I think my baby has colic. What can I do?
If your otherwise healthy baby is younger than 5 months old and cries for more than three hours in a row on three or more days a week for at least three weeks (yes, that's a lot of crying!), then he probably is colicky. For more about why babies get colic, read our article Colic: The Basics.
To find out what you can do to help your baby while keeping your sanity, read on.
22 strategies for soothing a colicky baby
It may take some trial and error, because what helps one colicky baby might not do anything for another. But there are things you can try to help soothe your baby. Some will work best if tummy trouble is the issue, while others will be more helpful if your baby needs reassurance.
Check the bottle.
If your baby's bottle-fed, it's important to find a bottle that won't contribute to his gulping. The more air he swallows with his feeding, the more likely tummy trouble will be.
The nipple should have a hole that's not too small, which could frustrate him and make him gulp for more food, or too large, which would cause the liquid to come at him too quickly.
Some bottles are specially designed to reduce air intake. Some are curved, while others have internal vents or liners, which prevent air bubbles from forming in the liquid and keep the nipple from collapsing.
Keep feedings upright.
You might try holding your baby more upright during feedings to help the formula or breast milk travel more smoothly to his tummy. If he's curled up or hunched over, he's more likely to trap some air in there with his food.
Eliminate frantic feedings.
Feed your baby before he's starving — if he's crying from hunger, he's more likely to gulp air along with his meal. Try to feed him in a calm environment: Turn down the lights, put on some soft music, and ask siblings to play quietly (you can always hope).
Burp him often.
Frequent burping will help get air bubbles out of your baby's tummy. Don't wait until he's finished a full-course feeding to burp him. Prop your infant up for a burping when you change sides during nursing or every few minutes when bottle-feeding.
Adjust your diet if you're breastfeeding.
If you think that your baby may be sensitive to something in your breast milk, try eliminating dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt) for a couple of weeks, which is how long it takes for the cow's milk protein to work its way out of your milk.
If that doesn't do the trick, you might take a look at spicy foods, wheat products, nuts, strawberries, cruciferous vegetables (such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower), garlic, caffeine, and alcohol. Stop eating likely offenders for a few days, then introduce them one at a time, waiting to see if your baby reacts to one item before introducing the next. The process may take a while, but if it saves your baby any crying time at all, it's worth it.
Ask about a formula change.
Formula doesn't often cause colic, but if your baby is colicky, a change may be worth a try. Ask your baby's doctor about switching to a formula that doesn't contain cow's milk protein.
Brew a natural remedy.
Parents have long treated colicky babies with natural remedies like weak herbal teas (especially fennel, dill, anise, peppermint, and chamomile). You'll want to be careful with dosages, so consult a reliable herbalist and always talk to your baby's doctor. Some breastfeeding moms report that if they drink the herbal tea themselves, their babies benefit noticeably.
Try an over-the-counter solution.
Many parents have great luck giving their colicky babies gripe water (a preparation made from herbs and sodium bicarbonate). Or you might want to try over-the-counter anti-gas drops if you think gas is what's bothering your baby. Make sure you're buying drops created specifically for babies, and — as with any medication — get your doctor's okay before using either of these.
Massage your baby.
A gentle belly rub might help dispel gas or at least help your baby's tummy — and psyche — feel better. You might also try placing your baby across your knees, tummy down, and rubbing his back. This sometimes helps release excess pressure.
Use a (warm) hot water bottle.
Some babies appreciate the feeling of warm water against their belly. Fill a hot water bottle with lukewarm water and wrap it in a towel. Place it on your belly and let your baby lie on top of you. Be very careful not to make the water too hot, though — what feels warm to your tummy may be too hot for your new baby's skin.
Get noisy.
Babies like sounds that remind them of the rhythmic heartbeat and whooshing noises they heard in the womb. Your baby might be comforted to sit in his infant seat near the clothes dryer as it's running or in a front pack while you vacuum. Or he might calm down when the exhaust fan is on in the kitchen.
Make music.
Sing to your baby or try a CD of lullabies or other gentle tunes. You can even find CDs of soothing womb sounds. On the other hand, some parents report that their colicky babies prefer loud rock!
Move it.
Babies are comforted by gentle motion of all kinds, so invest in a rocker, baby swing, or simple bouncer. Your baby might also find it soothing to be walked around the house in a front pack or sling. Keep in mind that he may prefer being held higher in the pack, close to your chest and your heartbeat. Try gently bouncing up and down in this position while hugging your baby close.
Do the baby bicycle.
Put your baby on his back hold his feet and gently move his legs in a bicycling motion several times a day.(Diaper changes are a good time to try it.) For some babies this relieves gas and other tummy discomforts.
Get behind the wheel. Many parents find that a ride in the car — with its movement, noise, and vibration — is the best remedy for colic. Buckle your baby into his car seat and go for a drive to get a change of scenery for you and (possibly) relief for your baby.
Try a different atmosphere.
If you've been indoors, it may help to take your baby out for a walk, either in the stroller, a sling, or a front pack. The new sights, sounds, and smells may distract him, and the fresh air and rhythmic movement of walking may calm him and allow him to fall asleep. On the other hand, if you've been out and about with your baby all morning, some quiet time at home might be just what he needs.
Hush!
While some babies are comforted by motion, noise, and activity, others need less stimulation and respond better to quiet, stillness, and darkness.
Swaddle.
Think about how snug your baby was before his birth, and you'll have a good idea how wide the world seems to him right now. Swaddling — an ancient method of wrapping your infant in a blanket or cloth — can help a baby feel less out of control. You can try swaddling your baby during feedings if he has trouble focusing on his meal, or wrap him up before his usual colicky period or before you put him down to sleep.
