Meaningful gifts
What is colic?
Colic in babies: the rule of three, when inconsolable crying peaks and ends, soothing techniques, feeding changes to discuss with a pediatrician, and caring
The short answer
Colic is intense, hard-to-calm crying in a healthy baby for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for at least 3 weeks. It usually starts around 2 to 3 weeks, peaks at about 6 weeks and fades by 3 to 4 months. The cause is unclear, and it does not harm the baby.
Colic means long stretches of inconsolable crying in an otherwise healthy, well-fed infant. Doctors use the "rule of three": more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for 3 weeks or longer. Episodes often cluster in the late afternoon or evening, with a red face, clenched fists and legs drawn up. It typically begins in the second or third week, peaks near 6 weeks and eases by 3 or 4 months.
Key takeaways
- Colic is common and passes; it is not caused by anything a parent did.
- Rule out hunger, a wet diaper, fever and illness first.
- Rhythm, white noise and gentle motion calm many infants.
- Never shake a baby; put them down safely and step away if you need to.
Possible causes
No single cause is proven. Theories include an immature gut, gas, sensitivity to cow's milk protein, reflux, and a developing nervous system that struggles with stimulation.
Calming techniques
- Swaddle snugly with room for the hips to bend.
- Hold your infant on their side or tummy while awake and watched.
- Use steady shushing or a white noise machine.
- Sway, rock or walk with a carrier.
- Go for a stroller ride or car ride.
- Offer a pacifier.
- Dim the lights and cut down on visitors.
Feeding changes to ask about
- Burping more often during feeds.
- For breastfeeding parents, a two-week trial without dairy.
- For bottle-fed infants, a hydrolyzed formula on your pediatrician's advice.
- Slow-flow nipples and upright feeding.
Looking after yourself
Trade shifts with a partner, accept help, and take breaks. If crying becomes overwhelming, place the infant on their back in the crib and leave the room for 10 minutes. Talk to your doctor if you feel hopeless.
When to call
Call for fever, vomiting, poor weight gain, blood in stool, a weak or high-pitched cry, or crying that sounds different from usual.
Tracking the crying
A simple log for a week can help you and your pediatrician see patterns. Note when crying starts and stops, feeds, naps, stools, and what helped. Many parents discover the hardest window is the same each day, often between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., which makes it easier to plan help for those hours.
The period of PURPLE crying
Some hospitals teach the "Period of PURPLE Crying" program, which describes normal infant crying in the first months:
- Peak pattern: crying increases weekly, peaking around 2 months.
- Unpredictable: it starts and stops for no clear reason.
- Resists soothing: nothing seems to work.
- Pain-like face: the baby may look hurt even when they're not.
- Long-lasting: bouts can run for hours.
- Evening: more common late in the day.
Knowing this is a normal stage can ease the fear that something is wrong.
Reflux, allergy or colic?
| Clue | Colic | Possible reflux | Possible milk protein allergy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing | Evenings | During or after feeds | Any time |
| Spit-up | Normal amounts | Frequent, forceful | Sometimes |
| Stools | Normal | Normal | Mucus or blood |
| Weight gain | Normal | May be slow | May be slow |
| Skin | Clear | Clear | Eczema in some |
Only a pediatrician can sort these out; the table is a starting point for that conversation.
Things with little evidence
Gas drops (simethicone), gripe water, chiropractic adjustments and herbal teas have not shown consistent benefit in studies. Some probiotics have mixed results in breastfed babies. Ask your doctor before trying any supplement.
Help for siblings and partners
Older kids may feel scared or annoyed by constant crying. Give them a simple explanation ("the baby's tummy and brain are still learning") and protect a little one-on-one time. Partners can take the evening shift on alternating nights so each adult gets a solid block of sleep.
Keeping your baby safe
Shaken baby syndrome most often happens during periods of intense crying. Make a plan before you need it: who you can call, and the rule that it's always okay to set the baby down safely and step away.
Common questions
Does colic affect development? Babies with colic grow and develop normally.
Will my baby be fussy later? Research doesn't show colic predicts a difficult temperament.
When it ends
Most families notice crying shortening week by week after the 6-week peak. By 3 to 4 months, evenings often feel calmer. Mark the date on a calendar as a reminder that this stage is temporary.
Later on, when the binky retires, the pacifier book tells an illustrated goodbye story built from one photo.
Books for babies: a board-book shelf for this age
Look through a sample pacifier book, then start from a photo.
