When you’re caring for a baby diagnosed with colic, it’s easy to jump to conclusions every time they cry, assuming it’s all about their tummy troubles. That was my experience with my little one. Each time my daughter let out a wail, I immediately thought it was something I had eaten that upset her, but this time, it was a different story.
I had already trimmed down my diet while breastfeeding, avoiding coffee, chocolate, and citrus fruits. I even steered clear of milk, wheat, and spicy dishes, all in the name of keeping my baby calm. After two glorious days of peace—no crying—my husband remarked on how wonderful life was without the tears. But, just as he said that, the fussiness returned, escalating into full-blown screams of distress. This went on for a grueling 48 hours, only broken by brief 10-minute respites. And of course, it was the weekend, meaning I’d have to wait until Monday to consult our pediatrician.
I called the doctor first thing Monday morning, and they scheduled me for an afternoon appointment. I was torn between relief and anxiety—only two hours of sleep and now I was stuck waiting until the afternoon? Thankfully, around lunchtime, my daughter finally fell asleep. For two heavenly hours before our appointment, she was calm. I couldn’t shake the thought that the doctor would think I was overreacting, just another mom panicking about her colicky baby.
When we arrived at the doctor’s office, my daughter was cooing and giggling. The nurses adored her and couldn’t fathom anything being wrong with this cheerful little girl. However, during the examination, the doctor suspected she might have had a stomach virus that was now gone. As I sat there, tuning out his well-meaning pep talk about surviving colic, my eyes fell to her feet—and that’s when I spotted something alarming: four of her toes on her left foot were reddish-purple and swollen.
I quickly pointed this out to the doctor. As he examined her toes, my daughter erupted into the same gut-wrenching cries that had plagued us for two days. Upon closer inspection, we discovered what was causing her pain—one of my long strands of hair had wrapped tightly around the bases of her four toes and was digging into her skin. It was such a small thing, yet it had wreaked havoc on her little life (and ours). Luckily, there was no lasting damage, but it could have been serious if I hadn’t noticed it in time.
So here’s my advice to all the parents dealing with a crying baby—even the colicky ones: always check your child, from head to toe! For more insights on parenting and related topics, check out this helpful resource for pregnancy and home insemination. If you’re interested in home insemination kits, Make A Mom offers a great selection to explore. And if you have any questions, feel free to reach out here.
In summary, the unexpected reason behind my baby’s distress was something as innocuous as a hair wrapped around her toes. It serves as a reminder to parents everywhere to keep a close eye on the little details.