Colic: What It Is, What Helps, and What Doesn't

Colic is the diagnosis you get when the baby has been checked, nothing is wrong, and the crying continues anyway. This is accurate. It is also the entire problem.

Colic is defined as crying for more than three hours a day, on more than three days a week, for more than three weeks — in an otherwise healthy, well-fed baby (Banks et al., StatPearls, 2023). It affects somewhere between 3% and 28% of infants depending on population and definition (Hjern et al., Acta Paediatrica, 2020), peaks at around 6 weeks, and resolves on its own by 3–4 months in nearly all cases.

That last point is the most important. Colic ends.

What Colic Actually Is

The word "colic" comes from the Greek for colon, which reflects the longstanding assumption that it's a gut problem. That assumption is still debated. What we do know is that colicky babies are not unwell — they are growing normally, feeding adequately, and show no signs of illness (Banks et al., StatPearls, 2023). The crying is real and intense, but it isn't caused by pain in any diagnosable sense.

Colic crying has a distinct character: it tends to start suddenly, often in the late afternoon or evening, and is difficult or impossible to soothe. The baby may draw up their legs, clench their fists, or arch their back — which looks like pain, and may be, but may also simply be the physical expression of intense distress in a body that doesn't have many ways to show it yet.

It is worth ruling out other causes before concluding it's colic — hunger, overstimulation, illness, reflux, or a reaction to something in a breastfeeding parent's diet. If the baby is otherwise well and no other cause can be found, colic is the most likely explanation.

What Causes It

Honestly: we don't know. Multiple theories exist — gut immaturity, an immature nervous system that becomes easily overwhelmed, swallowed air during feeding, an imbalance in gut bacteria, or simply temperament and sensitivity (Hjern et al., Acta Paediatrica, 2020). Research has not confirmed any single cause, and the most likely explanation is that colic is not one thing but several, presenting similarly.

What this means practically is that there is no fix that works for every baby. What works for one family may do nothing for another. This is frustrating but important to understand before spending money on products that promise otherwise.

What Helps

None of the following will cure colic, but they can reduce the intensity or duration of a crying episode:

  • Motion. Rhythmic movement — a pram walk, a car ride, gentle bouncing — can calm a colicky baby, according to Sundhedsstyrelsen (SST) (SST, Amning — en håndbog for sundhedspersonale).
  • White noise. Consistent background sound, particularly low-frequency sounds like a fan or running water, can have a calming effect. It may replicate the sound environment of the womb.
  • Skin-to-skin contact. Holding the baby against your chest, skin to skin, can have a calming effect and tends to shorten crying episodes (SST, Amning — en håndbog for sundhedspersonale). It doesn't always stop the crying immediately, but close contact — preferably skin-to-skin — is one of the more consistently useful tools.
  • Winding thoroughly after feeds. While trapped wind is not proven to cause colic, releasing it may reduce discomfort. Upright feeding positions and gentle burping after every feed are worth doing consistently.
  • Taking turns. This is not a soothing technique, but it belongs on this list. Colic is distressing for parents in a way that accumulates. Handing the baby to another adult and leaving the room — even for 15 minutes — is not giving up. It's managing the situation sustainably.

What Doesn't Help

This is where a lot of money gets spent unnecessarily.

Gripe water and colic drops. The evidence for both is weak. Systematic reviews find no consistent effect beyond placebo (Hjern et al., Acta Paediatrica, 2020). They are not harmful, but there is no strong reason to rely on them.

Repeatedly changing formula. Switching formula brands is one of the most common responses to colic in formula-fed babies, and one of the least effective. Hydrolysed or lactose-free formulas may help a small subset of babies with genuine dairy sensitivity, but most colicky babies are not reacting to their formula. Frequent switching causes disruption without benefit. Talk to your health visitor before changing.

Elimination diets for breastfeeding parents. Cutting out dairy, caffeine, or other foods from your own diet is unlikely to resolve colic unless there is a specific sensitivity present — which is less common than widely assumed. The evidence for maternal diet restriction as a colic intervention is limited — it may help in a small subset of babies with genuine food sensitivity, but not in most (Banks et al., StatPearls, 2023). If you suspect a specific food is causing a reaction, discuss it with your health visitor rather than eliminating entire food groups without guidance.

Herbal supplements and probiotics. Some small studies suggest certain probiotic strains (particularly Lactobacillus reuteri) may reduce crying time in breastfed babies, but the evidence is not yet robust enough for a general recommendation. Ask your health visitor before adding anything to your baby's diet.

When It Ends

Colic typically peaks at 6 weeks — which is the point at which many parents feel they cannot continue, and also the point after which it starts to improve. By 3 months, the vast majority of colicky babies have significantly reduced crying. By 4 months, colic has resolved in nearly all cases.

Six weeks is a long time when you are counting it in crying episodes. It is also, almost always, when it starts to turn.

If your baby's crying is accompanied by fever, vomiting, blood in the nappy, poor weight gain, or signs of illness, these are not colic — contact your doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if it's colic or something else? Colic crying is intense, difficult to soothe, and occurs in an otherwise healthy baby with no other symptoms. If your baby has fever, is not feeding or gaining weight, has a distended stomach, or shows signs of illness, see your doctor. Reflux can also present similarly — worth discussing with your health visitor if you're unsure.

Does colic mean my baby is in pain? Possibly, but not necessarily in a way that has a diagnosable cause or a medical fix. The physical signs — leg drawing, arching — can reflect intense distress rather than a specific pain. What's clear is that colic is distressing for the baby and the family, even if the cause isn't fully understood.

Is colic more common in breastfed or formula-fed babies? Colic affects both groups at similar rates. There is no strong evidence that feeding method causes or prevents colic.

Will colic come back? No. Colic is specific to the newborn period. Once it resolves — typically by 3–4 months — it does not return.

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