Soothing methods and products for unexplained crying in an otherwise healthy infant range from swaddling, white noise, and pacifiers to simethicone gas drops, probiotic drops with Lactobacillus reuteri, and gripe water under pediatric guidance. Non-drug techniques should come first, gas drops are considered safe for newborns, and herbal or probiotic options carry varying evidence and ingredient considerations that deserve a quick call to the pediatrician.
Below you’ll find how to recognize true colic using the rule of threes, which home and over-the-counter options are reasonable to try, and the red flags that mean a same-day call to the pediatrician.
Understanding Newborn Colic and Why It Happens
Crying that stretches three hours a day, three days a week, for three weeks or longer defines the Wessel criteria, often shortened to the rule of threes. About one in five infants meets that threshold, and symptoms usually peak near six weeks of age before fading by three to four months. The behavior looks alarming but is not a sign of poor parenting, and most colicky babies feed, grow, and develop normally between episodes.
The exact cause remains unclear, though researchers point to a handful of contributing factors. An immature digestive system can struggle to process milk efficiently, an imbalance in gut bacteria can produce excess gas, and overstimulation from light, noise, or handling can overwhelm a newborn’s still-developing nervous system. Some infants also experience transient lactose overload during growth spurts, when large milk volumes briefly exceed the gut’s capacity to break down milk sugars.
Common Contributing Factors
- Immature digestion: the gut’s enzyme activity and coordination are still maturing in the first weeks of life.
- Microbiome imbalance: lower levels of beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus can affect gas production.
- Overstimulation: bright lights, household noise, and long wake windows push some infants past their tolerance.
- Swallowed air: poor latch or fast flow during feeding introduces air pockets that cause discomfort.
Because the crying peaks predictably in the late afternoon and evening, the pattern is sometimes called the “purple crying period,” a phrase coined to remind families that the color refers to frustration levels, not a medical diagnosis. Knowing the pattern helps separate normal colic from something that needs medical attention.
Distinguishing colic from illness clears the way for practical comfort measures parents can try before any product or prescription.
Non-Medication Soothing Techniques to Try First
Before reaching for any product, most pediatric guidance starts with hands-on soothing because it carries no ingredient risk and addresses the sensory overload that often fuels the fuss. The 5 S’s method developed by Dr. Harvey Karp, a pediatrician and author known for infant calming work, combines swaddling, side or stomach holding, shushing, swinging, and sucking. Parents who use even two or three of these together often see crying shorten within minutes.
Movement and Sound Cues
Holding your baby upright against your chest and walking has been shown in small studies to reduce both heart rate and crying duration, likely because the motion and warmth echo prenatal sensations. A steady “shush” near the ear, a fan, or a white-noise machine set around 50–65 decibels can mask household sounds that would otherwise wake or agitate a newborn.
Sucking, Swaddling, and Skin-to-Skin
A pacifier gives a non-nutritive sucking outlet that settles fussing for many babies, and it can be offered even to breastfed infants once feeding is established. Swaddling with a light blanket keeps the startle reflex from waking a drowsy infant, while skin-to-skin contact on a parent’s bare chest regulates temperature, heart rate, and stress hormones.
When soothing techniques alone fall short, a short list of well-studied pharmacy options can offer the next layer of relief.
Burp your baby mid-feed and again afterward, because trapped air is one of the easiest sources of infant digestive discomfort to remove before it builds.
Over-the-Counter Options Worth Knowing About
A few products appear on most American nursery lists, and understanding what each one actually does helps you avoid stacking remedies that duplicate the same effect.
| Product | How It Works | Key Caution |
|---|---|---|
| Simethicone gas drops (Mylicon, Little Remedies) | Breaks gas bubbles into smaller ones that pass more easily | Generally considered safe for newborns; confirm with pediatrician |
| Probiotic drops (Lactobacillus reuteri, e.g., Gerber Soothe) | Adds beneficial gut bacteria; modest reduction in crying shown in some breastfed infants | Evidence is strongest for breastfed babies; ask pediatrician first |
| Gripe water (Mommy Bliss, Colic Calm, Woodward’s) | Herbal blend aimed at soothing the gut | Ingredients vary by brand; some contain alcohol, sugar, or herbal extracts not recommended under six months |
| Infant pain relievers | Reduce confirmed fever or pain | Never use as a general colic remedy; only for diagnosed pain or fever under pediatric guidance |
Guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that over-the-counter colic medicines are not recommended for babies under six months without pediatric advice, which is why a quick call before starting anything new is worth the time. Simethicone has a long safety record because it is not absorbed into the bloodstream, while probiotic drops containing Lactobacillus reuteri have produced modest reductions in daily crying time in breastfed infants in a handful of randomized trials.
Families wary of commercial drops often turn next to kitchen-cupboard and herbal preparations passed down through generations.
