Colic in Babies: Symptoms, Causes and Solutions

Life with a newborn is sprinkled with blissful moments, but it isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. The first few weeks or even months can be stressful if your baby tends to cry frequently and inconsolably.

This phenomenon, which is known as colic, is common among newborns. Read on to learn more about colic, including why it happens, how it affects babies and parents, and how you can handle it.

All babies cry and fuss to some degree. However, if your baby often cries excessively without an obvious reason, she might have colic. Doctors often define colic as crying in an otherwise healthy baby that occurs: 1

• A minimum of 3 hours a day
• For at least 3 days a week
• Lasting 3 weeks or more

Colic doesn’t result from a medical condition. It’s just a developmental phase that many babies (up to 1 in 3) go through.

When does colic start and end?

Colic often starts when a baby is between 2 weeks and 3 weeks old and peaks when they’re between 4 weeks and 6 weeks old. 1 2

While colic can be a nightmare, the good news is that it won’t last forever. Your baby will likely slowly get better around the time she turns 3 months to 4 months old. 2

As mentioned, colic isn’t just regular fussiness. It’s when your baby cries for long periods of time, even when she’s healthy, well-fed, changed, and in a seemingly comfortable condition.

Here are some signs that may accompany excessive fussing if your baby has colic: 1 2 3

• Your baby’s crying starts suddenly and is very intense (sounding almost like she’s in pain)
• The episodes have a pattern, often occurring in the evenings
• Your baby remains irritable and has a hard time settling after crying
• She has clenched fists, stiffened or pulled up legs, and a “hardened” or swollen belly
• She briefly calms down after passing gas or having a bowel movement
• Her face becomes red or flushed while crying

When your colicky baby isn’t having an episode, she should eat well, gain weight normally, and appear healthy. 2 If she doesn’t, that suggests a more serious problem than colic might be at play, which you should talk to your pediatrician about.

The exact causes of colic remain unknown. Factors like sex, length of gestation (i.e., whether she was full-term or preterm), and feeding methods (breastfeeding or formula feeding) don’t seem to affect a child’s likelihood of developing the condition. 3

Many researchers believe colic has something to do with gastric distress (e.g., gas, stomach upset, etc.). The possible causes include an allergy or intolerance to certain proteins in breast milk or formula. Make sure you talk to your pediatrician before you change formulas or start an elimination diet—these methods may be worth trying eventually, but you shouldn’t explore them on your own.

Some of the causes might also be emotional (e.g., sensory overload, overwhelming emotions, etc.). At birth, your baby’s nervous system is still developing.

This might make her more sensitive to the environment around her and have trouble calming herself down. She’ll likely be less fussy once her nervous system matures. 4

Smoking while pregnant or breastfeeding may increase your baby’s risk of colic

You probably know that smoking during pregnancy and while breastfeeding puts your baby at risk of many health problems, like lung and brain damage, developing a cleft lip, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 5 Some research suggests it may also make your baby more colicky. 6

Because the causes of colic are unknown, there isn’t a universally agreed-upon set of treatments for it. However, there are still steps you can take to (hopefully) help ease your baby’s discomfort and make her cry less.

What works for one baby might not work for another. You may need to find the methods that effectively soothe your baby through trial and error.

Feeding adjustments and techniques

Feeding is a big part of a newborn’s life, and sometimes, making a few small changes can make a big difference. Try to:

• Change your diet if you breastfeed: Your doctor might suggest you avoid common allergens like nuts, dairy products, caffeine, and chocolate, as these can pass through breast milk. 2
• Switch to another formula brand: Babies can be sensitive to certain proteins in formula, particularly cow’s milk protein. Try switching brands to see if your baby’s symptoms improve. 7
• Pace each feeding: Don’t overfeed your baby or feed her too quickly. If she tends to feed from bottles too fast, try using a nipple with a smaller hole. 2
• Burp your baby frequently: If you have a gassy baby, burp your baby during and after feedings to release the air she swallows. 8
• Use a special bottle: If you bottle-feed, another way to reduce your baby’s air intake is to use a curved bottle (which lets you hold your baby in a more upright position) or a bottle with a collapsible bag or liner. 4 The best baby bottles for colicky babies also have special nipples and vents to reduce gas.

