Colic is intense, prolonged crying in an otherwise healthy baby, and while there’s no single cure, several techniques can meaningfully reduce crying time and help you get through it. It affects 10% to 40% of infants, typically peaks around six weeks of age, and resolves on its own by three to six months. That timeline can feel like an eternity when you’re in the middle of it, so here’s what actually works.
The 5 S’s: A Physical Soothing System
The most widely recommended approach to calming a colicky baby is a set of five physical techniques designed to recreate the sensory environment of the womb. Used together, they trigger calming reflexes that can interrupt a crying spell.
- Swaddle. Wrapping your baby snugly in a blanket mimics the tight, warm feeling of the womb. A secure swaddle keeps flailing arms from startling them awake or escalating their distress.
- Side or stomach position. Holding your baby on their left side or belly-down across your forearm can ease digestive discomfort. This is strictly a holding position while you’re awake and attentive. Always place your baby on their back for sleep.
- Shush. Loud, steady shushing or white noise imitates the sound of blood rushing through the placenta, which your baby heard constantly before birth. The sound needs to be at least as loud as the crying to register.
- Swing. Small, rhythmic movements, like gentle jiggling or rocking, reproduce the motion your baby felt in the womb. The movements should be quick and tiny, supporting the head and neck at all times.
- Suck. Offering a pacifier or a clean finger activates a natural calming reflex. A baby physically cannot cry and suck at the same time, which is why this step often tips the balance.
These techniques work best layered on top of each other. Swaddling alone may not stop the crying, but swaddling plus shushing plus rocking often will. Experiment with different combinations and find what your baby responds to.
Adjusting What Your Baby Eats
For formula-fed babies, switching to a pre-broken-down (extensively hydrolyzed) formula is one of the most evidence-backed interventions. These formulas break milk proteins into tiny fragments that are easier to digest. In one study, babies on hydrolyzed formula saw a 117-minute reduction in daily crying, compared to just 46 minutes for babies on standard formula. Another trial found crying dropped from over six hours a day to under four hours. Across multiple studies, babies on hydrolyzed formula were nearly five times more likely to improve than those on regular formula.
This doesn’t mean every colicky baby has a milk protein sensitivity, but it’s worth trying for a couple of weeks if your baby is formula-fed and nothing else is helping. Your pediatrician can recommend a specific brand.
If You’re Breastfeeding
Small amounts of proteins from your diet do pass through breast milk, and some babies react to them. The most common culprits are cow’s milk products, soy, and eggs. Whether wheat, tree nuts, or corn play a role is less clear.
You can try removing all three major triggers at once and waiting two to four weeks to see if your baby improves. Alternatively, eliminate one food group at a time, giving each removal a full two to four weeks before judging whether it made a difference. If you notice improvement, reintroduce the foods one by one to confirm which one was the trigger. If nothing changes after a month, the diet likely isn’t the issue, and you can resume eating normally.
Probiotics: What the Evidence Shows
A specific probiotic strain, Lactobacillus reuteri, has shown promising results for breastfed colicky babies. In a randomized trial, infants given this probiotic cried an average of 35 minutes per day by day 21, compared to 90 minutes for infants given a placebo. That’s a meaningful difference.
The evidence is stronger for breastfed babies than formula-fed ones, and results vary from baby to baby. Probiotic drops designed for infants are available over the counter. Look for products that specifically contain L. reuteri if you want to match what the research tested.
What Doesn’t Work
Two popular remedies deserve a closer look because parents spend real money on them.
Simethicone drops (the active ingredient in many gas-relief products marketed for babies) perform no better than a placebo. A Cochrane review, the gold standard for evaluating medical evidence, found no difference in crying hours and no difference in the number of babies who improved. The drops aren’t harmful, but they aren’t helping either.
Gripe water has a longer history but even less scientific support. Modern formulations typically contain fennel, ginger, and baking soda. The baking soda neutralizes stomach acid, but acid isn’t what causes most infant gassiness, so the mechanism doesn’t hold up. More importantly, gripe water is classified as an herbal supplement, not a medicine, which means it doesn’t go through the same safety testing. Multiple brands have been recalled over the years for posing dangers to babies. The lack of regulatory oversight makes it impossible to guarantee what’s actually in the bottle.
Feeding Technique and Equipment
How your baby feeds matters as much as what they eat. Swallowing air during feeding can increase gas and discomfort, making colic episodes worse. A few adjustments can help:
- Pace the feeding. Hold the bottle at a slight angle so milk fills the nipple completely, reducing air pockets. Pause every few minutes to burp.
- Try anti-colic bottles. These use internal venting systems that channel air away from the milk, so your baby swallows less of it. The vent is usually a tube or valve built into the bottle.
- Burp more frequently. Instead of waiting until the end of a feeding, burp after every ounce or two. For breastfed babies, burp when switching sides.
- Keep your baby upright after feeding. Holding them in an upright position for 15 to 20 minutes after a feeding helps trapped gas rise and reduces spit-up.
Taking Care of Yourself
Colic is one of the hardest things parents face in the first year. Hours of inconsolable crying can trigger frustration, guilt, and exhaustion, and none of those feelings mean you’re doing something wrong. The crying is not caused by bad parenting.
If you feel overwhelmed, it is always safe to place your baby on their back in their crib and step away for five or ten minutes. A baby who is crying in a safe space is not in danger. You returning calmer and more patient is better for both of you. Trade off with a partner, family member, or friend whenever possible. Even 30 minutes of quiet can reset your ability to cope.
Signs That Something Else Is Going On
Colic is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning it applies when there’s no other medical explanation for the crying. Certain symptoms suggest something beyond colic and warrant prompt medical attention: a fever, projectile vomiting (not just regular spit-up), blood or mucus in the stool, refusal to eat, poor weight gain, or a sudden change in the pattern or pitch of crying. A baby with colic is otherwise healthy between episodes. If your baby seems unwell even during calm periods, that’s a different situation.