Colic in Babies: Signs, Causes & How to Soothe | Parenting Hub
Colic is intense, hard-to-soothe crying in an otherwise well baby — usually peaking around 6 weeks. Evidence-based ways to settle a colicky baby and when to call your GP.
If your baby cries hard, for hours, at the same time most days — and nothing seems to help — you're probably dealing with colic. Here's what we know works.
What counts as colic
Colic is defined as crying for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for at least a week, in a baby who is otherwise healthy and feeding well. It typically starts around 2–3 weeks of age, peaks at around 6 weeks, and resolves by 3–4 months.
The crying often comes in the late afternoon or evening (sometimes called the 'witching hour'), and your baby may pull their legs up, clench their fists, arch their back and go red in the face. They're not in pain in the medical sense — but they are very distressed, and so are you.
What soothing actually helps
There's no single cure, but a small number of strategies have research behind them. Try one at a time for 10–15 minutes before switching.
- Skin-to-skin contact — bare baby on bare chest, even just for 20 minutes, lowers stress hormones.
- Rhythmic movement — a baby carrier, slow walking, gentle bouncing on a fitball.
- White noise — a hairdryer, vacuum or white-noise app played at conversational volume.
- Swaddling (until baby shows signs of rolling) plus a dummy if you're using one.
- Side-lying or 'tiger in the tree' hold — baby tummy-down along your forearm, head supported.
Feeding & gut factors
True cow's-milk protein allergy is uncommon (around 2–3% of babies), but if your baby has eczema, blood or mucus in stools, persistent vomiting or poor weight gain alongside the crying, ask your GP about a trial elimination.
Over-the-counter colic drops, gripe water and probiotics have mixed evidence. L. reuteri probiotic drops show some benefit in exclusively breastfed babies — talk to your maternal health nurse before starting anything.
Looking after yourself
Colic is one of the hardest stretches of new parenthood. If you ever feel like you might shake or shout at your baby, put them safely in their cot, walk into another room and call someone — a partner, a friend, PANDA (1300 726 306), or your GP. This is not failure. It's the right thing to do.
When to seek help
- Crying paired with fever, vomiting, diarrhoea or blood in the nappy
- Sudden change in cry quality (very high-pitched, weak or moaning)
- Baby is floppy, unusually pale, or breathing rapidly
- Poor weight gain or fewer than 5 wet nappies in 24 hours
- You feel unable to cope or unsafe with your baby — call PANDA 1300 726 306
Common questions
When will colic end?
For most babies the worst is over by 3 months and gone by 4 months. The peak is usually around 6 weeks.
Is colic caused by something I'm doing wrong?
No. Colic happens to breastfed and formula-fed babies, calm and anxious parents, first-borns and fourth-borns. It's a normal extreme on the crying spectrum as a newborn's nervous system matures.
Should I cut dairy from my diet if I'm breastfeeding?
Only if there are other signs of cow's-milk protein allergy (eczema, blood/mucus in stools, vomiting, poor weight gain). Cutting major food groups without reason can affect your nutrition and milk supply — speak to your GP or an IBCLC first.