Without wishing to jinx the huge progress Li’l Bhaji has made over the past few weeks, I thought it might be helpful to other parents of colicky babies to compile a list of things we’ve found helpful and have enabled us to survive.

The babe has been settled during the day for a while now, had settled evenings for 4 evenings in a row, and last night (for the first time in ages) slept with only two wakings for feeds and settled back easily. He’s still a fairly high-needs baby and lots of work is needed to encourage him to get plenty of sleep, but I feel (touch wood) that we are out the other side of the worst of the colic symptoms.

Anyway, here’s what we found useful. I hope it helps some other parents out there too. It’s turned into a rather mammoth posting, didn’t realise just how much we had tried over the last few weeks, so over to the extended entry section if you’re interested…
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An excellent article about politics in the British Muslim community written by Pola Manzila Uddin, a Muslim Labour peer.

Well, Akra has a new toy in the shape of a Cannon Powershot G5 via a small life (thank you Thom!), so we’ve tried again to get a decent passport photo of the sproglett.

I don’t think Akra did too bad this time around, what do you think?

Now all we have to do is get it printed into passport-sized format and con one of our unsuspecting teacher friends to sign the back…

In just over two weeks time, Li’l Bhaji is due for his first lot of vaccinations, and I’m due for my first lot of worry, stress and general fear that I’m doing the right thing. It’s a parental right of passage deal.

Problem is, I just don’t know what to do. The dilemma is rather complicated, and I Am Not A Doctor so for goodness sake do your own research if you’re in the same position, but here’s my understanding for those interested.

I have no issues with the MMR, despite all the negative publicity. I researched it thoroughly at the time when Akra Jr was due for his, came to the conclusion that by far the balance of risks lay far in the favour of him having the vaccine and that was that. Li’l Bhaji will also have the vaccination in due course (around 15 months old – no sooner as it isn’t as effective beforehand).

Actually, in general, I am pro-vaccination. Again, on the basis of balance of risks it is far better for my children to be protected against these diseases than not.

However, the DTP vaccinations at 2,3 and 4 months get a little more complicated (well, he’ll also be given polio drops, but for me that’s a no brainer, it’s the DTP that’s the issue for me).

The vaccination that is offered at the moment in the UK at this age is DTwP-Hib. That’s protection against diptheria, tetanus, pertissus (whooping cough) and haemophilus influenzae – a virus that can cause certain types of meningitis. There are two nasty bits to this vaccine in my mind: firstly it contains whole cell pertissus (that’s what the ‘w’ bit means) which comes with a lot of side effects and secondly it has a mercury-based preservative in it which is a neuro-toxin and has been linked to autism in certain susceptable individuals. According to the health department, the levels of mercury in this vaccine are considered “safe”, however they are still planning to phase out all thimerosal (that’s the name of the preservative) in vaccinations over the next few years.

Enter the alternative: Infanrix and Infanrix-Hib. This is DTaP or DTaP-Hib respectively. This vaccine was created after concerns of the whole cell part of the pertissus jab meant that vaccination levels were dropping. Instead it uses acellular pertissus – in layman’s terms all the bad bits are taken out of the pertissus component and only the parts which confer immunity are left in. Far fewer side effects. It’s also a newer vaccine, so it is thimerosal free. However, there has been concern whether the aP is as effective as wP, but recent research seems to imply they are both as effective. There are also concerns as to whether the vaccine reduces the effectiveness of the Hib component – then again, other theories are that the Hib component isn’t as effective as they thought it would be anyway. This version of the vaccine has been used in the US, Japan (and I think Australia?) for quite some time.

Just to add to the dilemma, my local surgery has informed me that they do not do Infanrix, don’t have any in stock (likely to be a lie, as it’s the standard vaccine for the pre-school boosters and if they don’t have any they’re going against NHS guidelines) and that’s that.

Akra Jr, as far as I am aware, had the DTaP-Hib, because he ended up having to have the DTwP-Hib booster when he was two because they weren’t sure it had worked – he was then very ill with the booster (presumably from the wP part as he’d had no side effects first time around? Hard to say) which adds to my unease over this vaccine.

So, my choices are: I can fight the issue (I’ve already started a dialogue with the nurse about it – she’s finding out exact policy for me), I can have it done privately (not that I know where) or I can put up with the DTwP. Either way, I haven’t much time and either choice feels like I’m putting my child at unnecessary risk, and if things go “wrong” I’m going to blame myself. Not vaccinating at all is not an option for me. Last time I fought to get a vaccine was the chickenpox vaccination for myself – took me months to fight for the right to get it and then it didn’t even work!

Why can’t parenting be simple?!

In shock: babe sleeping. Making the most of it. Back tomorrow.

In case you’ve arrived here on a google search for information on colic, I’ve recently found this very good site on my travels you may find more useful: Dr Levy’s Corner

To balance out the negative stuff.

All together now…. “ahhhhhhhh!”

See?! He *can* do it when he wants to!

Anyone who uses the phrase “sleeping like a baby” patently has never had any contact with real children.

Apparently colicky babies are at much lower risk of cot death. Makes sense, I suppose. If they never sleep, they can hardly die in their sleep, can they?! Higher risk of shaken baby syndrome though.

Okay, the last thought is probably in very poor taste. Blame temporary insanity. I’ll be better in another two months or so…

Have just sent out Akra to buy alcohol, icecream and a different type of dummy. Does that count as the ultimate colic survival kit?!

Things that should be banned within a 100 mile radius of a colicky/unsettled baby:

• barking dogs

• any form of noisy DIY: hammers, drills, electric saws, sanders…
• doorbells
• car horns
• mobile phones
• washing machine cycle finished alarms
• any toy that requires batteries
• people who cough
• slamming doors
• aeroplanes
• 3 year old brothers