timeline since each baby is different. But as a mom who had two colicky babies, I’ve got a ton of resources that worked for us. Make sure to check out our past blogs!
A first step towards gaining support for colic is to bring awareness to it. Colic is often misunderstood. Most people don’t know about it until it happens to their baby. That’s why Colic Awareness Month is an important time of year. A whole month dedicated to shining light on infantile colic and sharing resources for support and education.
Disclaimer: The information on this website and statements related to the ByeByeCry sound machine are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek the advice of a medical professional before making any decisions regarding your baby’s health or medical treatment.
What is Colic Awareness Month?
Colic Awareness Month is a full month that is dedicated to spreading awareness of colic in newborn babies. During this month, resources are shared and discussions are amplified to highlight this condition that affects up to 30% of infants2.
Colic Awareness Month is also a time to learn how to support and better understand what parents are going through. If your BFF has a colicky baby, this is a great month to step in and help.
When is Colic Awareness Month?
Colic Awareness Month is observed each year in March. While some may choose a specific week in March, we like to support colic awareness for the entire month. Babies, parents, and caregivers deserve the most support possible.
So we’re shining the light on colic all throughout March!Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more Colic Awareness Month highlights.
What’s the History of Colic Awareness Month?
The term Infantile Colic was first coined in the year 19541. Of course, colic and colicky babies existed for years and years before this.
If you have a child who has or has had colic, then you already know what it looks, sounds, and feels like. If not, you may be wondering ‘what is colic?’
Colic is a condition that occurs in the early weeks (normally, by week 4) of a newborn baby’s life. A colicky baby is generally diagnosed with colic. But colic isn’t “technically” a disease.
Colic presents itself as inconsolable crying in an otherwise healthy baby. The key colic symptoms include excessive crying, clenched fists, red face, tightened belly, and pulling his or her legs up to the belly in discomfort.
Colic normally happens according to the 3-3-3 principle. A baby cries for 3 or more hours a day, 3 or more days a week, for 3 or more weeks.
If you think your child may have colic, please consult with your pediatrician.
Why Is Colic Awareness Important?
As a mom who went through colic (twice!), I could list hundreds of reasons why colic awareness is important. I’ll share a few of my top reasons, but honestly, the list goes on and on!
Brings awareness and support to mothers in need
Educates others about colic
Encourages a shared empathy towards those living through colic
Shines a light on a misunderstood situation
Creates a space for discussions and further research to continue
Gives hope for finding more solutions, remedies, and maybe one day - a cure or determination of the root cause
How to Get Involved in Colic Awareness Month
There are many different ways to get involved in colic awareness month.
Purchase the ByeByeCry™ sound machine for yourself or a friend/family member
Post & share on social media
If you have a colicky baby, take this month to honor yourself for the hard work you’ve done and will do. You are strong and powerful.
Learn about colic. Read and educate yourself to help spread the word.
Join or create an event in your local community. Get a support group together for new moms. Talk about colic, share resources, and discuss all things parenthood.
Talk to your doctor about the newest information and studies (hypoallergenic formulas, tongue ties, ways to hold the baby)
Create a tree of support for a friend who has a colicky baby. Like a phone tree, but in person. Get a group of friends together. Assign each person to a day of the week, and they can pick one thing to do to help your friend. If you need ideas, check out our blog here.
What Colic Resources Are Available?
Honestly, as a mom going struggling through colic, there wasn’t much out there. That’s a big part of the reason why I developed the ByeByeCry™ sound machine. To help moms, dads, and caregivers through this tough time by sharing what worked for our family.
I knew that a white noise machine with sounds to help soothe colic was a must. I also knew that I needed to share resources with the world. So we developed this blog.
Here at the ByeByeCry Club, we are constantly sharing resources, personal stories, and tools about colic. If you haven’t already, check out our recent blogs and join us on social media. #byebyecryclub
Comment, send us a DM or a message. Let us know your colic story & how you’re spreading the love during Colic Awareness Month 2023!
References
1. O’BRIEN, JAMES G, M.D.., MICHAEL OSTAPCHUK, and DONNA M ROBERTS, M.D., “Infantile Colic.” https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2004/0815/p735.html#:~:text=The%20motor%20behaviors%20of%20infants,were%20first%20described%20in%201954.&text=Colicky%20infants%20have%20attacks%20of,piercing%2C%20high%2Dpitched%20scream., Accessed 5 January 2023.
2. Boston Children’s Hospital, “Colic - What is colic?” https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/colic#:~:text=Up%20to%2030%20percent%20of,not%20sure%20what%20causes%20colic., Accessed 10 January 2023.