How Can You Tell If Your Baby Has Colic?
Key takeaways:
Colic is a common condition that will improve as your baby gets older.
Colic symptoms, like crying and gassiness, start when the baby is a few weeks old and can last until they are 3 to 6 months old.
Medications and supplements haven’t been shown to help relieve or prevent colic symptoms.
You’ve exhausted all of your calming tricks, but your newborn is still crying and fussy. You might be wondering if your baby has colic.
Colic is a common condition that usually starts when a baby is 2 weeks old. It gets worse until a baby is about 6 weeks old and can last until they reach 6 months old.
About 20% of babies will develop colic. Colic resolves with time and doesn’t impact a baby’s long-term health. But the symptoms of colic can be challenging during an already exhausting time.
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What are the symptoms of colic?
Crying is the main symptom of colic. Usually, babies cry (or scream) for a period of time and then stop and seem fine. You may also notice other things when they cry, like:
Grimacing
Face redness
Gassiness
Tummy rumbling
A colicky baby spends a lot of time crying. Crying because of colic usually:
Occurs for more than 3 hours each day
Happens for at least 3 days each week
Lasts for at least 3 weeks
The crying usually intensifies and doesn’t stop during the evening or at nighttime.
Is colic serious?
Colic will not harm your baby’s long-term health. And it will go away on its own.
But colic can have a serious impact on a parent or caregiver. Taking care of a colicky baby can be very overwhelming. It can be emotionally exhausting to listen to your child cry for hours each day and not be able to help. That’s why it’s important to have support. Caregivers will benefit from breaks, especially during periods of intense crying. You and your partner or other caregiver may need to take a tag-team approach when caring for your infant during colic episodes.
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Why do babies develop colic?
It’s not clear why some babies develop colic. The baby’s sex isn’t a factor. And the feeding practices — breast or formula feeding — doesn’t determine colic either. Some research points to gut maturity and the gut microbiome as the main reasons for colic. But more research is needed to pinpoint the exact cause of colic.
How do you relieve colic babies?
There are no cures for colic. Babies just need time to grow, and colic will pass.
But there are some things that may help you and your baby.
1. Movement
Some babies respond well to soothing movements during crying episodes. You can try rocking your baby gently or using an infant movement chair or swing. Make sure to follow safety instructions on how to use these devices. They often have different seating positions for different ages. Younger babies need to be placed in safe positions to avoid suffocation.
You can also try taking a walk with your baby in a baby sling. The soothing movement of your steps may help calm them down.
2. Soft sounds
Gentle, soft sounds can also help soothe a baby with colic. You can try singing quietly to your infant or playing peaceful music. A white noise or sound machine can also help. You can also try running a fan in your baby’s room, which can provide white noise and may even lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
3. Swaddling
Some babies with colic respond very well to swaddling — wrapping them up in a thin blanket made for this purpose. The warm, secure feeling of the swaddling can help them calm down. It’s important to swaddle safely:
Stop swaddling your baby once they start to show signs of being able to roll over, regardless of whether you use a blanket, sleep sack, or other type of swaddle.
Always lay a baby on their back, especially if they are swaddled.
Don’t use weighted swaddles or blankets for swaddling.
Keep swaddles loose around the hips to help prevent developmental dysplasia of the hip
4. Pacifiers
Non-nutritive sucking can help soothe a baby. Your baby might feel more comfortable sucking on a pacifier. You can work with a lactation consultant or pediatrician if you are worried that a pacifier may affect your baby’s latch (how they connect to your breast for feeding).
Are there colic treatments that should be avoided?
When it comes to newborns, less is more. Over-the-counter supplements, even natural ones, aren’t always well studied or well regulated. Newborns don’t have a fully formed immune system. This combination can lead to serious health issues.
Also, there’s no conclusive research that these treatments actually help relieve colic symptoms or help a baby grow out of colic faster. Talk with your child’s pediatrician before you start any supplements or treatments for colic. They can help you decide what the best options are for your baby.
When should you see your child’s doctor about symptoms of colic?
You should see your child’s pediatrician if your baby is:
Having trouble eating
Spitting up or vomiting after eating
Having stool changes
These might be signs that something more than colic is going on, like infant reflux or a milk-protein allergy. These medical conditions often need treatment with medications so that babies can feed and grow.
The bottom line
Colic is a common condition that causes crying and fussiness. It will improve with time. There are some tools you can use to help alleviate some of the fussiness, like swaddling or soothing movements and sounds.
Why trust our experts?
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2022). Colic relief tips for parents.
Banks, J. B., et al. (2023). Infantile colic (nursing). StatPearls.
Better Health Channel. (2014). Colic. Department of Health, State Government of Victoria, Australia.
Coleman-Phox, K., et al. (2008). Use of a fan during sleep and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
Ellwood, J., et al. (2020). Comparison of common interventions for the treatment of infantile colic: A systematic review of reviews and guidelines. BMJ Open.
Johnson, J. D., et al. (2015). Infantile colic: Recognition and treatment. American Family Physician.
Korioth, T. (2013). Safe and sound: Tips for using infant swings. AAP News.
Moon, R. Y., et al. (2022). Swaddling: Is it safe for your baby? American Academy of Pediatrics.
