8 Weeks - Wonder Week?

Updated on February 05, 2010
M.R. asks from Chicago, IL
5 answers

A little background: My first son was colicky, started the incessant screaming the night he was born and continued day in and day out until about week 14 when the screaming and crying just stopped like turning off a switch. I have more experience in dealing with a colicky baby than I ever would care to have. I have read, re-read, and read again The Happiest Baby on the Block. I also know Dr. Weissbluth's Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child book inside and out and am very respectful of my son's need to sleep (in other words, we do no more than 2 hours of wakefulness and do our absolute best to not let him get to the overtired frenzy stage).

Fast forward to my second son...He will be 8 weeks tomorrow (but 5 weeks age if you consider his due date) and only just recently has he started long and frequent bouts of screaming and crying for apparently no reason whatsoever. Oh trust me, we do all the tried and true tricks to attempt to soothe him: I'm exceptionally familiar with Karp's 5 S's and all the other suggestions out there but we have reached a point where very little works to calm him down at times. I know for certain this isn't an acid reflux issue because if we take a day trip and do something different (as opposed to being at home) he is absolutely fine. I know that it is physiologically impossible for him to just *happen* to not get acid reflux on the days when we are out and about doing different things. The pediatrician does not suspect this either.

I know that some of you have mentioned the concept of the 8th week wonder week and I'm wondering if his inconsolability is a marker for this? I know I also need to consider that he is nearing his 6th week from the due date (Weissbluth), so that might be what's ramping up the fussiness as well. Maybe we are getting really close to the light at the end of the tunnel?

At any rate, from a particularly selfish standpoint, I need a better soothing solution that actually works other than the traditional ones because he just isn't responding. TRUST ME...I am the type that has given the traditional a fair shot - not just once and "oh well, it didn't work". But, being selfish aside, even worse is that I have to imagine that my baby is definitely not comfortable and not happy, otherwise he wouldn't carry on like this. I feel so entirely helpless that it seems like there is nothing I can do to soothe him. In the evenings, although we try the various techniques that are suggested, he basically doesn't calm down until he pretty much passes out from exhaustion. Thankfully he sleeps great at night - only gets up once to eat and goes right back to bed.

So...those of you familiar with the concept of a wonder week: does this sound like it? What can I expect and how long can I expect the screaming to go on? Or...is this just colic rearing it's ugly head (again) at a later stage in the game?

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So What Happened?

It's not reflux but thanks for thinking of that. Both the pediatrician and I are certain. If we're out and about, he is not only in a car seat or being vibrated. He is both awake and asleep, both in an upright position and flat on his back, and most of the time he is still and not moving at all. I should have been more clear; out and about for us means going to Grandma's house, going to friend's homes - so a short car trip and then time spent at another location doing the exact same things he would be doing at home. At home we try the vibrating bouncy seat, the swing, jiggling him in our arms - mostly to no avail. So, if it were truly reflux he'd be bothered by it all the time, not just when we're at home.

I think the best solution here will be to just wait it out until the 12-14 week mark like we had to do with our son. NOTHING we are doing is making a bit of difference or really helping, so we will keep on trying but understand that it won't go on forever.

More Answers

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

As a shot in the dark (because I'm not familiar with all the methods that are used for colic), have you tried marathon burping after every feeding? Aka... don't stop at the first burp, but continue to pat upright for 45 minutes - 1hr until a monster burp -or a gazillion little ones? (I got good at reading a book one handed).

It just strikes me that if he's absolutely fine when you're out and about (with lots of vibrations and up and down movements that may be moving the gas up), that you might have a marathon burper.

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M.L.

answers from Tucson on

My son is 10 wks now and he had colic (I still think he does). This is my fourth child and two of my kids had colic. I asked his pediatrician and he recommended the gripe water also. He also mentioned chamomile tea, it is suppose to relax the stomach. I have tried this before with my other child who had colic and it worked. The doc recommended on 4ozs/day only as needed. I give it to him when he starts to get fussy, I also give him a warm bath and this combination seems to work. Along with patients and lots of love this might do the trick!

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L.B.

answers from St. Louis on

Hello,
I had twin babies with reflux. The reason why your little one is not fussy when he is in the car with you is likely related to being in his car seat. He is positioned in a more upright position and it is harder for the acid to defy gravity and go up into his esophagus. When he is home with you and is fussy he may have been in a position where he was on his tummy or his back, both of which can bring on the acid reflux. Once that burning starts it is difficult to make it stop. The trick is to prevent it in the first place and that means keeping him upright (such as in his car seat, swing or bouncy seat) as much as possible. For sudden onset crying spells where he is inconsolable he can have Mylanta, your pediatrician should be able to give you a dose for his weight. Only a pediatric gastroenterologist can properly say whether or not your son has reflux and that is done with an upper GI. Before that is done you really can't say what you are dealing with. Please seek the medical advice of a pediatic gastroenterologist before your little one has any more pain. He is clearly using the only voice he has to try and tell you that something is terribly wrong.

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K.K.

answers from Dallas on

I do not know of 'Wonder Week' so I am not help there. My children did not have colic either, but I know my chiropractor said there are things they do to help with it....not sure what it is but thought I would mention it in case that was a solution for you. I have also heard to use Gripe Water; I know Market Street sells it here.

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J.V.

answers from Chicago on

The way the wonder weeks works, you have to count from the DUE DATE. But, week 5-6 is peak fussy period for newborns. There is also a wonder week at week 5. Each kid is going to respond differently to wonder weeks, but in general, the signs are: eating less, sleeping less, more clingy, cry's more, etc. In general, yes, extreme fussiness goes with wonder weeks for some babies.

Have you tried patting his back and making the sss noise, with a noise machine? My son (8 weeks) really responded to the sound of ocean waves crashing. If I was you, I'd do the 5's while playing around on the computer with ocean sound effects and see if you can't find a combination that works. I'd also make sure you are getting your son to bed within 1.5 hours of him getting up, so really work the no longer than 2 hours. My guy was really bad around week 5 and I put all my energy into getting him to sleep really soon after he woke and he calmed down some.

Hang in there! Your guy should be calmer next week!

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