How long does infant colic last?

Infant colic usually begins in the first weeks of life and improves by around three to four months of age. Most babies grow out of colic as their nervous and digestive systems mature.

What are the symptoms of infant colic?

Babies with infant colic may cry intensely, pull their legs up, clench their fists, go red in the face and appear uncomfortable or windy. Despite this, feeding, growth and physical examination are normal.

When should I worry about crying in my baby?

Parents should seek urgent medical review if crying is associated with red flags such as fever, poor feeding, vomiting (especially green or bilious), breathing difficulty, reduced responsiveness or faltering growth.

What helps with infant colic?

Helpful strategies include responsive holding and carrying, skin-to-skin contact, creating a calm evening environment, optimising feeding technique and planning safe breaks for parents. These approaches may not stop crying entirely but reduce distress and improve coping.

Do probiotics help infant colic?

Some evidence suggests that the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri may reduce crying time in breastfed infants with colic. Evidence in formula-fed infants is weaker, and any trial should be time-limited and stopped if there is no improvement.

Is infant colic harmful to my baby?

Infant colic itself is not harmful and does not cause long-term health problems. However, it can significantly affect parental wellbeing and family life, which is why reassurance and support are important.

Infant Colic: What It Is, When to Worry and What Really Helps

Q: What is infant colic?

Infant colic describes recurrent, prolonged periods of crying or fussing in an otherwise healthy, thriving baby under five months of age. The crying often occurs in the late afternoon or evening and has no identifiable medical cause.

Dr Monica Gupta
Feb 24
4 min read

Infant colic can feel utterly overwhelming, particularly when everyone around you is reassuring you that it is “just colic”. As a pediatrician, one of the most important messages to share is that most babies with infant colic are healthy, the crying phase is time-limited, and there are evidence-informed ways to make life easier while you wait for it to pass. Infant colic typically begins in the first weeks of life and improves by around 3–4 months of age.

Families often benefit from early assessment and reassurance from an experienced pediatrician, particularly when crying feels relentless or confidence is shaken. Learn more about pediatric care at: https://www.centralhealthlondon.com/paediatrics

What Is Infant Colic?

Infant colic describes prolonged periods of crying or fussing in an otherwise well, thriving baby, usually under 4–5 months of age. The crying often worsens in the late afternoon or evening and can feel intense and inconsolable.

Babies with infant colic may:

Pull their legs up
Go red in the face
Clench their fists
Appear windy or uncomfortable

Despite this, physical examination, feeding, and growth are normal.

How Is Infant Colic Defined?

Earlier definitions relied on Wessel’s criteria, which described colic as crying for:

At least 3 hours per day
On at least 3 days per week
For more than 3 weeks

While useful historically, this definition is now considered impractical for modern clinical care.

The most widely accepted definition today comes from the Rome IV criteria, which describe infant colic as:

Recurrent and prolonged periods of crying, fussing or irritability without an obvious cause, in an infant younger than 5 months, who is otherwise healthy and thriving.

Why Infant Colic Matters

Although infant colic itself is medically benign, its impact on family life can be profound.

Excessive infant crying is associated with:

Maternal depression and anxiety
Reduced parenting confidence
Early cessation of breastfeeding
Increased risk of unsafe coping behaviours

Supporting parental mental health is therefore a crucial part of managing infant colic, not an optional extra. Some families benefit from talking support alongside medical reassurance. You can find out more about psychological support for parents at: https://www.centralhealthlondon.com/psychology

Infant Colic: When to Worry

Crying is normal in young babies, but some symptoms are not. Parents should seek urgent medical review if any red flags are present.

Red flags include:

Fever
Poor or reduced feeding
Vomiting, especially green or bilious
Breathing difficulties
Reduced responsiveness
Faltering growth

If you are unsure whether your baby’s symptoms are normal, a paediatric assessment can provide reassurance and ensure that more serious causes are excluded.

Even when colic itself is confirmed, persistent crying that is damaging sleep, relationships or parental wellbeing still deserves attention and support.

What Really Helps Day to Day With Infant Colic?

When a baby cries constantly, parents often feel as though they are in a state of crisis and understandably want to take action. A wide range of treatments are marketed for colic, but the strength of evidence varies considerably.

Once serious causes have been excluded, the focus shifts to supporting both the baby and the parents.

Evidence-Based Strategies That Help

1. Soothing and Supportive Care

Simple strategies with the strongest evidence include:

Responsive holding and carrying, including sling use
Skin-to-skin contact
Gentle rhythmic movement, such as rocking, walking with the pram, or short car journeys
Creating a calming evening environment, with dim lights, reduced stimulation and white noise
Warm baths or gentle infant massage

Parents should also plan safe breaks. It is always acceptable to place a crying baby on their back in a safe cot and step into another room for a few minutes if feeling overwhelmed.

These approaches may not dramatically reduce crying time, but they reduce distress and help families feel more in control.

2. Feeding-Related Options

Breastfed babies

Breastfeeding should be continued wherever possible. Lactation support can help optimize latch, positioning and feeding technique, and address issues such as fast let-down or aerophagia.
In babies with possible allergy features, such as eczema, blood in stools or a strong family history of allergy, a short, supervised trial of maternal cow’s milk protein exclusion may be considered. Any dietary restriction should be time-limited and clinician-guided.

Formula-fed babies

In selected cases with allergy-type features, a trial of hydrolysed formula may be appropriate under clinical supervision. Changing bottle teats may also help reduce air swallowing.

3. Medications and Supplements

Probiotics (Lactobacillus reuteri) Evidence suggests reduced crying in breastfed infants. Evidence in formula-fed babies is weaker. Any trial should be stopped after 2–3 weeks if no benefit is seen.
Simethicone Studies show no consistent benefit over placebo, though many families choose to try it.
Lactase drops Evidence is mixed. A short, one-week trial may be considered in selected cases.
Proton pump inhibitors These do not reduce crying in colic and should not be used unless clear reflux pathology is present.

4. Gentle Manual Therapies

Therapies such as osteopathy, chiropractic techniques, craniosacral therapy and infant massage show low- to moderate-quality evidence for reducing crying time. Research quality is variable.
These approaches should be viewed as adjuncts rather than cures, and families should choose practitioners experienced in treating infants who work alongside medical professionals.

5. Herbal Remedies

Some families use herbal approaches, including:

Peppermint oil (carefully diluted and applied)
Fennel, chamomile, dill, cinnamon or anise teas

Evidence is limited and safety should always be considered.

What Happens If You See Us at Central Health London?

A consultation for infant colic at Central Health London includes:

A detailed medical assessment of your baby’s growth, feeding and physical examination
Review of sleep, parental wellbeing and available support
Clear explanation of infant colic and red flags
An individualized, evidence-informed management plan

Find out more about our pediatric services at: https://www.centralhealthlondon.com/paediatrics

Final Reassurance

The most important message for families is simple: infant colic is exhausting but temporary. You are not alone, and this phase will pass. With the right reassurance, support and evidence-based strategies, most families find this period becomes more manageable while their baby grows through it.