Colic

What is colic?

Colic is when your baby cries a lot, but there's nothing obviously wrong with them. It's very common and affects many healthy babies. The good news is that colic usually gets better by the time your baby is 3 or 4 months old.

How do I know if my baby has colic?

All babies cry - it's normal. But your baby might have colic if they:

• Cry for more than 3 hours a day
• Do this for at least 3 days a week
• Keep doing this for at least 1 week
• Are otherwise healthy

Babies with colic often cry more in the afternoon and evening.

What does colic look like?

When your baby is crying, you might notice they:

• Are very hard to calm down or comfort
• Clench their little fists
• Go red in the face
• Pull their knees up towards their tummy
• Arch their back
• Have a rumbling tummy or pass lots of wind

Colic usually starts when babies are a few weeks old and stops by 3 or 4 months.

Could it be something else?

Before assuming it's colic, check if your baby might be crying because they:

• Are hungry
• Have a dirty nappy
• Have trapped wind
• Have reflux (when milk comes back up)
• Are constipated (finding it hard to poo)

If you're not sure what's wrong, speak to your health visitor, call NHS 111, or see your GP.

What can I do to help?

Your baby doesn't usually need to see a doctor for colic. Anti-colic drops and herbal remedies are sold in shops, but there's no proof they work, so they're not recommended.

Things that might help:

• Hold and cuddle your baby when they're crying
• Keep your baby upright during feeds to stop them swallowing air
• Wind your baby after each feed
• Gently rock them over your shoulder
• Rock them in their Moses basket or push them in their pram
• Give them a warm bath
• Try gentle background noise like the radio or TV
• Keep feeding as normal - if you're breastfeeding, you don't need to change what you eat

Things to avoid:

• Don't try treatments that involve putting pressure on your baby's spine or skull - there's little proof these work and they might hurt your baby

When should I get help?

Call NHS 111 or see your GP if:

• You're worried about your baby's crying
• Nothing seems to help your baby's colic
• You're finding it hard to cope
• Your baby isn't growing or putting on weight as expected
• Your baby still has colic symptoms after 4 months

🚨 Go to A&E or call 999 if:

• Your baby has a weak or very high-pitched cry
• Their cry doesn't sound like their normal cry

Trust your instincts - you know your baby best. If something feels seriously wrong, especially with other worrying symptoms, get help immediately.

Looking after yourself

Caring for a baby with colic can be really upsetting and exhausting. Remember:

• It's usually nothing serious
• It will get better with time
• Ask for help from family, friends, or other parents
• Call the Cry-sis helpline on 0800 448 0737 (9am to 10pm, every day)
• Speak to your health visitor, call NHS 111, or see your GP for support

What causes colic?

We don't know exactly what causes colic. It might be because young babies find food harder to digest, or they might have food allergies like cow's milk allergy.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.