- Around 1 in 4 normal, healthy babies experience colic symptoms at 6 weeks of age.1
- Symptoms typically peak at 6 weeks of age and resolve by 4 to 5 months of age.
- Uncontrolled crying and pulling legs up to the chest are key signs of colic.
- Colicky babies can still feed normally and gain weight.
- Soothe a colicky baby by holding, swaddling or wrapping them, singing or using gentle music / white noise
- Get healthcare professional advice to rule out gastric reflux or cow’s milk allergy.
- If your child is formula fed, and you are concerned about ongoing signs and symptoms, consult your GP about nutritional management solutions for colic.
Symptoms, signs and help for soothing your colicky baby
Key points
If there’s one thing babies know how to do, it’s cry! So, how do you know if your baby’s crying is ‘normal’ or whether it could be due to other causes, like colic? Read on to find out more about infant colic, including the signs to look for, tips to help reduce colic episodes, and practical strategies to help you to calm your baby.
What is colic in babies?
The general definition of colic is recurrent and prolonged periods of inconsolable crying, fussing or irritability with no obvious cause that can’t be prevented or resolved. Colic isn’t unusual in babies. In fact, around 25% of normal healthy infants experience colic symptoms at 6 weeks of age.1
Signs of colic in babies
The symptoms of colic can vary from baby to baby. Watch for these common signs so you can take steps to comfort your baby as soon as possible.
- Frowning or grimacing
- Reddening of the face
- Pulling the legs up into the chest
- Arching of the back
- Clenching of the fists
- Extended periods of crying
- Inconsolable crying
- Crying for no apparent reason
- Extreme fussiness, even after crying has stopped
Colic can be stressful but it’s not harmful
Fortunately, even though episodes of colic and vigorous crying can be stressful to parents and babies, they aren’t harmful. Babies with colic can still feed normally and gain weight. Although colic is a common cause of excessive and prolonged crying, you might like to discuss any concerns with your doctor to help rule out other possible causes, like gastric reflux or cow’s milk allergy.
Tips to try until colic subsides
Babies with colic tend to develop symptoms between birth and 6 weeks of age. Even though it can be distressing to see your baby cry, take comfort that the problem will eventually subside. In the meantime, some simple tips may help reduce the severity or even the incidence of infant colic:
- Check that any formula being fed is made up correctly
- Try to stick to a routine for feeding and sleeping
- Avoid overstimulating your baby before feed time
- Check nappies more frequently and change them if needed
If your child is formula fed, you can speak to your healthcare professional about suitable specialist formulas for the dietary management of colic.
How to calm a colicky baby
There’s no ‘right way’ to calm a colicky baby and every baby responds differently. Try a variety of these techniques and see what works best for your little one.
- Try to stay calm when your baby is crying – your stress levels can affect your child’s.
- Hold your baby during crying episodes and gently rock, pat or massage them.
- Try softly humming or singing to your child.
- Swaddle them or wrap them snugly in a blanket.
- Keep your movements and speech calm and gentle.
- Darken your baby’s room before daytime naps.
- Ask friends and relatives with children about what they’ve tried.
REMEMBER:
If you’re concerned about your baby crying excessively or have questions about colic, please speak to a healthcare professional, like a Pharmacist, GP or Maternal Child Health Nurse.
- Vandenplas Y et al. Functional gastro-intestinal disorder algorithms focus on early recognition, parental reassurance and nutritional strategies. Acta Paediatr 2016;105:244-52.
- Better Health Channel. Victoria State Government. Department of Health. (accessed 2022 June 28) https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/colic
- The Royal Childrens Hospital Melbourne. Crying and Unsettled babies. (accessed 2022. June 28) https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Crying_and_unsettled_babies/
- raisingchildren.net.au The Australian Parenting Website. Colic in babies: what is is & what to do. https://raisingchildren.net.au/newborns/behaviour/crying-colic/colic Accessed 21 Dec, 2021.
Related pages
Get in touch with our Careline experts
When your little one is unhappy or unwell you want reliable support from a trusted source. Our Careline team of nutritionists, dietitians and midwives specialise in infant and child health, offering free nutrition, feeding and product information.
Every feeding journey is unique
Not every parent can produce breast milk. No matter what choice you make, we will support your unique feeding journey.
We at Nutricia believe in providing the best nutrition for babies, which is why we recognise breast milk is uniquely superior for babies as it provides many benefits. It is important that mums have a healthy diet to support breastfeeding. A decision not to breastfeed, or partial bottle feed, may reduce breast milk supply making it difficult to reverse. The cost and social implications of using feeding methods should be considered. Always seek professional advice about feeding your baby. Ensure formula is used as directed as improper use can affect baby’s health.
REMEMBER: The information on this page is general only. If you have any concerns about your baby’s poo or questions about constipation or any other health concerns, please speak to a healthcare professional, like a Pharmacist, GP or Maternal Child Health Nurse.