Colic doesn’t have a single fix, but a combination of soothing techniques, dietary changes, and understanding the condition’s natural timeline can significantly reduce crying. Most colicky babies cry intensely for three or more hours a day, at least three days a week, typically peaking around six weeks of age. The good news: colic almost always resolves on its own by three to four months.
That timeline doesn’t make the experience any less exhausting. Here’s what actually works, what doesn’t, and how to get through it.
What Colic Looks Like and When It Ends
Colic typically starts late in the first month of life. Crying episodes tend to cluster in the afternoon and evening, often at the same time each day, and the baby may clench their fists, arch their back, or pull their legs toward their belly. The crying sounds different from a normal fuss: it’s louder, higher-pitched, and nearly impossible to soothe.
The peak hits around six weeks, then gradually tapers. By three to four months, most babies have stopped the intense episodes entirely. Researchers still don’t fully understand why colic follows this pattern, why it favors certain times of day, or why it resolves on its own. But that predictable arc means you’re working with a finite problem, not a permanent one.
The 5 S’s: Physical Soothing That Triggers a Calm Reflex
Pediatrician Harvey Karp’s “5 S’s” remain the most widely recommended first-line approach. These techniques mimic the sensory environment of the womb and can activate an infant calming reflex. They work best when layered together rather than tried one at a time:
- Swaddling. Wrap your baby snugly with arms at their sides in a thin blanket. This reduces the startle reflex that can keep a crying baby escalating. Always place a swaddled baby on their back.
- Side or stomach position. Hold your baby on their side or belly across your forearm or lap. This is a holding position only, not a sleep position.
- Shushing. Loud, sustained “shhhh” sounds near the baby’s ear mimic the sound of blood rushing through the placenta. White noise machines or apps work the same way. The volume needs to match or slightly exceed the baby’s crying to register.
- Swinging or swaying. Small, rhythmic, jiggling movements (supporting the head and neck) replicate the motion a baby felt in the womb. Think quick, tiny movements, not wide swings.
- Sucking. A pacifier or clean finger to suck on can activate the calming reflex even when the baby isn’t hungry.
The key is combining several of these simultaneously. Swaddling alone may not stop a full colic episode, but swaddling plus shushing plus swaying often will. Give the combination at least a few minutes before deciding it isn’t working.
Dietary Changes for Breastfed Babies
There’s solid evidence that cow’s milk protein in a breastfeeding mother’s diet can trigger or worsen colic in some infants. In one study, removing cow’s milk from mothers’ diets resolved colic in about half of affected infants, and the colic returned when cow’s milk was reintroduced. A larger trial found that a low-allergen maternal diet (free of milk, eggs, wheat, and nuts) reduced infant distress by 39%, compared to 16% on a control diet.
If you’re breastfeeding a colicky baby, eliminating cow’s milk from your diet for one to two weeks is a reasonable first step. If that helps, you’ve likely identified the trigger. If it doesn’t, there’s no benefit to continuing the restriction. Some evidence also points to caffeine, chocolate, eggs, and nuts as potential contributors, though the data is less consistent than for dairy. One study found that chocolate and fruit consumption correlated with higher colic rates regardless of other dietary changes.
Make sure you’re getting calcium from other sources if you cut dairy, and consider working with your pediatrician or a dietitian to keep your nutrition on track.
Formula Changes for Bottle-Fed Babies
For formula-fed babies, the question is whether cow’s milk protein allergy is driving the symptoms. True allergy is relatively uncommon, but when it’s present, switching to an extensively hydrolyzed formula (where the milk proteins are broken into tiny fragments the immune system doesn’t react to) can resolve colic completely.
The recommended approach is a two-week trial. If your baby’s crying improves noticeably within that window, the formula switch is worth continuing. If there’s no clear benefit after two weeks, go back to the original formula. Hydrolyzed formulas are more expensive and taste different, so there’s no reason to stay on one if it’s not helping.
Probiotics: One Strain With Real Evidence
Colicky infants tend to have different gut bacteria than non-colicky babies. Specifically, they have more gas-producing bacteria and fewer of the anti-inflammatory types like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. This imbalance appears to contribute to the discomfort.
One specific probiotic strain, Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, has the strongest evidence behind it. In a clinical study of breastfed infants, this strain reduced crying time by nearly 79% over 28 days, and 85% of babies showed at least a 50% reduction in crying by the end of the trial. About half the babies responded within the first week. These results apply primarily to breastfed infants; the evidence for formula-fed babies is less clear.
If you want to try a probiotic, look for products that specifically contain this strain. Generic “infant probiotics” may use different bacteria with far less evidence behind them.
What Doesn’t Work: Gas Drops
Simethicone drops (sold under brand names like Mylicon and Infacol) are one of the most commonly purchased colic remedies. They work by breaking up gas bubbles in the stomach. The problem is that clinical trials consistently show they don’t outperform a placebo. A systematic review of multiple studies concluded the data was “unfavourable,” with simethicone showing either no difference or, in some cases, a worsening of symptoms compared to placebo. They’re generally safe, but if you’ve been using them without seeing improvement, this is why.
Understanding the Crying Pattern
One of the most useful things you can do isn’t a technique at all. It’s reframing how you think about the crying. The Period of PURPLE Crying is an educational program developed by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome that helps parents understand what’s normal in early infancy. PURPLE is an acronym describing the pattern: the crying peaks around two months, is unexpected, resists soothing, looks like the baby is in pain, is long-lasting, and clusters in the evening.
The core message is that this crying pattern is a normal developmental phase, not something you’re causing or failing to fix. After this program was implemented statewide in North Carolina, parental calls to nurse advice lines about crying dropped by 20% for babies under three months. Parents weren’t calling less because babies cried less. They called less because they understood what was happening and felt less alarmed by it.
Protecting Yourself During Colic
Prolonged, inconsolable crying is one of the most stressful experiences in early parenthood. It’s the single biggest trigger for shaken baby syndrome, which means your own coping matters as much as any soothing technique.
If you’ve tried everything and your baby is still screaming, it is completely safe to put them down in their crib on their back, close the door, and take five or ten minutes to decompress. Your baby will not be harmed by crying alone in a safe space. You will be harmed by pushing past your breaking point. Tag-team with a partner, family member, or friend when possible. Even 30 minutes away from the sound can reset your ability to cope.
Signs That It’s Not Colic
Colic is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning it’s what’s left after other causes have been ruled out. A few red flags suggest something else is going on and warrant prompt medical attention: fever, vomiting (not just spit-up), blood or mucus in the stool, lethargy between crying episodes, or a sudden change in the crying pattern after weeks of normalcy. A baby who alternates between intense screaming and unusual stillness or limpness may have a bowel obstruction. Persistent crying with no other visible symptoms can occasionally be caused by something as simple as a hair wrapped around a finger or toe, or a scratch on the eye’s surface that isn’t visible without examination.
If the crying fits the classic colic pattern (predictable timing, healthy weight gain, normal feeding, alert and happy between episodes) you’re most likely dealing with colic and nothing more serious.