How To Deal With a Baby With Colic

Learning how to deal with a baby with colic can feel overwhelming. Your baby may cry hard. You may try feeding, burping, rocking, changing diapers, singing, walking, and bouncing. Still, the crying may not stop right away.

That can make any parent feel helpless.

However, colic does not mean you are doing something wrong. It also does not mean your baby is “bad” or rejecting you. Colic is often used to describe a healthy baby who cries a lot for longer than expected. Some doctors describe it as crying for 3 or more hours a day, 3 or more days a week, in a baby who is otherwise healthy. Nemours KidsHealth notes that colic does not usually mean a baby has health problems and often goes away with time.

Even so, colic is hard. It can wear down your patience, your sleep, and your confidence.

Here is what to know:

1. First, Understand What Colic May Look Like

Colic is more than a little fussiness. Many babies get fussy, especially in the evening. However, colic crying can feel stronger, louder, and harder to soothe.

A baby with colic may cry in a high-pitched way, scream, pull up their legs, stiffen their arms, arch their back, clench their fists, or seem very hard to comfort. Crying spells often happen around the same time each day, and they are often can be worse in the evening.

Also, colic often starts when babies are still very young. Colic often starts around 2 to 5 weeks old and gets better by about 3 to 4 months old. The American Academy of Pediatrics, also notes that colicky crying often improves by 3 to 4 months, though it can last longer for some babies.

This matters because many parents blame themselves. They think, “I must be missing something.” But colic is common, and experts do not know one single cause. There is no definite explanation for why colic happens. It may involve a baby being sensitive to stimulation or still learning how to calm their nervous system or having gas.

So, the first step is to replace blame with understanding. Your baby is having a hard time. You are having a hard time too. Both things can be true.

2. Next, Check the Simple Needs First

When your baby cries, start with the basics.

Is your baby hungry? Does your baby need a clean diaper? Is baby too hot or too cold? Does baby need to burp? Is baby tired? Is baby overstimulated? Is baby uncomfortable in their clothes?

These questions may sound simple. However, when you are tired and the crying is loud, it is easy to forget the basics.

Try to move through each need slowly. For example, first check the diaper. Then try burping. Then try feeding if it is time. Then try a quieter room. This keeps you from doing ten things at once and feeling even more stressed.

3. Then, Try Gentle Motion

Many babies calm more easily with gentle movement. This does not mean bouncing hard or shaking. It means slow, steady motion.

You can walk with your baby in your arms. You can rock in a chair. You can use a baby carrier if it is safe and fits correctly. You can take baby for a stroller walk. Some babies also calm with a car ride, as long as your baby is safely placed in the correct car seat and you are awake and alert enough to drive.

Some suggest walking baby in a carrier, rocking baby, and using steady motion as possible soothing ideas for colic.

However, do not expect one method to work every time. A baby may calm with rocking one day and not the next. That does not mean you failed. It just means colic can be unpredictable.

Instead, think of soothing tools like a menu. You are choosing one option at a time.

4. Use Sound to Create a Calmer Space

After motion, sound may help.

Some babies like soft singing. Some like gentle talking. Some like white noise. Some like a fan sound in the room. A steady sound may help block extra noise and make the room feel calmer.

Some suggest combining steady rhythmic motion and calming sounds, such as a fan or white-noise machine, may help some babies fall asleep.

If using a white noise device be sure to place it away from baby’s ears. Keep the volume low. Use it as background sound, not blasting noise.

You can also use your own voice. Your baby knows you. Even if your baby keeps crying, your calm voice may still give comfort. Try saying, “You are safe. I am here. We are getting through this.” This may help you stay calmer too.

5. Try Holding, Swaddling, or a Pacifier

Some babies with colic need closeness. Others need less stimulation. This is why it helps to try one idea at a time.

You can hold your baby close against your body and take slow breaths. You can offer a pacifier if your baby uses one. You can try swaddling if your baby is still young and has not started showing signs of rolling. Some babies 2 months and younger may do well swaddled, lying on their back in the crib with the lights dim, but parents should stop swaddling when baby starts to roll.

However, safe sleep still matters. If baby falls asleep, place baby on their back in a safe sleep space. Do not leave baby sleeping on your chest if you might fall asleep too. Also, do not put loose blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals in the crib.

Colic can make parents desperate for sleep. But safety comes first, even on hard nights.

6. Look at Feeding, Burping, and Air

Sometimes crying may be linked with feeding discomfort. This does not mean every colicky baby has a feeding problem. But feeding is worth checking.

If you bottle-feed, ask your baby’s doctor whether the bottle type, nipple flow, or feeding position could be changed. You may look for special bottles using specialized venting systems to separate air from formula or breast milk, can significantly reducing the amount of air a baby swallows during feeding.

