Gassy/Fussy Babies: 5 ways to help your baby fuss less and unlock more success with elimination communication
Anyone who’s tried to decode their newborn baby’s various cries and fusses knows that it can be virtually impossible!
Is baby hungry? Tired? Cold? Uncomfortable? In pain?
(Or, for those of us doing elimination communication: does baby have to go potty and wants the diaper removed first??)
I’ve found it extremely helpful to look into Dunstan Baby Language - from this I realized that the cry for “discomfort” was my baby’s signal that she needed to go potty.
However, what if your baby cries and fusses ALL the time??
You set her down, she fusses within moments.
Won’t nap without being worn in the baby carrier, won’t sleep unless you heroically rock her for 45 minutes straight, will cry if the car is not racing down the road...
If this sounds familiar, figuring out EC signals inside all those fusses can be crazy-making.
Today I’m gonna give you some advice I’ve given several mamas over the years, and something that I didn’t truly and FULLY decode until after my 5th baby, Twyla, was born a few years ago.
Here’s what I recently texted my friend, new mama to then 3 week old baby Lumina:
*
“Alright! Here are some reasons for fussiness/gassiness and a quick note on how to resolve each of them:
1. Tongue tie or Lip tie.
First rule out tongue tie or lip tie. Do a google search for photos of both. A heart shaped tongue while crying is a tell tale sign, as is crying every time she’s laid down, and smacking at the breast, losing latch easily, etc.
2. Gas bubbles.
Next have you used mylicon before? It moves gas bubbles straight thru!
3. Mama’s diet.
Cruciferous vegetables in mom’s diet can upset baby’s gut. Broccoli, kale, etc - look those up too. As can any type of dairy.
4. Change to the Cradled Classic EC position.
Baby belly massage and the Classic EC position do irritate gassy babies, so try to hold baby close in the Cradled Classic position for EC, run water to soothe and help baby relax, etc.
5. The 5 S’s for Soothing Baby from the book Happiest Baby on the Block.
I’ve definitely tried all of these:
1. Swaddle · 2. Side or Stomach Position · 3. Shush · 4. Swing · 5. Suck.
...but I found that #1 above, the ties, were the key to my 5th baby’s fussiness.
And that’s it! This WILL pass as you know, so hang in there.
I have other thoughts but maybe start there. Especially with the tie rule-out.
Resolving Twyla’s tongue and lip ties at 8 weeks old completely changed her.
Wish I would have known about ties with my 1st and 2nd babies!”
With Lumina, turns out it WAS a tongue tie and they did get it resolved...she is now a much less fussy baby AND elimination communication is going swimmingly for them!
For you, I hope that this episode has given you some ideas, and a starting point for decoding your baby’s various fusses and cries.
Remember, the first fuss after feeding is USUALLY a signal that baby needs to go potty. Use this one as a starting point.
Also, check out my other podcast episodes and blog posts to learn more about signals:
#27 Baby signals: stopping, starting + changing!
#80 No signals, no patterns
#113 Signs vs. Signals in elimination communication
Plus my youtube video on Baby Signals 101 here.
I hope this episode was helpful, and please feel free to share it with any other parents who are suffering from the hours-on-end of baby crying and fussing, despite them trying all the things to soothe their baby.
Please comment below:
How have you dealt with your baby’s fusses and gassiness? Have you discovered tongue ties or lip ties with any of your babies?
Talk soon xx Andrea
You peaked my interest with you modified pacifier comment.
My son wouldn’t accept any sort of pacifier (blanket, stuffed animal, thumb sucking, etc) so my nipple was/is the cure everything.
Honestly, there have been overwhelming moments being the only thing that helps calm him but he is my only baby so I’ve just rolled with it.
Looking to the future and friends that have a baby that use a pacy and how helpful it can be, I’ve wondered if I should use one for the next baby. I can’t imagine chasing a toddler and being my infants only source of comfort!
But I also don’t want pacy dependence.
What is this method you spoke of “using the pacy strategically “?