COLIC ISN'T FOREVER, EVEN IF IT FEELS THAT WAY AT 3 AM

Colics are the name given to episodes of intense, inconsolable crying in an otherwise healthy baby. They affect between 10% and 40% of infants in the first months of life (1) — so if you are going through this, you are far from alone.

The most widely used definition describes colics as crying for more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, for at least three weeks. Symptoms typically start in the second week of life, in both breastfed and formula-fed infants, and usually resolve by three months of age (2).

Importantly, colics are not a sign that something is wrong with your baby. Babies with colics are often fussy, gassy, and don’t sleep well — but in most cases they grow and gain weight normally (3).

Sources:

(1) Pawłowski J  et al. ‘Impact of osteopathic management in infantile colic.’ J Pre-Clin Clin  Res, 2025. jpccr.eu‍

(2) Biagioli E  et al. ‘Probiotics to prevent infantile colic.’ Cochrane Database Syst Rev,  2019. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6415699/

(3) Johns  Hopkins Medicine. ‘Colic.’ Health Library, updated November 2024. hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/colic

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Almost every baby goes through a stretch of unsettled, fussy crying in the first months — and it tends to cluster in the late afternoon and evening. Parents often call this the “witching hour,” though it can easily last longer than an hour. It usually begins around 2–3 weeks of age, builds to a peak around 6–8 weeks, and eases by 3–4 months (7)(8).

Researchers describe this as the normal “crying curve”: every healthy baby cries more during these early weeks, no matter how they are cared for. One widely used framework — the "Period of Purple Crying" — captures what is normal: crying that peaks around two months, comes unexpectedly, resists soothing, can produce a pain-like face, is long-lasting, and is worst in the evening.(7). Knowing there is a predictable curve, with an end to it, can be steadying when you are in the thick of it.

So how is this different from colic? It is the same spectrum, not a separate illness. “Colic” is simply the name used when that normal crying sits at the intense end — the rule-of-threes pattern of more than three hours a day, more than three days a week. The everyday “witching hour” is usually shorter and more predictable. Either way, the cause is the same developmental phase — and either way, it passes (8).-

The calming approaches that help with colic help with ordinary evening fussiness too: gentle movement, skin-to-skin contact, white noise, and a calm, low-stimulation environment. Cluster feeding — frequent, closely spaced feeds in the evening — is also common and completely normal at this stage.

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Look after yourself, too.

‍If the crying feels relentless and you are overwhelmed, it is completely okay to put your baby down somewhere safe, like their cot, and step away for a few minutes to breathe before going back. A short spell of crying in a safe place will not harm your baby — but a caregiver reaching breaking point is exactly why that pause matters. Never shake a baby. If you are struggling, reach out to your doctor, health visitor, or someone you trust (7).

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Sources: 

(7) National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (Barr RG). ‘The Period of Purple Crying.’ dontshake.org/purple-crying

(8) Cleveland Clinic. ‘The Period of Purple Crying.’ Health Library, updated 2025. my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/purple-crying

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Colicky babies often cry from 6pm to midnight (3). The  crying is typically louder and more urgent-sounding than regular crying, and  very difficult to soothe.

You may notice your baby pulling their legs up, arching their back, or passing gas. This is mostly a result of swallowing air while crying, not the cause of the crying itself.

The impact on families is real. Sleep deprivation,  anxiety, and feelings of helplessness are all extremely common. If you are  struggling, that is a completely normal response to an extremely difficult  situation — not a sign that you are failing as a parent.

Colic is not a reflection of your parenting. It is not  caused by anything you did or did not do. It is one of the most common challenges new parents face worldwide.

Sources:

(3) Johns Hopkins Medicine. ‘Colic.’ Health Library, updated November 2024. hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/colic

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Feeding adjustments

In a minority of cases, colic-like symptoms are linked to feeding — most often an underlying cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) rather than colic itself. Some foods in a breastfeeding parent's diet may influence a baby's symptoms, but current research is inconsistent and often contradictory, and for most families dietary changes are not routinely recommended.

Where CMPA is genuinely suspected — particularly when crying comes with other signs such as reflux, eczema, blood or mucus in the stool, or poor weight gain — a supervised trial may help: eliminating cow's milk protein from the breastfeeding parent's diet, or switching to a hydrolysed formula if formula-feeding. This should always be guided by a professional, and changes are confirmed by reintroducing the food to see whether symptoms return.

A lactation consultant, feeding specialist, or your doctor can assess whether feeding is genuinely a factor and guide any adjustments safely — including making sure a parent's own nutrition stays balanced. There's no good evidence behind broad advice to avoid foods like legumes or cauliflower.

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‍Probiotics

The strongest evidence for the treatment of colic points to probiotics for breastfed infants, specifically the Lactobacillus reuteri strain. (4) While not a cure, some studies suggest probiotics may reduce daily crying time and there were no safety concerns recorded in trials to date. (2) Always check with your doctor or health visitor before introducing any supplements.

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Osteopathic and manual therapy

Some parents find that sessions with a paediatric osteopath help reduce their baby’s symptoms. The evidence is genuinely mixed: some trials show reduced crying time (5), others find no significant difference. (6) What is clear is that osteopathic treatment carries no known risks for infants (1). If you are curious, it is a reasonable option to explore with a qualified practitioner.

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Calming techniques

Gentle movement — rocking, swaying, pram walks — can help some babies settle. Skin-to-skin contact, white noise, and a calm environment may also reduce over stimulation, which some researchers believe contributes to colic in sensitive babies whose nervous systems are still developing (3).

What to rule out first

About 5% of colicky, crying  infants do have a serious underlying medical problem (2). If your baby has a fever, is not gaining weight, seems unwell between crying episodes, or if something simply does not feel right — always see your doctor first. Colic is  a diagnosis of exclusion.

