How long does colic last in babies?

Colic symptoms usually begin within the first few weeks of life, generally improve around four months of age, and typically fully resolve by six months.

When should I see a GP for my baby's colic?

You should contact your GP if you are worried about your baby's crying, if they are not thriving or gaining weight as expected, or if symptoms persist beyond four months of age.

Are your London clinics open on Saturdays for paediatric sessions?

Yes, our Stratford and Canada Water clinics are open on Saturdays from 09:00 to 17:00. We are closed on Sundays.

Colic in babies

Written by: James Gill BOst GOsC 6039. Registered Osteopath, Founder & Clinic Director

Medically Reviewed: Lauren Egginton MChiro GCC 06282, Registered Chiropractor. Specialist in Pregnancy, Paediatric Chiropractic & Functional Rehabilitation | London.

What is colic in babies?

Infantile colic is a common, self-resolving paediatric condition that usually affects the first few months of a baby’s life. It affects 20% of infants worldwide (NICE, 2022) and is reported equally across both sexes, and amongst both breastfed and bottle-fed newborns.

It consists of repeated episodes of excessive irritability, fussiness and inconsolable crying in babies who are otherwise healthy and thriving. Even though it is not indicative of disease, infantile colic may cause significant carers distress and anxiety. One in six families with a baby refer to a health professional about symptoms associated with colic (NICE, 2022).

Proven evidence for the efficacy of treating a particular condition must be provided, prior to being able to claim successful treatment of conditions or symptoms. General health advice can be given, however this advice must not make implied and unsubstantiated treatment claims for particular conditions.

Colic symptoms usually begin around the first weeks of the baby’s life, improve around four months of age and fully resolve by six months of age.
The signs of infantile colic in babies include:

Inconsolable crying occurs for longer than 3 consecutive hours
Crying and irritability does not follow a specific time pattern, but tends to worsen in the late afternoon and evening
Babies with colic typically continue to be distressed and cry, despite using comforting methods such as holding, cuddling and feeding
Flailing movements of the body, such as:
- Arching the back
- Drawing legs towards the abdomen
- Clenching fists
No signs of illness or issues with growth

What are the causes of colic in babies?

The exact cause of infantile colic is unknown.
Overall, psychological, behavioural and biological elements seem to play a role in the onset of infantile colic. Proposed theories include:

Food hypersensitivity and allergy – such as cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) and intolerance, or reactions to a specific type of formula
Early stages of neurodevelopment and central nervous system dysregulation (NICE, 2022)
Abnormal gastric movements or intestinal microflora immaturity due to age and poor feeding techniques (Gordon et al, 2018).

Only in a small percentage of babies, colic may represent a sign of other underlying conditions that might need specific medical intervention.

Colic’s symptoms usually start around the first few weeks of a newborn’s life, improve around four months of age and fully resolve by six months of age.

If your baby is experiencing stagnant growth, bloody stool, vomiting, persistence of colic beyond five months of age, and/or additional signs of illness, further investigations are recommended to rule out possible underlying conditions.

It is important to remember that infantile colic is a common, self-improving condition, which usually self-resolves without intervention by six months of age. The aetiology of infantile colic remains disputed in the medical community, and therefore a consensus on the treatment approach remains debated.

However, dealing with a distressed baby can be difficult and some strategies can help to soothe colicky infants. These include:

Alternatively, if you wish to seek advice from a professional, our experienced clinicians at Bodytonic Clinic can guide you through at-home techniques to soothe your little one, as well as provide specialised, gentle chiropractic care to reduce underlying musculoskeletal tension that may be contributing to your baby’s ongoing colic (Holm et al., 2021)

If a food allergy is suspected and the baby is breastfed, changes in the maternal diet can also be beneficial to reduce the symptoms of colic.

If breastfeeding problems are suspected, it is important to ask the health visitor or the lactation consultant for support and advice about the best infant positioning and attachment to the breast. A good feeding positioning will prevent the baby from swallowing air and contributing to colic.

