Colic in breastfed babies is not caused by breastfeeding itself, and switching to formula rarely helps. The good news is that most colicky symptoms respond to a combination of feeding adjustments, dietary changes, and specific soothing techniques. Colic typically peaks around 6 weeks of age and resolves on its own by 4 months, but that timeline feels very long when your baby is screaming for hours. Here’s what actually works to reduce the crying.
What Counts as Colic
Colic is defined by the “rule of threes”: crying for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for longer than 3 weeks. It usually starts around the second week of life, hits its worst point at 6 weeks, and fades by 4 months. The crying tends to happen in the late afternoon or evening, and your baby may pull their legs up to their belly, arch their back, stiffen their limbs, or have a visibly tense, bloated stomach.
A colicky baby is otherwise healthy and growing normally. That distinction matters, because if your baby also has eczema, vomiting, diarrhea, or blood in their stool, the problem may be a cow’s milk protein allergy rather than simple colic. Those symptoms warrant a visit to your pediatrician for a different treatment approach.
Adjust Your Diet First
Proteins from certain foods you eat pass into breast milk and can irritate your baby’s developing gut. The most common culprits are cow’s milk products, soy, and eggs. Wheat, tree nuts, and corn are less clearly linked but occasionally play a role.
The most effective approach is a targeted elimination diet. Remove cow’s milk and dairy completely for at least two weeks. This means all milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, and hidden dairy in processed foods (check labels for whey, casein, and lactose). If you see improvement, you’ve likely found the trigger. If not, try eliminating soy and eggs as well for another two weeks. Reintroduce one food at a time so you can pinpoint exactly which one is causing the problem.
Many parents notice a difference within 3 to 7 days of removing dairy, though it can take the full two weeks for the protein to clear completely from your milk supply. This single change resolves symptoms in a meaningful number of breastfed colicky babies, making it the most practical first step you can take.
Fix the Latch to Reduce Swallowed Air
A poor latch is one of the most overlooked causes of gas and discomfort in breastfed babies. When your baby doesn’t seal properly around the breast, they swallow air with every suck, and that air becomes painful gas in the intestines.
Signs of a bad latch include dimpling or indentations in your baby’s cheeks during feeding, clicking noises, and lips that curl inward instead of flaring out. A good latch looks like a fish mouth: both lips turned outward and pressed against the breast, with more of the areola visible above the upper lip than below the lower lip. This slightly asymmetric position angles the nipple toward the roof of your baby’s mouth and creates a better seal.
If you’re struggling with latch, a lactation consultant can usually correct it in a single visit. This is one of the fastest fixes available because it addresses gas at its source.
Slow Down a Fast Milk Flow
Some mothers have a forceful let-down reflex that overwhelms the baby. If your baby chokes, gags, or pulls off the breast a minute or two into feeding, this is likely happening. A baby who gulps frantically to keep up with a fast flow swallows significantly more air and may also take in too much of the watery foremilk, which can cause gassiness and green, frothy stools.
The fix is positioning. You want your baby’s throat higher than your nipple so gravity works against the flow rather than with it. Two positions work well for this:
- Laid-back position: Recline comfortably on a couch or pillows with your baby lying tummy-down on your chest. Gravity slows the milk, and your baby controls the pace.
- Football hold: Tuck your baby along your side with their back supported by your arm and their head at nipple level. This also keeps their throat above the nipple.
You can also try expressing or pumping for 30 to 60 seconds before latching your baby on. The initial let-down is the strongest, and catching it in a towel or container lets your baby start feeding during the calmer, slower flow that follows.
Try a Specific Probiotic Strain
Not all probiotics help colic, but one specific strain has strong evidence behind it for breastfed babies. Lactobacillus reuteri (the DSM 17938 strain) has been tested in multiple clinical trials and consistently reduces crying time. A meta-analysis found significant reductions in daily crying starting in the first week of use, with benefits continuing to grow through weeks two, three, and four.
This probiotic is available over the counter in infant drop form. Look specifically for L. reuteri DSM 17938 on the label, as other probiotic strains have not shown the same results. Give the drops daily, typically mixed into a small amount of expressed breast milk or placed directly in the baby’s mouth before feeding. Most parents see a noticeable difference within the first one to two weeks.
One important note: the evidence for this probiotic is strongest in breastfed babies specifically. Results in formula-fed infants have been less consistent.
What Doesn’t Work
Simethicone drops (sold as gas drops at most pharmacies) are one of the most commonly purchased colic remedies, but the evidence doesn’t support their use. A systematic review of multiple studies found no benefit over placebo, and some reviews reported worsening symptoms. Clinical guidelines from several countries specifically recommend against using simethicone for colic.
Prescription antispasmodic medications are not safe for infants under 6 months due to serious respiratory side effects. Gripe water has no standardized formula and no clinical evidence supporting it. Switching to a specialty formula is rarely necessary if you’re breastfeeding, since breast milk is generally easier for babies to digest than any formula alternative.
Physical Soothing Techniques
While you work on the feeding and dietary changes above, physical comfort measures can reduce crying episodes in the moment. These don’t fix the underlying cause, but they make the 4-month wait more bearable for everyone.
Holding your baby in a “colic carry” (face down along your forearm with gentle pressure on their belly) helps move trapped gas. Gentle, rhythmic bouncing or swaying mimics the motion they felt in the womb. Skin-to-skin contact has a measurable calming effect. White noise, such as a fan, vacuum sound, or dedicated white noise machine, can also interrupt a crying cycle.
Bicycle legs (gently cycling your baby’s legs while they lie on their back) and tummy time between feeds help gas move through the intestines. A warm bath can relax abdominal muscles enough for a particularly gassy baby to pass trapped air. Burp your baby after every few minutes of feeding rather than waiting until the end, especially if you have a fast let-down.
Signs the Problem Isn’t Colic
True colic happens in a baby who is otherwise healthy, feeding well, and gaining weight. Certain symptoms suggest something more serious is going on and need prompt medical attention: fever (especially in a baby under 8 weeks old), projectile vomiting or vomit that looks green or yellow, blood in the stool, a swollen or extremely tender abdomen, a high-pitched cry that sounds different from the usual fussing, or lethargy between crying episodes. A rash alongside digestive symptoms points toward a possible allergy rather than colic. If your baby is not gaining weight or is refusing feeds entirely, that also warrants evaluation beyond a standard colic diagnosis.