Here at Colief HQ, we wanted to champion all of you dads this Father’s Day. So, we caught up with dad of four, Alex Lewis to get the low down about his unique family set up, experience of using Colief and what fatherhood means to him.
Were you at all anxious when you found out you were pregnant with triplets? You seem to be taking it all in your stride!
Of course, like the majority of expectant parents, we were nervous about what life had in store for us with the impending arrival of newborns. Whether you are a first time parent or not, expecting one or three, I’m sure every expectant parent has experienced this anxiety! After the initial shock we were having three little ones subsided, we were adamant we weren’t going to sink, but instead swim. We were going to get through it as parents together. Most importantly, we also had to think about our eldest Henry too. We wanted to ensure there was a positive and loving environment for Henry which would not be the case if we were negative or worried all the time.
Your Instagram has taken off since you first launched it. Was that something you expected?
It started out as fun but I find great comfort in documenting our family set up on Instagram and have been overwhelmed with the reaction it has had so far. It has been amazing to see even though our situation is quite unique, we can help other parents who feel like they are struggling to balance the chaos that is life with kids and feeling trapped at home. Truthfully, although every outing requires military precision organisation, we make sure we all continue to get out and have fun as a family. Not only that, but we also make sure we get quality ‘me’ time as parents too. If we can do it, so can they!
We know that your girls have suffered with colic. Could you describe a bit about your experience of and how that affected you and your family’s time together?
Henry didn’t suffer from colic so we weren’t quite prepared when all three girls had it; unless you have experienced it, it is really difficult to know how to tackle it. It is crazy how it literally changes your life, when one starts crying…the others do too. It has a massive knock on effect the whole family; the girls, Charlotte and I, Henry and even the dog were impacted by the girls’ colic. As well as struggling to cope with knowing the discomfort your babies are in, it puts you and your partner on edge and affects the strength of your relationship and the team you have built raising this family. My wife wasn’t getting the rest she needed to look after all the kids during the day time and even Henry suffered from disrupted sleep patterns. I couldn’t regularly help my wife with feeding at night because it was crucial I went to work as switched on as possible…Basically, we were all at our wits end.
What are your top tips for parents dealing with babies who suffer from colic?
We tried all the usual things that everyone, from our friends to our followers on Instagram, recommended. From gripe water to rubbing their bellies, nothing was doing the trick. Amongst the many recommendations, some people suggested we buy a bottle of Colief Infant Drops. From the first feed we made using the drops, Colief made a huge positive difference! It settled the triplets straight away and since then we have put infant drops in every feed. It has been an absolute life saver. We get through so many bottles of infant drops with the three mouths we have to feed multiple times a day but we wouldn’t change it for the world.
We are so happy to hear that Colief has worked for you! As it is Father’s Day, what’s the best thing about being a father?
From the moment Henry was born, every single moment of fatherhood has all been worth it. Everything from going to the park and seeing him enjoy being a kid, it has been incredible watching him grow up and every new stage is so exciting. With the girls, even with the intense organisation and way they have changed our lives – it has all been for the better. They are still so tiny but Florence turned her head and gave me a small smile the other day. I don’t care if I haven’t slept properly for weeks that smile makes it all worth it.
We’d like to thank Alex for sharing his exceptional story and experience of using Colief with us – you can find him posting here www.instagram.com/daddy_to_triplet_girls/
Colief would like to wish all dads out there a very Happy Father’s Day!