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Sources:

(1) Pawłowski J et al.‘Impact of osteopathic management in infantile colic.’ J Pre-Clin Clin Res,2025. jpccr.eu

‍(2) Biagioli E et al.‘Probiotics to prevent infantile colic.’ Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2019. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6415699/

(4) Carnes D et al.‘Comparison of common interventions for infantile colic.’ Arch Dis Child, 2020.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32102827/

(5) Castejón-Castejón Met al. ‘Osteopathic Manual Therapy for Infant Colic: RCT.’ Healthcare, 2023. mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/18/2600

(6) Cabanillas-Barea Set al. ‘CAMs not effective for infantile colic.’ Acta Paediatrica, 2023. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/apa.16807

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No single trick works for every baby, and on a hard evening you may need to layer several together. A widely taught starting point is the “5 S’s,” developed by pediatrician Dr Harvey Karp — five ways to recreate the snug, rhythmic world of the womb and trigger a baby’s natural calming reflex (9).

• ‍Swaddle — wrap your baby snugly, with arms in and hips loose, to recreate the security of the womb and reduce the startle reflex.
• ‍Side or stomach hold — hold your baby on their side or tummy, or over your shoulder, while you soothe them. This calms many babies, but it is only for holding while awake. Always place your baby on their back to sleep.
• ‍Shush — make a strong “shhh” sound close to the ear, or use white noise. The womb is louder than a vacuum cleaner, so steady noise feels familiar and reassuring.
• ‍Swing — small, fast, gentle jiggling movements while supporting the head, or a rocking chair, pram, or sling walk.
• ‍Suck — offer the breast, a clean finger, or a pacifier. Sucking lowers a baby’s heart rate and helps them settle.

Other things that help many babies: skin-to-skin contact, a warm bath, a few minutes of fresh air, carrying your baby in a sling so they are close and your hands are free, and dimming the lights and noise to lower overstimulation. Infant massage can also ease wind and fussiness — a baby massage therapist on Sage Nest can teach you safe techniques.

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Sources: 

(9) Karp H. ‘The Happiest Baby on the Block’ (the 5 S’s and the calming reflex). Bantam Books. happiestbaby.com/blogs/baby/the-5-s-s-for-soothing-babies

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Weeks of broken sleep and inconsolable crying take a real toll. Feeling drained, frustrated, tearful, or on edge does not make you a bad parent — it is one of the most common experiences of early parenthood, and it does not last forever.

Protect yourself where you can: share the nights and hand-offs with a partner or family member, accept offers of help, rest when your baby rests, and when you feel overwhelmed, it is okay to put your baby down somewhere safe and step away for a few minutes to breathe. You do not have to do this alone.

Sometimes the low mood runs deeper. Postnatal depression and anxiety affect more than one in ten new mothers — and partners and fathers can experience them too (12). It may be more than ordinary tiredness if you feel persistently sad, hopeless, or anxious, cannot sleep even when your baby does, lose interest in things you used to enjoy, or feel disconnected from your baby. If feelings like these last more than two weeks, please speak to your doctor, midwife, or health visitor. These are common and treatable, and reaching out early helps both you and your baby (12).

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You deserve support too.

‍A postnatal wellbeing coach on Sage Nest can help you through this stretch — for you, not only your baby.

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Sources: 

(12) NHS. ‘Overview — Postnatal depression.’ nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/post-natal-depression

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Lactation consultants and feeding specialists - If feeding may be a contributing factor, a lactation consultant can assess latch, milk supply, and feeding technique, and identify whether dietary changes could help.

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Pediatric osteopaths - Osteopaths who specialize in infants use gentle, non-manipulative techniques. Some families report that this helps their baby settle, though individual results vary.

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Postnatal wellbeing coaches - Colic is exhausting for parents too. A postnatal wellbeing coach can offer support for the emotional toll, not just the practical side.

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Baby massage therapists — Specialists who can teach you specific gentle massage techniques to help soothe your baby and reduce gas discomfort.

Q  Will colics go away on its own?

Yes — in the vast majority of cases, colics resolves on its own, usually by 3–4 months. It does not cause  any lasting harm to your baby.

Q  Are colics the same as reflux?

No — they are different  conditions, though they can look similar. Reflux involves the backflow of  stomach contents and often causes visible discomfort during and after feeding. Colics are defined by the pattern of crying rather than a specific  physical cause. A feeding specialist or your doctor can help distinguish between the two.

Q  Can my diet cause colics if I am breastfeeding?

Usually not. The research on this is genuinely mixed, and for most babies a parent's diet isn't the cause. In a minority of cases — typically where there's an underlying cow's milk protein allergy — symptoms can be linked to something in the diet, most often dairy. A lactation consultant or feeding specialist can help you judge whether that's likely in your case and, if so, test it safely. The key is doing it under guidance: a supervised trial with proper reintroduction tells you far more than cutting foods out on your own, and there's no good evidence behind broadly avoiding things like legumes or cauliflower.

Q  When should I see a doctor?

Always see your doctor if your baby has a fever, is not gaining weight, seems unwell between crying episodes, or if the crying pattern changes suddenly. Colics are common and normal, but it is always worth ruling out an underlying medical cause first.

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Q  Is the “witching hour” the same as colic?

Not exactly — they sit on the same spectrum. Almost all babies have a fussy, hard-to-settle stretch in the first months, usually worst in the late afternoon and evening; many parents call this the “witching hour.” “Colic” is the label used when that normal crying is especially intense or long (the rule-of-threes pattern). The cause is the same developmental phase, and both usually ease by around 3–4 months.

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