Until your child is a teenager and starts dating and driving, there is hardly a more nerve wracking time for a parent than caring for a colicky baby. Colic affects one in every four babies, and causes long, inconsolable bouts of crying. Babies with colic typically cry, with no apparent reason, for three hours or longer, three or more times per week. Often, colicky babies cry every day, at roughly the same time of day. To make matters worse, it can be very difficult, if not outright impossible, to soothe a baby with colic.

One of the best things you can do for your baby, and for yourself, is to stay calm when your baby has colic. Admittedly, this is no easy task. It can be very difficult to remain composed when the little one that you love so much seems to be in pain and upset. But, allowing yourself to get upset will only compound the problem. Your baby picks up on your tension, and can sense that something isn’t right, which can make it even harder for her to soothe herself. So, what can you do to stay calm when baby has colic?

This may sound overly simplistic, but take several deep breaths, inhaling slowly, and then exhaling. Focus on your breathing. If nothing else, it allows you to focus on something other than baby’s crying, if only for a minute or two. Studies have shown that deep breathing can help calm your nerves in even the most stressful situations. Some people find it helpful to visualize themselves breathing in peace and harmony, and breathing out stress and frustration.

Another thing you can try is singing soft, soothing songs, or speaking rhythmically. While everyone knows this can help calm fussy babies, what a lot of people fail to realize is that it can also help calm frazzled parents. Soft singing or rhythmic talking is very relaxing in and of itself and, again, it gives you something to focus on other than the crying itself.

One of the best things you can do for yourself when baby has colic is to take turns doing the parenting. Let Dad have a chance or, if the father is not in the picture, recruit grandma and grandpa or a friend. Chances are, you are surrounded by people who would love to help take care of the baby, but many of them might be hesitant to ask if you need help because they don’t want to intrude. When your baby has colic, it’s not the time to try to doing it all by yourself, if you can help it. If all else fails, lay your baby down someplace safe, and take a step outside to give yourself a brief break from the crying. Your baby will be fine, and you will be able to better soothe her after you have soothed yourself.

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