Colic in Newborns: What It Is, What Helps, and When It Ends
Last Reviewed:
This health information is reviewed by board-certified pediatricians and follows current American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines.
What Is Colic?
Colic is defined as crying in an otherwise healthy baby for more than 3 hours per day, more than 3 days per week, for more than 3 weeks. It typically peaks around 5–6 weeks of age and almost always resolves by 3–4 months.
Colic affects up to 25% of newborns. It is one of the most common and most distressing newborn experiences. It does not mean something is seriously wrong with your baby, and it does not reflect your parenting.
Is It Really Colic?
Before attributing crying to colic, your pediatrician will rule out other causes:
- Hunger: is your baby feeding and gaining weight adequately? Weight gain checks are reassuring
- Reflux (GERD): spitting up with back arching, feeding refusal, and crying during or after feeds may suggest acid reflux
- Milk protein allergy: usually presents with additional symptoms: blood in stool, poor weight gain, significant skin rash
- Illness: a fever, ear infection, or hernia can cause sudden increased crying in a baby who was previously calm
Colic babies should appear completely normal and content between crying episodes. If your baby seems unwell, is not feeding, has a fever, or is crying continuously without any calm periods, call your pediatrician right away.
What Causes Colic?
Despite decades of research, the exact cause remains unknown. Current theories include:
- An immature digestive system still learning to move gas efficiently
- Gut microbiome differences: colic babies may have different intestinal bacteria
- Overstimulation: some infants are more sensitive to stimulation at the end of the day
- Feeding technique: bottle-fed babies who swallow more air may be more uncomfortable
Colic is not caused by bad parenting. It is not something your baby can control. And it will end.
What Actually Helps
No single remedy works for every colic baby, but these strategies have the most evidence behind them:
Motion and white noise: Gentle, rhythmic movement (rocking, swaying, a car ride, an infant swing) combined with white noise (shushing, a fan, a white noise machine) soothes many colic babies. The womb was loud and always moving.
Swaddling: A snug swaddle mimics the containment of the womb and can reduce the startling that wakes and upsets young babies.
Feeding adjustments: For bottle-fed babies, a slower-flow nipple, paced bottle feeding, and keeping your baby at a 45-degree angle during feeds can reduce air swallowing. For breastfed babies, ensuring a good latch helps.
Probiotics: Lactobacillus reuteri (Gerber Soothe, BioGaia) has shown benefit in reducing colic crying in breastfed infants in several studies. Ask your pediatrician if this is worth trying for your baby.
Skin-to-skin and continuous carrying: Some babies cry less overall when worn in a baby carrier during the fussiest evening hours.
What Does NOT Help
- Gas drops (simethicone): multiple studies show no benefit over placebo
- Gripe water: not evidence-based; some products contain ingredients that are not safe for newborns
- Repeatedly switching formula: usually unnecessary unless there are specific signs of milk protein allergy
Taking Care of Yourself
Colic is one of the most exhausting and emotionally taxing experiences of new parenthood. It is always okay to put your baby down in a safe place (their crib or bassinet) and take a short break if you feel overwhelmed. A baby who cries for a few minutes while you collect yourself is safer than a caregiver at the breaking point.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, not bonding with your baby, or having any thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, please reach out to your pediatrician immediately. Postpartum mood disorders are common and very treatable.
When Does Colic End?
For most babies, colic improves dramatically between 10 and 14 weeks and is typically gone by 4–5 months. The improvement often happens within a week or two after the peak, the same week parents were about to give up.
At Hummingbird Pediatrics in Robbinsville, NJ, we know how hard colic can be. If you're not sure whether your baby has colic or something else is causing the crying, call us at (609) 808-3123. We're here to support you through this phase.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my baby has colic or if something is wrong?
The key distinguishing feature of colic is that the baby is completely normal and content between crying episodes, feeding well, growing normally, and showing no signs of illness. If your baby seems unwell between crying bouts, has a fever, is not feeding, is not gaining weight, or is crying continuously with no calm periods, these are not colic and require a call to your pediatrician. Colic babies are healthy babies who happen to cry a lot.
Does colic mean my baby has gas or stomach pain?
Not necessarily. Despite the common assumption, colic is not proven to be caused by gas or gastrointestinal pain. All babies swallow air and pass gas. Colic babies are not necessarily gassier than others. The evening timing of colic may relate to sensory overload or an immature nervous system rather than a physical stomach problem. Gas drops (simethicone) do not reduce colic crying in clinical studies.
Could my diet be causing my baby's colic if I'm breastfeeding?
Occasionally. A small subset of breastfed colic babies may have a sensitivity to cow's milk protein in their mother's diet. If your baby also has blood in stools, significant skin rash, or poor weight gain, eliminating dairy from your diet for 2–3 weeks is worth trying after discussing with your pediatrician. For most colic babies without these additional symptoms, maternal diet changes are unlikely to make a significant difference.
I've tried everything and nothing helps. Am I doing something wrong?
No. Colic is largely outside of parental control. Some babies have it and some don't, regardless of how attentive and responsive the parents are. Some babies respond to certain soothing techniques and some don't. The fact that nothing is 'working' does not mean you are doing anything wrong. It means your baby is going through a phase that will end, and your job is to stay safe and survive it, not to fix it.
Is it safe to let my colicky baby cry in the crib for a few minutes?
Yes, absolutely. Placing your baby safely in their crib or bassinet and taking a break when you feel overwhelmed is not only safe; it is the right thing to do. A baby crying in a safe sleep environment for a few minutes is not harmed. The risk comes from a caregiver who is pushed past their limit. If you ever feel yourself losing control, put the baby down safely, go to another room, and call someone for support.
When exactly will colic end?
For most babies, colic peaks between 5 and 6 weeks of age and begins improving noticeably around 8–10 weeks. By 3 months, the majority of colic babies are dramatically better. By 4–5 months, almost all cases have fully resolved. The improvement often happens within a week or two and can feel almost sudden. If your baby is still having severe prolonged crying beyond 4–5 months, discuss it with your pediatrician to rule out other causes.
Need Personal Guidance?
This article provides general information. For questions specific to your child's health, please call our office or book an appointment online.