Natural and Home Remedies Parents Commonly Try
Herbal and home approaches sit in a gray zone: some are gentle enough to try, others carry real risks for a newborn.
Safe Touch-Based Methods
Warm baths relax the abdominal muscles and shift attention away from internal discomfort. Gentle tummy massage in a clockwise direction follows the path of the colon and can help release trapped gas. Bicycle leg movements, where you slowly cycle your baby’s legs toward the chest, encourage natural gas passage and bowel motility, and short supervised tummy time sessions support the same goal while building neck strength.
Diet and Feeding Tweaks
If you breastfeed, reducing dairy, caffeine, or strong-gas vegetables such as broccoli and onions may help in cases of suspected sensitivity, though evidence is mostly anecdotal. Cluster feeding in the late evening sometimes shortens evening crying peaks because frequent small feeds keep the gut from becoming overloaded. Formula-fed infants may benefit from reviewing bottle flow and nipple size with a lactation consultant, since a fast flow can deliver swallowed air along with milk.
Skip herbal teas like fennel, chamomile, or peppermint for newborns, since contamination risk and unpredictable dosing make them unsuitable for infants under six months.
Red Flags That Mean a Pediatrician Visit
Colic by definition is crying without an underlying medical cause, which is why certain accompanying symptoms change the picture entirely.
- Fever or refusal to feed: persistent crying with a temperature at or above 100.4°F (38°C) in a newborn needs same-day evaluation.
- Vomiting that is forceful or green: projectile vomiting or bilious (green) vomit can signal obstruction or reflux complications.
- Blood in stool or a swollen abdomen: these may indicate allergy, intussusception, or another surgical concern rather than colic.
- Poor weight gain: failure to return to birth weight within two weeks or a drop on the growth curve suggests the fussing is tied to a feeding problem.
- Change in cry pitch or lethargy: a high-pitched, inconsolable cry, unusual sleepiness, or a bulging soft spot on the skull warrants immediate assessment.
Two non-medical signs also deserve attention. Parents struggling with exhaustion, frustration, or intrusive thoughts about harming the baby should reach out for help without delay, since postpartum depression and caregiver burnout are common during prolonged colic and respond well to early support. Shaking causes serious brain injury in infants, and seeking help protects both you and your baby.
Building a Calmer Daily Routine That Helps
Because colic peaks and fades on its own timeline, the goal of a daily routine is to reduce the intensity of each episode rather than to chase a cure. A simple log of crying windows, feeds, diapers, and sleep turns guesswork into a pattern you can share accurately with your pediatrician.
Layer in These Habits
- Track patterns: note start times, duration, and what seemed to help, because triggers become visible within a week.
- Alternate caregiving: split nights so neither parent drops below the sleep threshold where frustration spikes.
- Wind down early evenings: dim lights and lower noise an hour before the typical colic peak reduces overstimulation.
- Review feeding mechanics: a shallow latch or fast bottle flow can add swallowed air that worsens gas and fussiness.
- Reassess every two weeks: if crying is not improving or is worsening, return to the pediatrician before layering another remedy.
Putting It Together
After weeks of nightly fussing, the most useful frame is this: colic is temporary, your baby is not in danger, and the safest path runs from soothing techniques to pediatrician guidance to targeted products in that order.
FAQ
How long does colic last in a newborn?
Most colicky infants begin improving around three to four months of age, with the worst symptoms usually peaking near six weeks. If crying is still intense past four months or keeps getting worse, schedule a pediatric visit to rule out reflux, allergy, or another cause.
Are gas drops safe for a newborn with colic?
Simethicone gas drops such as Mylicon and Little Remedies are generally considered safe for newborns because the ingredient is not absorbed into the bloodstream. Confirm use with your pediatrician, especially if your baby is premature or on other medications.
When should I call the doctor about baby colic?
Call the same day for fever, refusal to feed, projectile or green vomiting, blood in stool, a swollen abdomen, or a high-pitched cry that sounds different from the usual fussing. These signs point beyond ordinary colic and need prompt evaluation.
Can breastfeeding cause colic?
Breastfeeding itself does not cause colic, but a forceful letdown, lactose overload during growth spurts, or sensitivity to cow’s milk protein passing through breast milk can worsen fussing. A lactation consultant can help assess latch, flow, and feeding patterns.
Do probiotics help with infant colic?
Probiotic drops containing Lactobacillus reuteri have shown a modest reduction in daily crying time in some studies of breastfed colicky infants. Evidence is less consistent for formula-fed babies, so ask your pediatrician before starting.
What is the difference between colic and reflux?
Colic is unexplained crying in an otherwise healthy, growing infant, while reflux involves stomach contents flowing back into the esophagus and often includes spitting up, arching during feeds, and discomfort when lying flat. Reflux can mimic colic but usually improves with feeding changes and pediatric guidance.
