- What's happening
- An immature nervous system overwhelmed by the day. It is not caused by you and it does pass.
- What helps
- Quiet, slow, skin-to-skin, white noise, and breaks for the adults.
- When to get help
- Crying with poor feeding, fever, blood in stool, or any sense that something has changed.
- One tiny next step
- Plan one short break tonight — even 10 minutes outside the door.
What's going on?
Colic is the name given to long, intense, often inconsolable crying in an otherwise healthy, well-fed baby — typically in the first 3–4 months of life. The classic 'rule of threes' is crying for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks.
Despite decades of research, no one knows exactly why some babies cry like this and others don't. The likely cause is a combination of an immature nervous system, sensitivity to stimulation, and the daily build-up of input that the baby's brain hasn't yet learnt to filter.
Colic is not caused by you. It is not a sign your baby is in pain in any specific medical sense, and it is not a sign you are doing something wrong. It is, however, one of the hardest things a parent can go through.
Common signs and symptoms
Very common
- Intense crying, often in the late afternoon or evening (the 'witching hour').
- A baby who is otherwise feeding, growing and developing well.
- Crying that is hard to soothe, that comes and goes in waves.
- Clenched fists, drawn-up legs, a red face.
- A noticeable daily pattern.
Less common
- Crying alongside poor feeding, fever, blood in stool, or weak/high-pitched cry — these point away from colic and towards something needing assessment.
Colic peaks at around 6 weeks and usually eases significantly by 3–4 months.
Is this normal?
Around 1 in 5 babies have crying that meets the description of colic at some point in the first months.
It is very common for crying to peak around 6 weeks and reduce gradually after that.
It tends to resolve on its own. Knowing this doesn't make it easier in the moment — but it does mean you are not failing because you can't 'fix' it.
Practical things that help
Reduce stimulation
A dim room, fewer people, lower voices — colicky babies are often overwhelmed by input.
Skin-to-skin
Slows heart rate (yours and theirs), warms them, and is one of the most regulating things you can do.
Rhythmic movement and white noise
Mimics the womb, helps a dysregulated nervous system settle.
Tag-team breaks
10 minutes outside the room reset your nervous system so you can come back in.
Accept help with anything except the baby
Meals, washing, the other children — anyone offering should be sent to those, freeing you to be with the crying baby.
Talk honestly about how hard it is
Health visitor, GP, a friend, a helpline. Colic is a known driver of parental low mood — early support helps.
What can accidentally make it harder?
Trying every new product in panic
Each one needs a fair trial. Constant change leaves you exhausted and unsure what's actually helping.
Bouncing harder and harder
Often makes a dysregulated baby more dysregulated. Slower and softer is usually better than faster and louder.
Skipping your own meals and water
A dysregulated parent finds it harder to regulate a dysregulated baby.
These are gentle observations, not blame. None of us avoid all of them all of the time.
What should I say?
- “I can't fix it. I can stay with you.”
- “This is a wave. It will pass.”
- “I need ten minutes. Can you take her?”
Red flags and when to seek help
Worth an assessment
- Crying alongside poor feeding, vomiting, blood in stool, eczema or feeding aversion — could be CMPA or reflux.
- Sudden change in crying pattern.
- Persistent crying continuing well beyond 4 months.
Urgent — same day
- Fever in a baby under 3 months.
- Weak, high-pitched or unusual cry.
- Floppiness, refusing feeds, fewer wet nappies.
- A visible swelling in the groin (possible hernia).
Emergency — call 999
- Difficulty breathing, blue lips, unresponsiveness — call 999.
- If you ever feel close to losing control — put the baby down somewhere safe and step away. Then call someone.
Cry-sis (UK helpline), your health visitor, or your GP. Some areas have specialist infant crying support. You are allowed to ring them more than once.
If your child is seriously unwell or in danger, get help now.
Common myths
- Colic is not caused by gas.
- Most colicky babies do not have a milk allergy.
- You are not 'spoiling' a colicky baby by holding them.
One tiny next step
Plan one short break tonight — even 10 minutes outside the door.
Note what you triedTalk this through
Ask Little Humans about colic