If you’re the parent of a colicky baby, you’ve been given a
tough job. You are probably even more sleep-deprived than the average parent,
which in itself can present problems. On top of that, you may be having
thoughts that make you feel riddled with guilt – such as, “I wish we’d never had
this baby!” Don’t feel guilty; these types of thoughts are perfectly normal
when you’re at your wit’s end, and everyone in your situation has them. Keep in
mind that none of this is your fault. Your baby’s crying in no way reflects
your abilities as a parent. Lots of people are in the same boat as you, and
they’re not bad parents either. It’s normal to feel helpless, depressed, even
angry, and it’s important to express these feelings to someone who will listen.
Try not to think of your baby’s cries as his way of saying, “Help me” – this
can only make you feel worse for not being able to do anything. He is simply
crying, as all babies with colic do. If you’re feeling angry, try to see things
from your baby’s viewpoint: she can’t help her cries. She isn’t crying to be
bad or to keep you awake and stressed. She’s probably just as exhausted as you
are; she’s exerting a lot of physical energy, and having a hard time too.
Gather a support system. If you feel like you’ve reached the breaking point,
it’s perfectly okay to take a breather and leave your child in the care of
someone else temporarily. Don’t feel guilty about taking a much needed
time-out; it’s something you’re doing to benefit your baby and yourself. Get
some rest, or escape to a quiet place and have a cup of coffee or tea or read
for a while. If you have no one to watch your baby, but you feel that you
absolutely must get away for a few minutes, put her in a safe place – such as
in her crib – and retire to another room for a few minutes (take the baby monitor
with you if leaving makes you nervous). She’ll still cry, but you’ll know that
she’s safe.