“Hang in there, mum!”
10/02/2021
With your little one, you'll often share moments of pure bliss and occasionally deep despair when they cannot seem to stop crying regardless of what you may have attempted to make the crying stop. We have all heard of 'colic' and 'the witching hour'. Colic is excessive and frequent crying, and babies with colic do not seem to have an underlaying medical condition. The cause of colic in a well-cared for and otherwise healthy baby is unknown. The witching hour normally starts in the late afternoon when you may be feeling tired and not up to the task of soothing your baby before you put them to bed.
There is no magic trick when it comes to colics and the witching hour. With my little one, a change of scenery often helps. Taking her outside in the backyard; taking her for a stroll; carrying her and singing to her seem to help. Sometimes, I just have to wait it out.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, trust that it will pass. It's easy for the parents, especially the primary carer, to feel quite upset, wondering whether they are doing something wrong. If you know that your baby is otherwise healthy, there is no reason to worry. In those first months they are growing so rapidly and taking so much in - is it really a surprise that they cry so intensely sometimes?
What is most important is that we can manage ourselves as parents in those challenging moments and hours. It's not personal, and crying is part of growing up. Take a few moments to yourself, have a deep breath or two. It's important to remember to breathe. We often do not realise how tense we may be, and we forget to breathe properly due to feeling stressed out. Breathing supports and calms us down.
This morning, after a big cry, my little one gave me a big smile as if she wanted to say: "Hang in there, mum!". The crying usually starts to improve from 4 months onwards. Raising Children Network (https://raisingchildren.net.au/) is an Australian website which offers a lot of useful information. Your maternity ward should also give you a phone number which you can call 24/7 if you have any questions or concerns or simply need someone to tell you that you are not alone in this - it's quite common - and that it will be OK.
