Colic peaks at 6 weeks and almost always resolves by 3–4 months. Here's how to recognise it, what actually helps, and when the crying means something else.
Colic is a diagnosis of exclusion — it means prolonged, unexplained crying in an otherwise healthy, well-feeding, normally growing baby. The clinical definition is crying for more than 3 hours per day, more than 3 days per week, for more than 3 consecutive weeks.1 Somewhere between 10% and 40% of babies meet these criteria at some point.12 It is exhausting, distressing for parents, and — critically — temporary. Almost all colic resolves by 3–4 months, regardless of what you do.
What it looks and feels like
A baby with colic typically cries intensely, often at a predictable time (usually late afternoon or evening), and may appear to be in pain — drawing up the legs, arching the back, turning red. They may pass wind or seem gassy, but this is most likely caused by swallowing air during crying rather than the cause of it.
The crying is difficult to console. What worked five minutes ago stops working. The baby doesn't seem hungry, hurt, or unwell between episodes — and resumes their normal self once the crying period passes. For parents in the first weeks, when every cry is still unfamiliar, this can be profoundly distressing.
The rule of 3s: More than 3 hours of crying per day, more than 3 days per week, more than 3 weeks in a row, in an otherwise well baby. If this matches your situation, it fits the clinical definition of colic. If your baby is unwell, feeding poorly, or not gaining weight, speak to your GP — those features point to a cause that needs investigation.
What causes colic
No cause has been consistently established. Proposed mechanisms include gut immaturity, altered gut microbiome, cow's milk protein sensitivity (in a minority of cases), parental stress responses, overstimulation, and temperament. For the vast majority of babies, no underlying condition is found.
This matters practically: it means there is no universal fix. Interventions that help one baby have no effect on another. Some parents find dietary changes help — eliminating dairy for breastfeeding mothers is worth a 2–4 week trial under GP guidance if other strategies fail — but for most families it makes no difference.
What helps
No single strategy works for every baby, but the following have the most evidence or widespread clinical support:
Rhythmic motion. Gentle, repetitive movement mimics the sensations of the womb. Rocking, walking with your baby in arms, a baby carrier, or a gentle car journey are all worth trying.
White noise. Continuous, low-frequency noise — fan, vacuum cleaner, or a dedicated white noise machine — can be calming. Keep the volume at conversation level (around 50 dB). Very loud white noise has its own risks; don't place a device directly next to the baby's head.
Swaddling. A snug swaddle reduces the startle reflex and can settle a distressed young baby. It works best for babies under 3–4 months who are not yet showing rolling attempts. Stop swaddling as soon as your baby begins trying to roll — a swaddled baby who rolls prone cannot reposition their head.
The side-lying or prone hold (for settling only — never for sleep). Holding your baby face-down across your forearm, or on their left side supported by your arm, can help with gas and reduce distress. This is a calming hold you use while awake and present — never place a baby in a prone or side position for sleep.
Pacifier. Non-nutritive sucking has a consistent calming effect. If breastfeeding is established, offering a dummy from around 3–4 weeks is fine and may help.2
Reducing stimulation. Sometimes doing less — stopping the bouncing, the singing, the picking up and putting down — is more effective than more. A dark, quiet room with minimal handling can calm an overstimulated baby. Try holding them still and quiet for a few minutes before escalating.
The witching hour
The witching hour is a pattern of predictable, daily fussiness that typically occurs in the late afternoon or evening, often lasting longer than an hour. It is extremely common in the first 3 months. It may overlap with colic, but not all babies with a witching hour period have colic, and not all colic happens only in the evenings.
Understanding it as a pattern helps. If 5–7pm is consistently difficult, you can plan for it: lower stimulation before the window, offer a feed, have a second adult present if possible, and set lower expectations for that block of time. It is not a sign of a problem with your feeding, your parenting, or your baby.
What colic is not
Colic is a diagnosis only when your baby is otherwise well. If any of the following are present alongside the crying, the cause needs investigation:
This isn't colic — speak to your GP or call 111:
- Fever (temperature ≥38°C) alongside the crying3
- Vomiting — especially projectile or bile-stained (green or yellow)
- Blood in the stool
- Your baby is not gaining weight, feeding poorly, or seems underweight
- A sudden change in personality or responsiveness between crying episodes — they seem unwell, not just tired
- Crying that started suddenly in a previously calm baby with no gradual build-up
- Any crying that doesn't follow the colic pattern (predictable, episodic, baby normal in between)
These symptoms point to a medical cause that needs evaluation, not reassurance.
On surviving it
Colic is one of the leading contributors to parental distress in the early weeks. The crying itself is hard; the feeling of being unable to help is often harder. If you are struggling, put your baby down safely — on their back in the cot — and take a few minutes away. A baby left safely in the cot for five minutes while you collect yourself is safer than a caregiver at the limits of their capacity.
If you are worried about your own mental state, or frightened of what you might do, call your GP, midwife, or the Samaritans (116 123) without delay. These calls are not failures — they are the right response.
← Back to the complete guide: Baby health basics
Also in this cluster: When to call the doctor · Fever: when to worry
Sources
- NHS. "Colic." NHS, 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/colic/
- American Academy of Pediatrics. "Colic Relief Tips for Parents." HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Colic.aspx
- NHS. "High temperature (fever) in children." NHS, 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-temperature/
Footnotes
-
NHS. "Colic." NHS, 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/colic/ ↩ ↩2
-
American Academy of Pediatrics. "Colic Relief Tips for Parents." HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Colic.aspx ↩ ↩2
-
NHS. "High temperature (fever) in children." NHS, 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-temperature/ ↩