Colic can’t be fully prevented, but several strategies meaningfully reduce how often and how intensely a baby cries. Colic affects up to 25% of newborns, typically starting around two to three weeks of age and resolving by four to five months. The clinical definition requires crying for three or more hours a day, at least three days a week, for at least one week, with no identifiable medical cause. While no single intervention eliminates colic entirely, combining feeding adjustments, gut health support, and environmental changes can significantly reduce crying time.
What’s Actually Happening in a Colicky Baby’s Gut
Research increasingly points to gut inflammation and bacterial imbalances as a central driver of colic. Babies with colic have significantly lower levels of Bifidobacteria, a group of beneficial bacteria that help calm inflammation in the intestines. In one study, the abundance of Bifidobacteria dropped from a median of 10.1% in healthy infants to just 0.3% in colicky babies. At the same time, potentially inflammatory bacteria tend to be elevated.
This imbalance matters because a newborn’s gut is still being colonized. Which bacteria establish themselves first shapes how the digestive system functions in those early months. Whether a baby is breastfed or formula-fed, this bacterial imbalance and the gut inflammation it triggers appear to play a role in colic symptoms.
Probiotics That Lower Crying Time
The most studied intervention for colic is a specific probiotic strain called Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, given as five drops once daily. In a clinical study of breastfed infants, average crying time dropped from about 248 minutes per day to just 46 minutes over 28 days, a nearly 80% reduction. By day 12, half the babies had already achieved a sustained 50% drop in crying. By the end of the study, 85% of infants met that threshold.
Across multiple placebo-controlled trials, infants receiving this probiotic were roughly twice as likely to experience significant improvement compared to those given a placebo. The strongest evidence is for breastfed babies, so if you’re formula feeding, ask your pediatrician whether a probiotic is still appropriate for your situation. These drops are widely available over the counter, but the strain matters. Look specifically for L. reuteri DSM 17938 on the label.
Feeding Adjustments for Breastfed Babies
Some babies react to proteins that pass through breast milk, and removing common triggers from your diet can make a noticeable difference. The most likely culprits are cow’s milk products, soy, and eggs. You’ll typically see other symptoms alongside fussiness if a food sensitivity is involved: excessive spitting up, a rash, mucus or blood in the stool, or congestion.
There are two ways to approach an elimination diet. The faster route is removing all three (dairy, soy, and eggs) at once and waiting two to four weeks to see if your baby improves. The slower but more precise approach is dropping one food group at a time, giving each change two to four weeks before evaluating. If symptoms improve after removing a specific food, you’ve found the trigger. If nothing changes after a full elimination, food sensitivity likely isn’t the issue, and you can resume your normal diet.
Choosing the Right Formula
For bottle-fed babies, switching to a partially hydrolyzed whey formula can reduce colic symptoms within one to two weeks. In a randomized trial comparing a standard formula to a partially hydrolyzed version, the rate of colic dropped significantly in the hydrolyzed group by day 14. Bowel movements increased and stool consistency improved within the first week, suggesting faster, more comfortable digestion.
Hydrolyzed formulas contain cow’s milk protein that has been broken into smaller pieces, making it easier for immature digestive systems to process. If a partially hydrolyzed formula doesn’t help, your pediatrician may suggest trying an extensively hydrolyzed version, where the proteins are broken down even further. These formulas tend to taste more bitter, so some babies resist the switch initially.
Reducing Swallowed Air
Swallowing air during feeding contributes to gas and discomfort. A few practical changes help minimize this.
- Burp frequently during feeds. For bottle-fed babies, pause every 2 to 3 ounces. For breastfed babies, burp when switching breasts. The pause itself slows gulping and reduces air intake. If no burp comes after a few minutes, move on and try again at the end of the feeding.
- Hold upright after feeding. Keep your baby in an upright position for 10 to 15 minutes after each feed to let trapped air rise and release naturally.
- Use anti-colic bottles. These bottles feature venting systems, usually a valve or tube at the base, that allow air to enter the bottle without passing through the milk. Air fills the empty space at the bottom as the baby drinks, so it never mixes into the liquid. A study of 137 healthy babies found that infants fed with anti-colic bottles fussed significantly less, particularly at night. When the bottle is working properly, you’ll see bubbles forming at the base or venting tube rather than rising through the milk.
Managing Overstimulation
Colic episodes often peak in the late afternoon and evening, a pattern that lines up with cumulative sensory overload throughout the day. Babies have a limited capacity to process noise, light, touch, and movement, and when that capacity is exceeded, intense crying follows.
Limiting time in noisy or crowded environments helps, especially in the hours before the typical fussy period. When you notice early signs of overstimulation (looking away, arching, becoming fidgety), move your baby to a quieter space with softer lighting. If you’re out, covering the stroller with a light blanket creates a quick low-stimulation cocoon. At home, dimming the lights and playing gentle white noise or soft music can help your baby’s nervous system settle before the crying escalates.
Building predictable routines around naps and quiet time gives your baby a buffer against sensory buildup. This won’t eliminate every crying episode, but it can shorten them and make the evenings considerably more manageable.
What Won’t Work
Despite their popularity, several common remedies have little or no evidence behind them. Gripe water, simethicone drops, and herbal teas have not been shown to reliably reduce colic in clinical studies. Chiropractic manipulation and infant massage are sometimes recommended, but the evidence remains weak and inconsistent. These approaches are unlikely to cause harm, but setting realistic expectations matters when you’re exhausted and looking for answers.
The most important thing to understand about colic is that it resolves on its own. The strategies above can meaningfully shorten and soften the experience, but no intervention works instantly or completely. Symptoms typically peak around six weeks and fade by three to four months. In the meantime, combining a probiotic with feeding adjustments and environmental management gives you the best chance of reducing your baby’s discomfort and your own stress during those difficult early weeks.