Colic Care in Granite City
Hour three of crying. You’ve fed, burped, rocked, and changed your baby, and the wailing hasn’t let up. (If you’re reading this at 2 a.m., we get it.) You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Long Crying Spells in an Otherwise Healthy Baby
Picture a baby who’s fed, healthy, and growing well, yet cries hard for hours and won’t be soothed. That’s colic. It usually starts in the first few weeks, often peaks around six weeks, and tends to fade by three or four months.
Doctors often lean on the “rule of threes” to spot it: more than three hours of crying a day, at least three days a week, for three weeks or longer. This isn’t ordinary fussiness. And no, it’s not a sign you’re doing something wrong.
New Patients
Why Some Babies Have a Harder Time Settling
Nobody has pinned down a single cause. It’s probably a mix of things, like:
- A digestive system that’s still maturing
- Gas, or air swallowed during feeding
- Sensitivity to certain proteins in formula or breast milk
- A young nervous system that’s easily overwhelmed
- Tension or discomfort left over from a long or difficult birth
The Evening Meltdowns Parents Know Too Well
It often starts like clockwork, late afternoon or early evening. The crying sounds more like screaming, and your baby’s face may flush bright red.
Watch the body too: clenched fists, an arched back, legs pulled up toward the belly. Holding, rocking, or feeding might buy you a minute of quiet before it all starts again.
Signs Your Little One
Needs a Closer Look
Some symptoms point to something other than colic. Fever, vomiting, poor feeding, trouble gaining weight, or unusual sleepiness all mean a call to your pediatrician first.
Once your pediatrician has ruled out other causes? That’s when a gentle chiropractic evaluation may be a reasonable next step.
Fingertip-Light Care Made for Tiny Bodies
Your first visit is mostly talking. Dr. Laura Shipley will want to hear about your pregnancy and birth, how feeding and sleep are going, and when the crying tends to hit. Then comes a gentle exam, where she watches how your baby moves, lies, and responds to light touch.
Infant adjustments, if chiropractic looks like a good fit, use about the pressure you’d use to check a ripe tomato. No cracking or twisting, either. You’ll also go home with a few ideas to try, like positioning and burping tips.
And if Dr. Shipley doesn’t think chiropractic is the right approach for your baby, she’ll say so honestly and help you find the next step. At Shipley Chiropractic , families leave with a plan. Not more questions.
Calmer Evenings and a Little More Sleep for Everyone
Every baby is different, and colic does pass with time. After a few visits, some parents notice shorter crying spells, easier burps, or a baby who drifts off a little more easily.
Small changes, sure. But a calmer dinner hour and a bit more sleep can feel huge.
Bring Some Calm Back to Your Evenings
Swaddling, shushing, late-night laps around the block in the car. You’ve tried it all. Let Dr. Shipley take a gentle look and talk through your options. Call Shipley Chiropractic at (618) 931-2001 to schedule your baby’s visit.