Note that, like the food you eat, medicine can pass through breast milk. If you’re breastfeeding, always check with your doctor to ensure that any medicine you’re about to take is safe for your child. 2

Comforting your crying baby

If feeding isn’t an issue for your baby, she might just need to be calmed down. Try these soothing methods to comfort her when she cries: 2 9

• Rock her gently in your arms or an infant swing (if she can hold her head up)
• Put her in a stroller and go for a walk (or in an infant car seat for a car ride)
• Give her a warm bath or place a warm towel on her belly
• Cuddle her or swaddle her in a soft blanket
• Change her position (e.g., let her lie on her back if she’s been lying on her tummy)
• Offer her a pacifier and gently rub her back
• Let her listen to white noise (using a white noise machine, vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, etc.)
• Talk and sing to her in a calm voice
• Minimize stimulation (e.g., dim the lights and noise-proof the room)

The 5 “S”s

If you have trouble remembering all of the methods listed above, you can remember the key points with the “5 ‘S’s”  mnemonic:

• Swaying (or swinging)
• Swaddling
• Shushing (or providing some other form of soothing white noise)
• Suck (providing a pacifier)
• Side position (place your baby in it)

Try all of that and you’ll have the best possible shot at calming your colicky baby.

Medication for colic

If all else fails, you may be able to soothe her by giving her simethicone drops, a type of gas-relief medicine, or probiotics or other remedies approved by your doctor.

However, never give her any medication without running it by them first.

Again, colic is generally harmless and will resolve on its own. However, sometimes, excessive and inconsolable crying isn’t a sign of colic but an underlying illness or condition, such as acid reflux, a hernia, or intussusception (sliding of the intestine). 2

It’s a good idea to see a doctor to rule out potential medical issues if you can’t soothe your baby at all, her colic persists even when she’s over 3–4 months old, or if she shows concerning symptoms, such as: 2 4

• Fever (100.4°F / 38°C or higher)
• Drinking less milk than usual
• Vomiting
• Loose, watery, or bloody stools
• Becoming more irritable when she’s held or touched
• A strange-sounding cry that’s different from her usual colicky cries
• Changes in breathing rate or seemingly labored breathing
• Being unusually sleepy, lethargic, or sluggish
• Weight loss or lack of weight gain

Use your journal or a baby tracker app to record your baby’s symptoms, health history, and crying patterns so you can provide your doctor with a comprehensive overview. They may also need to conduct a physical exam or other necessary tests to determine the cause of your baby’s distress. 2

While colic itself typically won’t cause serious problems for your child, it can be very stressful for you and any other primary caregivers. 2

This can lead to psychological issues, such as postpartum depression or postpartum rage. In extreme cases, some desperate parents even shake their crying babies. 1 It probably goes without saying that this is very dangerous and you should never do it, no matter how frustrated you get.

Less dramatically, colic can also impact your feeding habits. Research shows that moms whose babies have colic are likely to stop breastfeeding sooner than they planned. 10 On the flip side, some parents overfeed their babies in an attempt to stop the crying, which usually only makes things worse. 4

How to cope with stress and get help if you need it

To stay sane and ensure your baby’s safety and health, it’s important to take care of yourself.

To reiterate, you should never shake your baby, no matter how tired or upset you are. If you feel overwhelmed, put your baby safely in her crib and step away for a few minutes to collect yourself. If you have trusted family members or friends nearby, ask if they can babysit to let you recharge.

Call your doctor if you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. They can direct you to a reputable mental health professional. You can also call these helplines for support:

• National Maternal Mental Health: 1-833-852-6262 (1-833-TLC-MAMA)
• Shaken Baby Alliance: 1 (877) 636-3727 (1-877-6-END-SBS)
• National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome: 1-888-273-0071

Although colic isn’t dangerous, it can be a nightmare for new parents. Remember that it isn’t your fault and is by no means a reflection of your parenting skills. Hang in there; you’ll get through this phase before you know it.