Newborn colic is a pattern of frequent, prolonged crying in an otherwise healthy baby who is feeding and growing normally. Babies with colic may cry intensely for several hours, often in the late afternoon or evening, even after they have been fed, changed, and comforted.
Colic commonly begins during the first few weeks of life, becomes more noticeable around 4 to 6 weeks, and usually improves by 3 to 4 months of age. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), colic affects approximately 1 in 5 infants.
Parents can try gentle rocking, swaddling when appropriate, calming sounds, holding their baby, and adjusting feeding routines to help relieve colic symptoms. However, persistent crying should be evaluated by a pediatrician to rule out feeding difficulties, illness, and other causes of discomfort.
Concerned that your newborn may have colic? DFW Physicians Medical Associates (DFWPMA) provides pediatric evaluations for newborn crying, feeding difficulties, and common infant health concerns.
Book an appointment online or call DFWPMA to schedule a newborn care visit.
Newborn colic refers to repeated episodes of excessive crying or fussiness in a baby who otherwise appears healthy and has no identifiable medical cause for the crying. Colic is not a specific disease, and its exact cause remains uncertain.
Traditionally, colic has been described using the “rule of three”: crying for more than three hours per day, on more than three days per week, for more than three weeks. However, a baby does not need to meet this exact pattern before parents should discuss persistent crying with their pediatrician.
Babies with colic typically feed and grow normally and may appear comfortable and content between crying episodes.
Colic is diagnosed after a clinician considers other possible explanations for the crying, particularly when symptoms are severe, unusual, or accompanied by changes in feeding or behavior.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) — Abdominal Pain in Infants: 8 Possible Reasons Your Baby’s Tummy Hurts.
You may suspect newborn colic if your baby cries intensely for long periods, is difficult to comfort, and experiences recurring crying episodes despite being fed, changed, and otherwise cared for. Colic is more likely when the baby is healthy, gaining weight appropriately, and behaving normally between episodes.
Common signs of newborn colic include:
These signs can occur for reasons other than colic. Crying accompanied by fever, vomiting, poor feeding, unusual sleepiness, or other illness symptoms should not automatically be attributed to colic.
Normal newborn crying usually occurs in response to hunger, tiredness, discomfort, or a need for attention, while colic involves more frequent or prolonged crying that may continue even after those needs have been addressed.
All newborns cry, and some crying without an obvious cause is expected during early infancy. The difference is often the duration, intensity, and recurring pattern of the crying.
| Normal Newborn Crying | Possible Newborn Colic |
|---|---|
| Often related to hunger, tiredness, or discomfort | May occur without an obvious trigger |
| Frequently improves after feeding, changing, or comforting | May be difficult to soothe despite meeting the baby’s needs |
| Usually occurs in shorter episodes | May continue for prolonged periods |
| Can occur at different times | May follow a recurring daily pattern |
| Baby generally appears comfortable afterward | Baby may also appear healthy and comfortable between episodes |
Because these patterns overlap, a pediatrician may need to evaluate the baby before determining whether the crying is consistent with colic.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) — Crying Baby: Before 3 Months Old.
The exact cause of newborn colic is unknown. Researchers have considered several possible contributing factors, including differences in infant sensitivity, developing nervous system regulation, and gastrointestinal function, but no single explanation accounts for every case.
Colic does not necessarily mean a baby has a digestive disorder or that something is wrong with their feeding routine.
Possible factors that may contribute to crying or resemble colic include:
Parents should avoid assuming that all prolonged crying is caused by gas, reflux, or food intolerance. A pediatrician can determine whether additional evaluation is necessary.
Newborn colic commonly starts during the first two to three weeks after birth, although some babies develop noticeable crying patterns later in the first month. Crying often becomes more intense over the following weeks before gradually improving.
Colic-related crying commonly peaks around 4 to 6 weeks of age. Parents may initially notice longer periods of evening fussiness that gradually become more frequent or difficult to manage.
If significant crying begins suddenly, particularly in a baby who was previously comfortable, parents should contact their pediatrician to rule out illness or other causes.
Newborn colic usually improves by approximately 3 months of age, although some babies continue experiencing symptoms until around 4 months. Crying often becomes less frequent and less intense as the baby develops.
A typical progression may look like this:
If crying remains severe beyond the expected period or new symptoms develop, parents should request a pediatric evaluation rather than assuming the baby still has colic.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) — Crying Baby: Before 3 Months Old.
To help relieve newborn colic, parents can try gentle rocking, holding their baby, using calming sounds, reducing stimulation, and checking feeding and diaper needs.Â
No single technique works for every baby, and soothing methods may reduce crying without eliminating colic completely.
Consider these practical methods:
Parents may need to experiment with several techniques to find which ones help their baby settle.
When the baby falls asleep, place them on their back on a firm, flat, separate sleep surface. Do not allow a newborn to sleep unsupervised in a swing, stroller, or other sitting device.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) — How to Calm a Fussy Baby: Tips for Parents and Caregivers.
Parents of breastfed newborns with colic should continue breastfeeding as appropriate while checking whether the baby is latching effectively, swallowing comfortably, and receiving enough milk. Gentle soothing techniques may help manage crying between feedings.
Breastfeeding itself does not cause colic, and most breastfeeding parents do not need to eliminate foods from their diet solely because their baby cries frequently.
If crying occurs alongside blood in the stool, significant vomiting, poor weight gain, or other symptoms suggesting food protein allergy, a pediatrician may recommend further evaluation and individualized dietary guidance.
