Baby Colic: Signs, Soothing Tips That Help and When Crying Means Something Else

Colic can push loving, capable parents to breaking point. Hours of crying, usually in the evening, with nothing seeming to help. The reassuring truth is that colic is common, it isn’t caused by anything you did, and it passes. In the meantime, there are things that make the evenings easier.

Imagine it’s 7pm again. Your five-week-old has been fed, changed and burped, and has been crying for two hours. Their face is red, their fists are clenched and their legs keep pulling up to their tummy. You’ve tried everything twice. You’re exhausted and starting to wonder if something is badly wrong. This is what colic feels like, and you are far from alone.

What is colic?

Colic is long bouts of crying in a baby who is otherwise healthy, feeding well and gaining weight. A common definition is the “rule of threes”: crying for more than three hours a day, on more than three days a week, for at least three weeks. It usually starts in the first few weeks of life, peaks around six weeks, and settles by three to four months for most babies. The exact cause isn’t known.

Signs of colic

• Intense crying that is hard to soothe, often in the late afternoon or evening
• A red, flushed face while crying
• Clenched fists, an arched back or knees pulled up to the tummy
• Passing wind or a rumbling tummy
• A baby who is otherwise well between episodes

Soothing tips that help

• Hold and move: rocking, swaying, walking with your baby in a sling or pram
• Steady sound: white noise, a fan, the washing machine or gentle shushing
• A warm bath or gentle tummy massage
• Feed upright and burp during and after feeds
• Dim lights and a calm room in the evening to reduce stimulation
• A car ride or pram walk, which many babies find calming

Different things work on different days, so it’s normal to rotate through them.

Do colic drops work?

The evidence for over-the-counter colic drops, such as simethicone or lactase drops, is limited, though some parents find them helpful. Certain probiotics have shown some benefit in breastfed babies in research. Don’t change formula or cut foods from your own diet if breastfeeding without talking to your doctor, nurse, midwife or health visitor first.

But what if it isn’t colic?

Colic is a diagnosis made only after other causes are ruled out. Get urgent medical help if your baby:

• Is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher
• Has a weak, high-pitched or very different cry
• Is floppy, very sleepy or hard to wake
• Vomits green fluid, or has blood in their poo
• Is not feeding, or has far fewer wet nappies than usual
• Has difficulty breathing, a rash that doesn’t fade under a glass, or a bulging soft spot on the head

Also see a doctor or nurse if crying is getting worse, if your baby isn’t gaining weight, or if your instinct tells you something is wrong.

Looking after yourself

Constant crying is hard on anyone. If you feel overwhelmed, it’s OK to put your baby down safely on their back in their cot, close the door and take a few minutes to breathe. Swap with a partner, friend or family member when you can. Never shake a baby, however frustrated you feel. Shaking can cause serious brain injury or death. Tell your doctor, nurse or health visitor if you’re struggling. Support is available, and asking for it is a strength.

Sources: NHS (Colic), American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org), World Health Organization, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (preventing abusive head trauma). This guide is for general information and does not replace advice from your own nurse, doctor, health visitor or pharmacist.