Colic is one of the most exhausting challenges new parents face, but the good news is that it resolves on its own in the vast majority of babies. Symptoms peak around 6 weeks of age, and 90% of infants outgrow colic by 3 to 4 months. In the meantime, treatment focuses on soothing techniques, dietary adjustments, and ruling out anything more serious.
What Colic Looks Like
A colicky baby cries intensely for extended stretches, often in the late afternoon or evening, without an obvious cause like hunger or a dirty diaper. The crying tends to sound different from normal fussing: louder, higher-pitched, and harder to interrupt. Babies may clench their fists, arch their backs, or pull their knees toward their bellies during episodes.
Colic is not a disease. It’s a pattern of excessive crying in an otherwise healthy, well-fed infant. The condition affects roughly 10% to 40% of babies worldwide, depending on how it’s defined, and it occurs equally in breastfed and formula-fed infants.
The 5 S’s Soothing Method
The most widely recommended first-line approach is a set of physical soothing techniques known as the 5 S’s: swaddling, side or stomach positioning (while held, not for sleep), shushing, swinging, and sucking. These work by mimicking the sensory environment of the womb. Research shows the combination triggers what’s called a calming reflex, which lowers the baby’s heart rate and shifts the nervous system toward a more relaxed state.
Here’s what each one involves:
- Swaddling: Wrapping your baby snugly in a blanket restricts the startle reflex and creates a sense of containment similar to the uterus.
- Side or stomach position: Holding your baby on their side or belly against your forearm can ease discomfort. Always place them on their back when putting them down to sleep.
- Shushing: Loud, sustained “shhhh” sounds or white noise machines replicate the constant whooshing a baby hears in the womb. The sound needs to be roughly as loud as the crying to register.
- Swinging: Small, rhythmic, jiggling movements (supporting the head and neck) mimic the motion babies experienced before birth. Slow rocking is often less effective than faster, smaller movements.
- Sucking: A pacifier or allowing the baby to nurse for comfort activates a self-soothing reflex.
These techniques work best in combination. One or two on their own may not be enough during a full colic episode, but layering several together often calms even very distressed babies within minutes.
Dietary Changes That Can Help
For Breastfed Babies
If you’re breastfeeding, your baby may be reacting to something in your diet. Cow’s milk protein is the most common culprit. Eliminating all dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and hidden dairy in processed foods) is typically the first step. Give it a full month before judging whether it’s working, because it takes time for the protein to clear both your system and your baby’s.
If removing dairy doesn’t help after a month, other common triggers include eggs, soy, wheat, peanuts, and tree nuts. Elimination diets work best when you remove one food group at a time so you can identify the actual cause rather than unnecessarily restricting your nutrition.
For Formula-Fed Babies
When there’s concern about a cow’s milk protein allergy, your pediatrician may suggest a two-week trial of an extensively hydrolyzed formula. These formulas break milk proteins into fragments too small to trigger an immune reaction. In clinical trials, babies switched to hydrolyzed formula cried about an hour less per day on average. One small study using amino acid-based formula found total crying and fussing time dropped by 45%. These are meaningful improvements for families dealing with hours of daily crying, though the benefit is most significant when a true milk protein sensitivity is present.
Probiotics for Breastfed Infants
One specific probiotic strain has shown real promise for breastfed babies with colic. A systematic review with network meta-analysis found that infants given this probiotic (a strain naturally found in breast milk) had a statistically significant reduction in crying time compared to placebo. The effect was large enough to be clinically meaningful.
The catch: the evidence is strongest for breastfed babies. Results in formula-fed infants have been less consistent. If you want to try a probiotic, look for products specifically formulated for infants and discuss it with your pediatrician, since not all probiotic supplements contain the strain studied in trials.
What Doesn’t Work
Several popular remedies have little or no evidence behind them, and some carry risks.
Simethicone drops (sold as gas relief for infants) are one of the most commonly purchased over-the-counter products for colic. But the clinical evidence is consistently unfavorable. A systematic review of reviews published in BMJ Open found that across five separate analyses, simethicone showed either no difference from placebo or a worsening of symptoms. Despite being widely available, the data simply don’t support using it for colic.
Gripe water is another popular choice, but these products are classified as supplements, not medications, so they aren’t held to the same safety standards. The FDA has been involved in recalls of gripe water brands due to issues like undissolved ingredients that posed choking hazards in infants. Some formulations have historically contained alcohol or other ingredients inappropriate for newborns. If you choose to use gripe water, check the ingredient list carefully and be aware that no rigorous clinical trial has demonstrated its effectiveness.
Red Flags to Watch For
Colic is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning it applies only after other causes of crying have been ruled out. Certain symptoms suggest something other than colic is going on and need prompt medical attention:
- Vomiting: Especially if it’s projectile, green-tinged, or bloody
- Blood or mucus in stools, or significant changes in bowel habits
- Fever or unusually low body temperature
- Poor weight gain or refusal to feed
- Lethargy: The baby seems unusually limp, unresponsive, or difficult to wake
- Unexplained bruising
- Breathing difficulty
A baby with colic should otherwise be growing normally, feeding well, and having regular wet and dirty diapers between crying episodes. If any of those basics seem off, that’s worth a visit to your pediatrician sooner rather than later.
Taking Care of Yourself
Hours of inconsolable crying takes a serious toll on parents. Frustration, guilt, sleep deprivation, and feelings of helplessness are all normal responses. The single most important safety rule: if you feel overwhelmed, put your baby down in a safe place (like a crib with no loose bedding) and step away for a few minutes. A baby crying alone in a crib is safe. A baby being held by a parent at their breaking point is not.
Tag-team with a partner, family member, or friend whenever possible. Even 20 minutes of relief can reset your ability to cope. Colic is temporary, but the weeks in the middle of it can feel endless. Having a plan for your own breaks is just as important as having a plan for soothing your baby.