You can tell the difference between colic and normal crying by the intensity, duration, predictability, and unsoothability; colic involves loud, prolonged (3+ hrs/day, 3+ days/wk) bouts of inconsolable screaming, often in the evening, with physical signs like arched back/clenched fists, whereas normal crying is usually for clear needs (hunger, wetness) and easier to calm, though colic babies are healthy, just very fussy.
Symptoms of colic
Babies cry for many reasons, but look out for the following signs: intense crying lasting several hours. clenched fists, arched back, knees being pulled up to tummy. red or flushed face when crying.
Colicky crying is louder, more high-pitched, and more urgent sounding than regular crying. Colicky babies can be very hard to calm down. Babies who have colic may show symptoms such as: Burping often or passing a lot of gas.
[14] Wessel proposed a diagnostic criteria for infantile colic known as the Wessels "Rule of 3," which are still helpful today. Infants affected by colic experience bouts of fussiness and crying that last at least 3 hours a day for 3 or more days a week for over 3 weeks.
How do I recognize pain in my newborn?
A colic cry sounds like a loud, intense, high-pitched scream or wail, often coming in sudden, painful-sounding bursts that are very hard to soothe, with the baby often going red in the face, clenching fists, arching their back, and pulling up their legs as if in severe pain, usually starting in the late afternoon or evening for no obvious reason.
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.
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 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.
What causes colic?
The pitch of their cry may change and you may eventually begin to recognise the specific sound of your overtired baby. Commonly, overtired babies sound more high-pitched and nasal than normal.
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.
Symptoms of colic
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.
Soothing strategies may include:
The "Colic 333 Rule" is a common guideline for identifying infantile colic: a baby cries for more than 3 hours a day, for more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks, in an infant who is otherwise healthy and well-fed. It helps differentiate normal crying from colic, though parents don't need to wait three weeks to seek help if they're concerned, and modern criteria may vary slightly.
But when your infant has painful gas, especially if it's frequent, it can cause your baby to cry or become fussy—until it's passed; unlike colic, which causes crying and fussiness that lasts for hours across days and weeks. Gas can have distinctive symptoms, too, such as a swollen-looking belly.
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.
Silent reflux is when some contents from your baby's stomach enter their esophagus but don't come out of their mouth. Instead, they return to your baby's stomach. In some cases, this is because your baby swallows them. Other times, it's because the contents don't make it all the way up to their mouth.
Over-the-counter gas drops, such as Simethicone, may be used to help relieve gas but other over-the-counter gripe waters are not normally recommended to treat colic, says Dr. Wilkinson.
Newborn reflux
Some babies will make gurgling or gulping sounds during or after feeds. Reflux can cause newborn fussiness, back arching and a lot of spit up.
Why Does SIDS Peak at 2-4 Months? The widely accepted explanation for the SIDS peak has to do with the timeline of brain development. “Up to 4 months old, the part of the brain that controls breathing and wakefulness is under a lot of development,” Juliet explains.
Hold your baby until they're in a deeper sleep. Babies start in 'active sleep' (with faster, uneven breathing) and move into a deeper sleep after about 20 minutes. That's a good time to transfer them into their sleeping place. Many babies don't like being put down into a cot.
The 3-2-1 sleep rule is a simple wind-down routine: stop eating and drinking alcohol 3 hours before bed, stop working/mentally stimulating activities 2 hours before, and turn off screens (phones, TVs) 1 hour before sleep, helping you transition to rest by reducing stimulants and preparing your mind and body. It's often part of a larger 10-3-2-1-0 rule, which also adds no caffeine 10 hours prior and no hitting snooze (0) in the morning.