Colic

What Colic Is, and What It Looks Like

Colic is intense, hard-to-soothe crying in an otherwise healthy, well-fed baby. Clinicians often describe it with the "rule of threes": crying that lasts about three or more hours a day, on three or more days a week, for three or more weeks. It typically begins in the first few weeks of life, tends to peak around 6 weeks, and usually eases on its own by around 3 to 4 months. Roughly one in five babies is affected, and the pattern looks similar whether a baby is breastfed or formula-fed, boy or girl, first-born or not. The crying often has a distinct character: it tends to come in the late afternoon or evening, starts and stops with no clear trigger, and can sound more like screaming than ordinary fussing. Many parents notice clenched fists, an arched back, legs pulled up toward the belly, or a red face, and the baby may seem inconsolable even after feeding, burping, and a diaper change. Crucially, between spells a baby with colic looks and acts well, feeding normally and gaining weight. Colic is not a disease and not a sign that you're doing anything wrong; it's a description of a pattern of crying, and the severity varies widely from baby to baby.

What Causes It

The honest answer is that no one knows for certain, and colic is likely a final common pathway for several different things. Leading theories include an immature, still-developing digestive system, a temporary sensitivity to gas or feeding, a developing gut microbiome, and a baby who is simply more sensitive to stimulation and harder to self-soothe. In a smaller number of babies, an underlying issue such as a sensitivity to cow's-milk protein or reflux may play a role, which is one reason a checkup matters. What does not cause colic is anything you did or didn't do as a parent. Because the cause is unproven, no single "cure" works for every baby, and you may need to try several approaches before you find what helps yours.

Soothing Your Baby and Caring for Yourself

The goal is comfort and getting through the spells, not forcing the crying to stop. Approaches that help many (not all) babies include gentle rhythmic motion (rocking, a stroller or a calm ride), swaddling, white noise or soft shushing, skin-to-skin holding, offering a pacifier, and a warm bath. Some babies settle better in a calm, dimly lit room with less stimulation. During feeds, keep your baby fairly upright and burp often to limit swallowed air. If you suspect a feeding trigger, talk to your provider before changing formula or your own diet rather than guessing. Be cautious with over-the-counter "colic" remedies: gripe water and herbal products are not proven to help and aren't well regulated, and probiotic drops have only modest, mixed evidence (mainly studied in breastfed babies), so check with your pediatrician before trying any of them. Try one change at a time and give it several days. Your own wellbeing matters too: if you feel overwhelmed, it is completely okay to lay your baby down safely on their back in the crib, step away for a few minutes, and reset. Never shake a baby, as shaking can cause serious, permanent brain injury or death; if you feel you might lose control, put the baby down somewhere safe and call someone right away. Trade off with a partner or family member and accept help, and raise persistent sadness, anxiety, or scary thoughts with your own doctor, since postpartum depression is common and treatable.

When to Call the Doctor, and the Bottom Line

You don't have to wait three weeks or meet any "rule" to be seen; if crying worries you, call your pediatrician to confirm it's colic and rule out other causes. Seek care urgently if your baby shows any red flag beyond the crying, including: a rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C) or higher in a baby under 3 months, which needs same-day medical attention even with no other symptoms, and for a newborn in the first weeks usually means going to the emergency department right away; forceful, green, or repeated vomiting; blood in the stool; a swollen or hard belly; poor feeding, far fewer wet diapers, or signs of dehydration (dry mouth, no tears, a sunken soft spot); weight loss or poor weight gain; unusual sleepiness, floppiness, or being hard to wake; a high-pitched, weak, or very different-sounding cry; or trouble breathing or color changes (blue, pale, or gray skin or lips). A sudden change in your baby's normal pattern, or crying that follows a fall or injury, also warrants a call. The bottom line: colic is common, self-limited, and not a reflection of your parenting; most babies grow out of it by about 3 to 4 months with no lasting effect on health or development. Watch for the red flags above, which point to something other than colic, and when in doubt about your baby's crying, feeding, or behavior, contact your pediatrician. This page is general information, not a substitute for personalized medical advice from someone who knows your baby.