Soothing a Colicky Baby

Colic is a mysterious and frustrating disorder that commonly affects young infants. It's characterized by extended periods of crying or screaming for no discernible reason, unlike normal crying, which normally exhausts an infant until they fall asleep or stops once their discomfort (pain, hunger, loneliness) has been corrected. Typically, colic affects infants around three to four weeks of age, and stops suddenly before the baby is three to four months old.

The causes and solutions to infant colic are not yet fully understood, but there are a number of calming strategies parents can try. Most infants are comforted by swaddling during the first few months of life. In the case of a colicky baby, they may not be still or calm long enough to be wrapped as snugly as they would like. This is an excellent time for the parents to try a baby sleeping bag.

Comforted and Coddled by a Baby Sleeping Bag

The design of the baby sleeping bag allows the infant to feel as if they're swaddled, but is much easier for the parent to manage. The baby sleeping bag is like a combination of infant pyjamas and an ordinary sleeping bag. It's vaguely rectangular in shape, long enough to be loose and a bit 'floppy' at the feet, with a zipper down the front. The top half resembles a tanktop shirt or vest. There is a fitted hole for the neck and purposefully large holes for the arms, to allow circulation. Some models come with 'wing' attachments which can be wrapped snugly around the baby's torso, akin to swaddling; still others offer removable sleeves or a zip-away lower portion so the baby sleeping bag can double as a gown.

The most common type of baby sleeping bag is made of an easily washable cotton blend, although variations with wool, silk, muslin, and polyester do exist. However, cotton is probably the best material for a baby sleeping bag, as it allows the baby sleeping bag to be lightweight and breathable but still quite warm. The baby sleeping bag is known to comfort colicky infants and clingy babies, and it's excellent for ensuring a baby is kept warm without overheating during the night.

Using a Baby Sleeping Bag

Handling a colicky baby becomes extremely stressful, especially if the baby has been crying and screaming for several hours. Anyone would need a break at that point! The use of a baby sleeping bag is recommended for times when the infant is somewhat calmed by being held, but the caretaker needs to take a break. The infant is placed in a baby sleeping bag, which gives comfort similar to being held, and left securely in their crib for a few minutes while the caretaker steps out for some peace and quiet.

Using a baby sleeping bag with a colicky infant can help both the infant and the parents. For one, the infant receives comfort similar to being held or swaddled, no matter how much they wiggle. A swaddling blanket would simply come off, and a parent might be at risk of dropping the infant under those conditions, but the baby sleeping bag is securely zipped and not going anywhere. If you know a family with a colicky baby, or you have one yourself, invest in the momentary peace and quiet that a baby sleeping bag can bring.