What do you do when colic gets stressful?

When your little one is experiencing colic, it can be a tough time for you – the parent or caregiver. It is an important period of time to take care of yourself, as well as your baby.

Here are a few tips that are suggested by clinicians at Bodytonic Clinic and nationally:

If possible, ask family and friends for support.
Meet other parents/carers with babies of the same age to share experiences
Join local support groups to access support.
Rest and recuperate when the baby is asleep.
Put the baby down in a safe place, such as their cot. If you feel unable to cope with the crying for a few minutes, to allow ‘time out’ for yourself

Can anti-colic bottles help babies with colic?

Anti-colic bottles aim to improve the general patterns of bottle feeding.
In particular, they may help control the milk flow and reduce the amount of air swallowed by the baby when feeding.

Even though there are no side effects associated with using anti-colic bottles, there is also no evidence confirming they are useful in treating infantile colic.

Always check with your GP or Paediatrician what the more appropriate and indicated approach is to help your colicky baby.

Can probiotics help babies with colic?

Probiotics are live microorganisms that provide several health benefits by improving and restoring intestinal microflora. The most common probiotics used are Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus.

Growing research has shown that the intestinal flora of colicky babies seems to differ from that of healthy infants, and it is hypothesised that probiotics may help to restore balance and create a more favourable intestinal microbiota environment.

Even though there is no clear evidence showing that probiotics are more effective than placebo, daily crying time appeared to reduce with probiotic use compared to placebo (Ong et al, 2019).

Moreover, probiotics’ low cost and easy accessibility make them a possible and valid option to help colicky infants.

Always check with your GP or Paediatrician what the most appropriate approach to help your colicky baby is.

Can anti-colic drops help babies with colic?

It is largely believed that anti-colic drops can help babies with colic. However, there is no scientific evidence confirming their efficacy. Even if it seems to be safe to give anti-colic drops to colicky infants, they may present some rare side effects.

Different brands contain different ingredients, but some anti-colic drops may contain substances, such as alcohol, sugar, sodium bicarbonate, simethicone and/ or lactase that can affect your baby’s health.

Always check with your GP or Paediatrician what the most appropriate approach to help your colicky baby is.

Does a baby with colic need to be seen by the GP?

They are worried about the baby crying and the cry does not sound normal. Parents and carers are the ones who know their babies best. It is fundamental for them to follow their instinct if they believe there is something wrong with their baby and there are also symptoms supporting that
Underlying conditions are suspected
They are struggling to cope with the baby’s symptoms. Several helplines are also available to help parents and carers cope with excessive crying babies
The baby is not thriving and growing as expected, or is losing weight
The baby’s symptoms do not improve, or if they worsen after 4 months of age

Even though infant colic is a self-resolving, paediatric condition, which most of the time occurs in healthy babies,promptly seeking medical advice is recommended in some situations.

Parents and carers should contact the NHS GP if:

Trust your intuition: You know your baby best. If their cry sounds “off” or different than usual, or if your gut tells you something isn’t right.
Physical symptoms: You suspect an underlying medical issue or notice symptoms beyond typical crying.
Coping concerns: You are finding it difficult to cope with the crying. (Remember, there are excellent helplines like Cry-sis available to support you).
Growth & weight: Your baby isn’t gaining weight as expected or seems to be losing weight.
Persistent crying: Symptoms show no improvement-or start getting worse-after your baby reaches 4-5 months of age.
Urgent red flags: You notice any blood in their stool or if they are frequently vomiting.

References:

Gordon M., Biagioli E., Sorrenti M., Lingua C., Moja L., Banks S.S., Ceratto S., Savino F. ( 2018). Dietary modifications for infantile colic. Cochrane Database Systematic Review, 10(10).
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), (2022). Colic – Infantile, https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/colic-infantile/ [last accessed: 23/08/2022].
Ong T.G., Gordon M., Banks S.S.C., Thomas M.R., Akobeng A.K., (2019). Probiotics to prevent infantile colic. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (3).