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Self-Care Tips for Parents of Colicky Babies

Self-Care Tips for Parents of Colicky Babies

Taking care of a colicky baby is a challenge. When our bundles of joy get distressed and start inconsolable crying, we may definitely end up losing some sleep or feeling distressed ourselves — which can ultimately take a toll on our mental health. This is why self-care is crucial for parents with colicky babies, as it can improve our mental health and help us become the best parent we can be. That said, read below for some tips on how to take care of yourself, even if your baby has colic.

Don’t Blame Yourself

When a baby is colicky, lots of parents think that they're doing something wrong. This thought is erroneous, and can cause feelings of guilt and inadequacy. In short, you’ll start questioning yourself and your ability to raise a child and be a good parent. This then leads to stress, or worse, depression. Thing is, colic isn’t your fault — and understanding this by not blaming yourself should be the first step. All that crying is normal for colicky babies. You’ll just have to stay the course and be the most patient and loving parent you can be.

Get Enough Rest

As a parent, you cannot let yourself get exhausted, as it can eventually lead to parental burnout. The Association for Psychological Science explains how this condition can lead to dire consequences, notably feelings of detachment from your child and uncertainty about your parenting capabilities. These, in turn, can cause parental neglect and harm, along with thoughts of escaping. So, always find time to get rest by getting a good amount of sleep and pampering yourself. This means you and your spouse will have to talk over strategies in taking turns caring for the baby. In this way, no one is overtaxed, and both can get the much-deserved me-time and much-needed shut-eye.

Add Meditation to Your Daily Routine

Parenting author and family therapist Alyson Schafer shared to Global News the importance of meditation, noting how it helps you to keep calm and centered despite what’s going on. Meditation, not to mention, can help alleviate high cortisol levels, which are the stress hormones. Personal trainer Sara Angle explained to Parsley Health that meditation activates the body's relaxation response, which then lowers your cortisol level, slows your breathing rate, relaxes muscles, and reduces blood pressure. In other words, meditation relaxes you and "tells" your brain to stop worrying. So, set aside 5–20 minutes a day to meditate. Take a few deep breaths, and while doing so, focus on your breathing and on the positive things in life. You can even download a meditation app, like Headspace and Calm, to help you out.

Get Help from Time to Time

All that crying might stress you out faster than normal. So, Help Guide suggests that you recognize your limits — or the point when you start feeling overwhelmed. In this case, don’t go at it alone, and get some help! Ideally, you can get aid from a relative or good friend even for just a few hours, or during the fussiest times of the day. If you know of a trustworthy caregiver, give them a call from time to time, too. The bigger your support group, the better life will be for everyone involved, including your colicky baby.

Give Colic Calm a Try

In 2015, April Salsman was searching for answers to calm her colicky baby when she came across Colic Calm. Thereafter, her life got “a whole lot easier” — all because she believed in the homeopathic capabilities of Colic Calm. You should do the same, and you can start by checking out our Products in the online store. You and your baby will be better off in no time.

 

exclusively written for coliccalm.com By Nico Palmer