How can I get my baby to stop crying?

I have a new baby and she’s got colic. She cries for two hours every day, like clockwork. My mother says that it is just one of those things, but If I’m honest, I am struggling. Please help!

SOME literature suggests colic occurs in around 20 per cent of babies. It’s generally seen as crying lasting three hours a day, three days a week in an infant aged over four weeks. Male, female, breast or bottle, the incidence of colic does not differ. It’s very distressing but the good news is it does resolve without any consequences.

So what do you do? Remember this baby had been in the womb, so she has been used to background noise. Stick the washing machine on and rock the baby back and forth. A bath, or a drive in the car may also help.

Ensure your baby is winded correctly and sat up after a feed. Check the teat sizes are not too big if you are bottle feeding. If too much milk is getting in, the baby might be swallowing air.

Many patients will ask for drugs to help with the problem. Unfortunately there is not any with robust clinical evidence behind these drugs, so lactose drops, herbal remedies and gripe water are not going to help. Neither is there any benefit from cranial osteopathy, if you look for evidence.

Ultimately your mum is right, this will pass, but it might not be until the six-month mark.

If your child is feeding, gaining weight and meeting all developmental milestones there is no need to worry. Address any concerns you may have with your GP, as reassurance you are doing your best goes a long way.

Also, make sure you have enough support. Enlist the help of anyone who can give you a break. It is invaluable. Remember it’s okay to be stressed and anxious about this. Talk it out and mobilise your support network. Getting a break really does make a difference. I’ve got eczema and I’m fighting a losing battle with steroids and creams. What can I do next? I hate my skin as it stops me from doing everything, even going swimming!

Eczema is much more than a skin disease. It can impact your day-to-day life, confidence and everything from sleep to relationships, so it is important to think beyond the skin when attempting to treat it.

When we deal with eczema in general practice it is pretty much exclusively a combination of steroids (where needed) and emollients (moisturisers). Like most patients with eczema, you probably have a list of treatments that you have tried, and a weaponry of creams and ointments at home.

If, in spite of everything, you believe you have given it your best shot with your GP and the treatment options have been exhausted, ask for a dermatology referral. Don’t be shy, it really is okay to ask.

So, what might your options be? The options in secondary care for eczema are light therapy and medication taken by mouth, which targets your immune system.

Light therapy is a big commitment, which might involve two visits a week for six to 12 weeks to undergo the controlled delivery of ultraviolet (UV) light for anti-inflammatory purposes. It is effective for many patients.

Oral medications are the next step and only ever prescribed in carefully chosen patients.

This is because of the wealth of potential side effects from high blood pressure and elevated lipids to sun sensitivity. Regular reviews and blood tests will be required if you decide to pursue this route of treatment.

Should you move forward with a dermatologist it will not be a one-hit wonder, and it will take several months before you see the impact, so do remain patient.

If you do engage with the dermatologist make sure you outline how your skin issues are impacting you mentally, not just physically. As doctors we sometimes forget that eczema is much more than a skin disease.