If you have a colicky baby, you may be overcome by anxiety when thinking about trying to run errands, go shopping, or even going to church with your screaming little one. The looks, the comments – all uncalled for and speak very sharply to an exhausted mother’s heart. However, life has to go on! Sometimes you are stuck with no choice but to bring your colicky baby in public. How do you do it? What tips would help you be more prepared to have a successful journey to the store with your crying little one? That’s what you will learn in this article. You will gain tips that will give you confidence in getting in public with a colicky baby. Are you ready? Let’s get to it!
Overcoming Mental Barriers
What are mental barriers? They are beliefs you have that may or may not be true that keep you from doing something you need to do. For example, when my babies screamed for 8hrs a day every day for months, and I needed to go into public, I would often would procrastinate because I believed my crying baby made me look like a bad mother.
In order to have more confidence in getting in public with your colicky baby, you will need to replace these thoughts with more positive ones. For example, instead of thinking my crying baby makes me a bad mother, I will think “I’m being a good mother by shopping for groceries for my family”.
What mental barriers do you have? Take a minute and write them down. Then think of positive alternative thoughts you can replace them with.
Calming Baby In Public
Here’s the real trick, how do you get your screaming baby to be quiet in public? Thankfully, there are some tips that have truly saved my grocery runs and allowed me (and others) to shop more peacefully!
Tip 1. Put Baby In A Baby Carrier
Often colic involves stomach pain. Whether the pain is from gas or a food allergy, putting your baby in a baby carrier will help their tummies. The vertical position will help your baby to be more comfortable. If your baby has acid reflux, and that could be contributing to the colic, having baby in the baby carrier will prevent the reflux from irritating their esophagus.
Additionally, your baby loves to be held! She/he loves to be close to you, to smell you, to hear your voice and your heart beat! That alone soothes them and will help your baby be more peaceful in public.
You’ll also look super organized and prepared wearing your baby, pushing the cart (with your other kids in it, perhaps) and holding your grocery list all at once! I always wore my baby in public, and one elderly lady passed me in the isle and said, “You really are prepared and organized!” I didn’t feel that way at all, but I really appreciated her encouragement.
Benefits Of A Baby Carrier
- Naturally soothes baby
- Baby loves being close to mama!
- Helps prevent irritation from reflux
- Baby loves the rocking motion
- You’ll look super organized and put-together wearing your baby, pushing the cart, and holding your shopping list!
There are different kinds of baby carriers, as you can see from the two images above. Click below to find one that’s right for you and your baby!
Tip 2. Use A Clip-On Pacifier
I’m all for working smarter and not harder! Every mother needs to have clip-on pacifier holders. What I love about these is that you simply clip them to baby’s clothing and then forget about it. No more picking up nasty pacifiers off the public floor! Also to having a clean pacifier, you won’t need to be worried about trying to keep track of it while shopping. Your mind, which is already overwhelmed and exhausted, will have one less thing to worry about while being in public with your baby.
Pacifiers are a great way to help soothe your baby in public. It keeps them quiet while soothing them at the same time. It’s really a win win!
There are also clip-on teething toys, if you think your baby would enjoy that better than a pacifier.
Click here to learn more about the clip-on teething toy!
If you’re needing the clip-on part of the pacifier but already have a pacifier, click the button below to find ones that you like. Or you can also buy pacifiers and clip-ons together. Click the button below to find what works best for you and your baby.
Tip 3. Don’t Look At People When Your Baby Is Screaming
A crying baby always turns heads. Whether those people feel sorry for the baby or are judging the mother in their head, it’s always a good rule of thumb not to look at people while your baby is screaming. You already may feel super insecure and anxious about your child, and you don’t want to add to it by assessing the looks on other people’s faces.
I had one lady approach me while my baby was screaming. She was very kind and respectful and just wanted to tell me what a lovely baby I had, but I did not make eye contact. Thankfully I had my husband with me and he did all the talking. I just found it better for myself when I ignored people while my baby screamed in public and just did my shopping and left as soon as I could. It seemed to help cut down on the amount of anxiety and pain I had in my heart.
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Tip 4. How To Deal With The Comments
“Did you pinch that baby?!”
“Oh…someone’s not happy!”
“Poor thing, she’s hungry.”
“Does she have a poopy diaper?”
“Let me tell you what helped my baby with colic.”
These are all just some of the comments you may get (and I have received) from people in public regarding your screaming baby. Do these rub you the wrong way? Perhaps you feel like your privacy is being invaded by unwanted advice and tips?
How do you handle comments like these in public? If you were to say something, what should you say?
First of all, I would suggest to give people the benefit of the doubt. This is a lost art and one I’m working on growing in. Maybe they experienced a colicky baby and feel bad for you. Perhaps they are just trying to help make your day a little better. Giving the benefit of the doubt is hard to do, but will help protect your emotions against additional anger and stress.
Secondly, repay humor with humor. The second comment above, “Oh…someone’s not happy.” Was a comment I heard a lot with my colicky babies. Maybe they were trying to be funny? Sure didn’t sound like it to me. I felt like saying, “Yes, I know they are not happy! I deal with their screaming for 8hrs every day. You can deal with it for 5 minutes!” Let’s say they were trying to be funny (even though I know they weren’t by the look on their faces…which you’re not suppose to look at!). What humorous thing could you say in return to lighten the mood?
“If you think that’s bad, you should hear me cry!”
“They’re not happy, you’re not happy, I’m not happy, we’re all not happy!”
“We all have our days…babies just can’t hide it as well as we do.”
Leave A Comment!
What did you find most helpful from this article? Which tip did you like the best? Share it with us in the comments below! We love hearing from you!
Want To Learn More?
If you would like to learn more about colic, check out these related articles below!
About Windi – The Farter Tube For Baby
The “LOVE” Massage For Gas & Constipation
How To Overcome The Guilt As A Mother With A Colicky Baby?
Best Ways To Cope With The Screaming