Parents should avoid making major dietary restrictions without medical advice because unnecessary restrictions may complicate nutrition and breastfeeding.
For more newborn feeding guidance, read How Much Should a Newborn Eat?.
For formula-fed newborns with colic-like crying, parents should review feeding amounts, bottle positioning, nipple flow, and formula preparation.
Adjusting feeding technique may help when discomfort is related to swallowed air or excessive feeding, but it does not necessarily treat colic itself.
Practical feeding considerations include:
Parents should not repeatedly switch infant formulas to treat colic without discussing the symptoms with a pediatrician.
If a clinician suspects cow’s milk protein allergy, they may recommend a specific formula and a supervised feeding plan.
For more information about feeding methods, read Can You Mix Breast Milk and Formula?.
Burping may help relieve discomfort caused by swallowed air, but it is not a proven treatment for newborn colic. Babies with colic may continue crying even after they burp because the underlying cause of colic is not necessarily related to gas.
Parents can gently burp their baby during natural feeding breaks or after a feeding when the baby appears uncomfortable.
Common positions include holding the baby upright against the shoulder or supporting the baby in a seated position while gently rubbing the back.
Not every newborn needs to burp after every feeding. If the baby appears comfortable, parents do not need to continue trying indefinitely.
For step-by-step instructions, read How to Burp a Newborn: A Quick Guide for Parents.
Newborn colic is not necessarily caused by gas. Although babies with colic may pass gas, draw their legs toward their stomach, or appear uncomfortable, these behaviors do not establish that trapped gas is responsible for their crying.
Babies often swallow air while feeding or crying, which may contribute to gas without being the underlying cause of prolonged crying.
Some babies experience genuine digestive discomfort, but excessive crying can also occur without a digestive problem.
Parents should avoid assuming that every episode of intense crying is caused by gas, particularly if the baby develops vomiting, poor feeding, fever, or changes in stool patterns.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) — Crying Baby: Before 3 Months Old.
Colic does not directly cause constipation, although a baby may experience both conditions at the same time. Colic is characterized by excessive crying, while constipation involves difficulty passing hard or dry stools.
Some newborns strain, grunt, or turn red during bowel movements even when their stools are soft. This behavior does not necessarily indicate constipation.
Parents should pay attention to stool consistency, feeding patterns, abdominal swelling, and other symptoms when trying to determine whether a baby has a digestive problem.
Hard stools, blood in the stool, significant abdominal swelling, or vomiting should be discussed with a pediatrician.
For more information, read Newborn Constipation Care in Corpus Christi and How to Relieve Constipation in Babies.
Colic often becomes more noticeable in the late afternoon or evening, although crying episodes can occur at any time of day. Some babies develop recurring periods of intense fussiness around similar times each day.
Evening crying may coincide with accumulated stimulation, tiredness, and the baby’s developing ability to regulate their behavior.
Parents can try reducing noise, dimming lights, offering appropriate feedings, and establishing a calm routine during periods when their baby typically becomes fussy.
However, parents should not assume that prolonged nighttime crying is always colic. Sudden changes in behavior or crying accompanied by illness symptoms require medical attention.
When a newborn has colic, parents should avoid unsafe home remedies, unnecessary formula changes, overfeeding, and any attempt to forcefully stop the baby’s crying. The priority is to comfort the baby safely while ensuring that a medical problem is not being overlooked.
Important precautions include:
If crying becomes overwhelming, place the baby on their back in an empty crib or bassinet and step away briefly while arranging support from another responsible adult.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) — How to Calm a Fussy Baby: Tips for Parents and Caregivers.
Newborn crying may indicate a medical problem rather than colic when it occurs alongside fever, poor feeding, vomiting, breathing difficulties, unusual sleepiness, dehydration, or significant changes in behavior. These symptoms require medical evaluation rather than routine colic remedies.
Important warning signs include:
Call emergency services if your baby has severe breathing difficulties, seizures, or is unresponsive. A newborn with fever needs immediate medical evaluation even when no other symptoms are present.
For more information, read Newborn Fever Care in Corpus Christi and Pediatric Vomiting and Diarrhea Care.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) — Crying Baby: Before 3 Months Old.
Parents should contact their pediatrician when a newborn develops persistent or unusually intense crying, particularly if the baby has not previously been evaluated for colic. Medical assessment can help distinguish typical infant crying from feeding problems, illness, or other conditions that require treatment.
Even when a baby appears healthy between crying episodes, a pediatric visit can provide guidance on feeding, soothing techniques, and monitoring developmental progress.
Parents should also seek support if the crying is becoming difficult to manage or affecting their ability to care safely for the baby.
For additional information about newborn medical care, read Newborn Care in Corpus Christi and Well-Child Visits in Corpus Christi.
Concerned that your newborn may have colic? At DFW Physicians Medical Associates (DFWPMA), our pediatric services help parents understand prolonged crying, evaluate feeding and growth, and identify possible medical causes of newborn discomfort.
Our pediatric services include newborn examinations, feeding guidance, growth monitoring, and evaluation of common infant health concerns.
In Corpus Christi, families can schedule pediatric care with Dr. Balasundari Krishnan, a board-certified pediatrician providing care for newborns, infants, children, and adolescents.
Book an appointment online or call DFWPMA to discuss your baby’s crying patterns and newborn health concerns.
DFW Physicians Medical Associates is a multispecialty medical clinic providing pediatric and other healthcare services at locations in North Texas and Corpus Christi.