If you breastfeed, you can ask your pediatrician or a lactation consultant whether latch, milk flow, or diet questions may be part of the problem. In some breastfeeding babies, colic can sometimes be related to sensitivity to something in the nursing parent’s diet, and it recommends discussing food changes with the pediatrician first.

The key word is ask. Do not make big feeding changes on your own without guidance. Also, do not start supplements, herbal drops, gripe water, or special products without talking with your baby’s healthcare provider.

7. Know When to Call the Doctor

Colic is common, but not all crying is colic. Sometimes crying can be a sign that baby may need medical care.

Call your baby’s doctor right away if your baby has a fever of 100.4°F, is less alert or active than usual, is not feeding well, is not sucking strongly, has loose stools or blood in the stool, throws up forcefully, is losing weight or not gaining weight, or cannot calm down no matter what you do.

This is important because parents sometimes worry they are “bothering” the doctor. You are not. Your baby’s doctor is there to help you sort out normal crying, colic, feeding issues, illness, and safety concerns.

Also, if you feel something is wrong, trust that feeling. A parent’s concern matters.

8. Protect Your Own Calm

This step is just as important as soothing baby.

A baby with colic can cry for a long time. After a while, your body may feel tense. Your heart may race. You may feel angry, scared, sad, or numb. These feelings do not make you a bad parent.

When you feel overwhelmed, place your baby safely on their back in a crib or another safe sleep space. Then step away for a few minutes. Wash your face. Drink water. Breathe. Call someone. Text a friend. Ask your partner, family member, or neighbor for help if you can.

No matter frustrated you may become never shake a baby. If you are at your limit, put baby down safely and get help.

Colic is hard, but it is temporary. Keeping everyone safe is the top goal.

9. Build a Simple Colic Plan Before the Next Crying Spell

When your baby is calm, make a plan. It does not need to be fancy.

Write down your steps in order:

First, check diaper.

Next, check hunger.

Then, burp baby.

Then, try holding.

Then, try rocking.

Then, try white noise.

Then, try a dim room.

Then, place baby safely down and take a short parent break if needed.

Also, write down when to call the doctor. Add your pediatrician’s number. Add an after-hours nurse line if you have one. Add the name of a friend or family member who can help.

This plan helps because colic crying can make your brain feel scattered. When you have a simple list, you do not have to make every decision in the heat of the moment.

Why Simple Support Matters When Your Baby Has Colic

When people talk about colic, they often focus only on the baby. But parents need care too.

You may be sleeping less. You may feel confused. You may worry that every cry means something serious. You may feel like everyone else has an “easy baby” except you.

When you understand what colic can look like, you are less likely to panic. When you know safe soothing ideas, you have somewhere to start. When you know red flags, you know when to call the doctor. When you have a plan, you are less likely to feel lost.

A Gentle Reminder About Products, Drops, and Quick Fixes

Many parents search for a quick fix when their baby has colic. That is understandable. The crying is hard.

However, be careful with any product that promises to stop colic, cure colic, treat colic, or change your baby’s body. Talk with your baby’s healthcare provider before using drops, supplements, teas, gripe water, probiotics, formula changes, or diet changes.

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Deal With a Baby With Colic

How do I know if my baby has colic?

Colic is often a pattern of intense crying in an otherwise healthy baby. The crying may happen around the same time each day, often in the evening. Baby may be hard to soothe, pull up their legs, clench fists, arch the back, or cry in a high-pitched way.

When does colic usually start?

Colic often starts when a baby is a few weeks old, often starting around 2 to 5 weeks old and improves by 3 to 4 months old.

What is the best way to deal with a baby with colic?

There is no single best way for every baby. Start with basic needs, then try one calming tool at a time, such as burping, holding, rocking, walking, dim lights, white noise, a pacifier, or a safe swaddle if baby is not rolling yet. Also, call your baby’s doctor if you are worried or if anything seems unusual.

Is colic my fault?

No. Colic is not a sign of bad parenting. Keep in mind that you should not judge self by how much their baby cries and realize that colic is not the result of poor parenting.

Final Thoughts: You Need Calm Steps, Not Perfect Parenting

Learning how to deal with a baby with colic is not about being a perfect parent. It is about having a calm plan.

First, understand what colic may look like. Next, check baby’s basic needs. Then, try safe soothing tools one at a time. Also, know when to call the doctor. Most importantly, protect your own calm and never shake a baby.

Hang in there, know that you are not alone in experience the challenges of dealing with a baby with colic.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult your pediatrician or a qualified healthcare professional with any questions or concerns about your baby's health.