Colic usually ends gradually, with crying bouts becoming less frequent and intense over time, but for some babies, it can seem to stop suddenly, often resolving by 3 to 4 months of age as their digestive system matures. While it peaks around 6 weeks, most infants outgrow it as they transition out of the "fourth trimester," though it can occasionally last until 6 months.
Colicky babies can be very difficult to calm down. Changing how your baby is fed and using different calming methods can help to soothe a colicky baby. Colic goes away on its own, sometimes by age 3 months. In most cases, it is gone by age 6 months.
Colic tends to appear in the first two to four weeks of life and peaks at around six to eight weeks of age. Usually, the baby seems quite happy until the late afternoon or early evening. Symptoms include: Frowning and grimacing.
In some babies with severe colic, the crying may go on for many hours throughout the day and/or night. Bouts of colic gradually become less frequent, and have gone in most babies by the age of 3-4 months. Babies with colic are fine between bouts, they feed and grow well and do not show any other signs of illness.
Symptoms of intestinal colic: intestinal cramps, caused by a blockage in the small or large intestine, causing vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, loss of appetite and bloating.
Reflux. Reflux and colic are closely related and are often confused. Reflux can also be caused by oversupply and both are more often a problem when a baby is given large feeds with long gaps in between. A baby who has reflux often spits up milk and cries more when he is lying down or is in a car seat.
The poop may be pure liquid, or look stringy, or like someone blew their nose in the diaper. The poop might look frothy or foamy. Your baby might frequently be fussy, squirmy, or have bouts of crying where they're difficult to soothe. You may be told your baby has “colic” or they might have symptoms of GERD.
Spotting the difference between colic and gas involves paying attention to patterns. Colic tends to show up as intense crying around the same time each day, happening at least three times a week for a minimum of three weeks. Gas, though it may cause fussiness, lacks the predictable rhythm of colic cries.
The "Colic 333 Rule" is a common guideline for identifying colic in a healthy, well-fed baby: crying for more than 3 hours a day, for more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks. While it's a helpful way to recognize persistent, intense crying spells, it's not a strict diagnosis, and you don't need to wait three weeks to seek help if you're concerned. Colic usually peaks around 6 weeks and lessens by 3-4 months, but it's important to rule out other issues with a doctor.
The positive news is that if it's just colic -- which usually surfaces at age 2 weeks to 4 weeks -- your baby isn't in any physical danger, and the remedy is relatively simple: wait it out.
Baby colic causes may include: Belly (abdominal) pain or discomfort from gas due to air swallowed while nursing or crying. Reflux (bringing up) of stomach contents. Food allergies.
Features of colic may include: Loud, hard crying that may sound like screaming or being in pain. Crying for no known reason. Colic crying is not like the crying a baby does when hungry or wet.
Soothing strategies may include:
With the exception of three infants, the pacifier was successful in relieving the irritability and crying of the infant and in causing a cessation of the symptoms of colic.
Certain foods can help ease colic symptoms in babies, while others may trigger discomfort. Common culprits include dairy, caffeine, and acidic foods, which can cause gassiness, restlessness, or digestive issues.
When fed too much, a baby may also swallow air. This can produce gas, increase discomfort in the belly, and lead to crying. An overfed baby also may spit up more than usual and have loose stools. Although crying from discomfort is not colic, it can make crying more frequent and more intense in an already colicky baby.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is often mistaken for colic. Infants with GERD may frequently spit up lots of liquid, forcefully vomit, choke or gag, arch away from the bottle or breast, seem irritable during or after feedings, or have trouble putting on weight.
Sometimes a baby with colic will find it soothing to suck on a dummy between feeds. If you decide to give your baby a dummy, it's better to wait until breastfeeding is well-established and he is gaining weight well. You will also need to follow manufacturer's guidelines on cleaning and replacement.
The discomfort from gas will pass. Gas discomfort from burps and farts typically peaks at six weeks and improves immensely by 3 months of age.
Colic is when your baby's healthy but cries often and excessively and it's hard to soothe them. One of the possible reasons is bubbles of trapped wind causing stomach pain.
Colic usually starts when babies are about 3 weeks old. It gets worse when they are between 4 and 6 weeks old. Most of the time, colicky babies get better after they are 6 weeks old, and are crying for less than 1 hour per day by the time they are 12 weeks old.
With a baby that vomits or spits up a lot, it's relatively easy to understand that the baby may have reflux, where as a baby that might just have excessive bouts of crying but is rarely sick and still gains weight would often be deemed to just have 'colic'.
The 7 key danger signs for newborns, often highlighted by organizations like the WHO, are not feeding well, convulsions, fast breathing, severe chest indrawing, lethargy/unconsciousness (movement only when stimulated), high or low temperature, and jaundice (yellow skin/soles) or signs of local infection like an infected umbilical stump, requiring immediate medical attention.
Best Sleeping Position for a Colic Baby: Flat on Their Back
Colic can sometimes be caused by gas and digestive discomfort, so taking steps to improve your baby's digestion before putting them to sleep on their back can allow for better-quality, longer sleep.
Signs of dehydration in a baby may include: