Yes, colic often happens at the same time each day, usually in the late afternoon or evening (the "witching hour"), for a few hours at a time, though it can occur anytime and isn't necessarily every single night but rather follows a pattern of intense, inconsolable crying for no clear reason. This daily ritual of fussiness typically peaks around 6 weeks and subsides by 3 to 4 months as the baby's nervous system matures.
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.
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.
Symptoms of colic
All babies cry, but your baby may have colic if they cry more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week for at least 1 week but are otherwise healthy. They may cry more often in the afternoon and evening. It may also be colic if, while they are crying: it's hard to soothe or settle your baby.
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.
What causes colic?
The 5-3-3 rule is a loose guideline for structuring a baby's sleep schedule: 5 hours of wake time before the first nap, 3 hours of wake time before the second nap, and 3 hours before bedtime.
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.
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.
Give your baby a warm bath. Rub your infant's tummy or place your baby on the tummy for a back rub. Play an audio of heartbeats or quiet, soothing sounds. Use white noise by running a white noise machine, a vacuum cleaner or a clothes dryer in a nearby room.
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.
Occasionally there are some non-intestinal causes which show similar clinical signs to colic e.g. laminitis, where horses often lay down more to take the weight of their feet, or ovarian problems. This is known as false colic and can also be very serious.
There are five types of digestive colic: spasmodic, impaction, incarceration, displacement, and excessive fermentation. Spasmodic colic is the mildest and most common. It is associated with over-excitement or sudden feed changes. It generally responds well to modest medical treatment.
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.
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.
When colic symptoms occur, fill provided measured oral dispenser up to 1/2 teaspoon and dispense slowly, drop-by-drop into mouth between cheek and gums. A measured dispenser such as the NumiMed that we offer (or the like) can also be used in place of the blue dropper, to administer Colic Calm.
Additionally, warm milk can help ease colic and reduce spit-ups, leading to a happier and more content baby. We recommend setting the warmer to 98 degrees if this option is available. Faster and More Convenient: Bottle warmers offer a quick and convenient solution, especially during those late-night feedings.
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.
Don't blame yourself or your baby for the crying — colic is nobody's fault. Try to relax, and know that your baby will outgrow this phase. If you ever feel like you might hurt yourself or the baby, put the baby down in the crib and call for help right away. Never shake a baby.
The hardest week with a newborn is often considered the first six weeks, especially weeks 2-3, due to extreme sleep deprivation, constant feeding demands, learning baby's cues, postpartum recovery, and a peak in inconsolable crying (the "witching hour"), making parents feel overwhelmed as they adjust to a new, exhausting routine. While the first week is tough, the challenges often intensify as the baby becomes more alert but still fussy, with major developmental hurdles like cluster feeding and increased fussiness peaking around 6-8 weeks.
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.
SIDS is less common after 8 months of age, but parents and caregivers should continue to follow safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death until baby's first birthday. More than 90% of all SIDS deaths occur before 6 months of age.
How Much Crying Is Too Much Crying? On average, most families with which we work who do Cry It Out have babies who cry 30-45 minutes in one stretch. However, it's not uncommon for some babies to cry 1-2 hours during the height of sleep training. In some cases, babies become hoarse from crying.
Most babies do not begin sleeping through the night (6 to 8 hours) without waking until at least 3 months of age, or until they weigh 12 to 13 pounds. However, this varies considerably and some babies do not sleep through the night until closer to 1 year.