Not only might swaddling help your colicky baby get to sleep, there's a good chance it will help him stay asleep, too. Researchers have found that babies who are swaddled sleep more soundly than those who aren't. That's because when a baby twitches during sleep, his own movements can wake him up. Swaddling keeps that little twitch from becoming a full-fledged flail he's unlikely to sleep through.
The swaddling technique is easy to master. Once you find that your baby loves to be swaddled, you may even want to invest in a special swaddling bunting.
Scent the environment.
Some babies respond well to scent. Aromatherapists develop specific essential oil formulas for a variety of problems and conditions, from headaches and fatigue to anxiety and fear.
You might try one developed for calming and soothing nervousness. (Some are made specifically to help calm babies.) A spritz of chamomile in the bedroom or a lavender-scented bath might also do the trick (if not for your baby, then for you).
Bathe your baby.
A warm bath in the middle of your baby's colic time might distract and relax him enough to help. Some babies also love to be held in the shower, with the spray on their back. Your baby may enjoy the rhythmic beating of the warm water as well as the sound.
Offer a pacifier.
Anything that helps your baby calm down is priceless right now. For some babies, sucking is the ultimate soother. So you might want to try offering a pacifier, even if you ordinarily wouldn't. Or encourage your baby to suck on his finger by gently putting it in his mouth.
Stick to a routine. You'll want to feed your baby whenever he's hungry, but otherwise he might find some comfort in a set routine — baths, walks, naps at certain dependable times. Your baby isn't watching the clock, of course, but he does carry a sense of the rhythm of his days.
How to keep your sanity
An inconsolable baby is a tough trial for a new parent. It's enough to make you cry. Go ahead. Also keep in mind:
It's not personal.
When your baby spurns your attempts to console him or seems angry with you, remind yourself that he's too young to comprehend the concept of blame. And while there are things that you can do to try to console him, his having colic has nothing to do with your parenting skills.
You can't do it alone.
Share baby care with your partner. Have a friend or relative take over for you once in a while so you can take a peaceful walk or a refreshing shower.
If you find yourself becoming angry or frustrated with your baby, take a deep breath and gently lay him in his crib. Then call a friend or a relative to come and stay with your baby while you calm down.
If there's nobody you can call to come and support you in person, contact a local crisis hotline or a child abuse hotline. The people who staff these phones will know how to help you.
You're helping your baby, even if he's still crying.
You may not be able to keep your baby from crying. In fact, it's possible that crying is exactly what he needs to do, and you can best help him by respecting and accepting that. Continue to hold him, rock him, whisper to him — and let him cry, all the while assured of your love.
Parents' voices
My son was a colicky baby. At 6 weeks old, he cried from 6 to 11 every night, and it was very disheartening. We took turns carrying and dancing him around to try to distract him, but nothing helped. Then somebody told me about a type of bottle that minimizes colic in babies. Sure thing, it really worked! As soon as we switched to these bottles, he stopped his evening wailing.
— Joyce Tan
My baby was very colicky. One night she wailed for five hours straight. As a last resort, I turned on the vacuum. The humming soothed her into immediate silence. (I recommend that you tape the sound rather than burn out the motor on the vacuum!)
— Mariana Helmold
My son got colicky at about 8 weeks. I found gripe water at a natural pharmacy. It's all natural and helps with all sorts of colic symptoms. It definitely makes a big difference in my son. He doesn't cry nearly as much, and gas is easier for him to pass.
— Erin
We thought our daughter was colicky for the first five weeks of life, until we read about how babies get really cranky if they're exhausted. After we started putting her to sleep as soon as she yawned the first time at any time of the day, she cried a lot less and had fewer problems with gas. This has been working really well.
— Anonymous
Our son wanted to be held and bounced! We bought a huge rubber ball — like the physical therapy ones, only much less expensive — that we would bounce on while sitting and holding him. I even figured out how to nurse him on the ball! It was much easier on my back than holding him and bouncing while I stood. I could also lean back into the ball with Jake on my chest and still give him the movement he desired while resting my back completely! I became a balloholic! When I was away from home, bouncing on the edge of the bed made a decent (but not great) substitute for the ball.
— Cathy Benge
My daughter is 7 weeks old and has had colic since week 3. It was a new experience for me, because my first two babies never had it. I've found that a warm bath in the middle of the crying stops her instantly. She will resume after the bath, but it gives me a break.
— Theresa
What seems to help is swaddling. I found it extremely difficult to breastfeed my baby during his colic hours, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. I made some extra-large swaddling cloths from flannel and swaddled my baby tightly. or us, it helped a lot.
— Anonymous
Two of my three girls were very colicky. I made a simple bag out of felt and filled it with rice. I would heat it in the microwave for about 30 seconds and place it on the baby's tummy or swaddle it in the blanket with her, and she would settle right down. (Be very careful not to let the rice get too hot!)
— Elizabeth
My solution was to really watch what I ate. Once I eliminated high-fiber foods, all spices, and most vegetables (especially green vegetables), you'd be amazed at how much happier my baby became.
— Nancy Woodward
My colicky baby always calms down when I carry her up and down the stairs. Sometimes she even falls asleep. (Of course, this is very tiring for me!)
— Ressa
I've discovered that my colicky little one loves a warm baby bath with the shower massage sprayed all over him. You'd think it would be too powerful, but it's not, and it seems to do the trick. He sleeps for six hours now. Big relief! (Shower sprays differ, so of course you'll want to make sure the setting is gentle enough for your baby.)
— Jessica
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