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Colic in newborns
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Colic in newborns is characterized by bouts of crying and excitement in the first year of life. Although the term colic implies an intestinal origin, the etiology is unknown. Colic in newborns often begins around the 6th week of life and spontaneously resolves between the 3rd and 4th months of life.
The bouts of crying and fussing develop for no apparent reason at approximately the same time of day or night and continue for several hours. Some babies cry almost continuously. Excessive crying and screaming in newborns can lead to aerophagia, which leads to flatulence and distension of the abdomen. Babies with colic usually eat and gain weight well, although vigorous sucking outside of feeding times may resemble the hunger of a child who is undernourished. Colic is unlikely to be associated with the development of a persistent, impatient personality.
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What to do if a newborn has colic?
Anamnesis and general examination
The history should determine whether the baby's crying is abnormal (up to 3 hours per day for a 6-week-old). Colic in infants should then be differentiated from other causes of crying, including fever, urinary tract infections (UTIs), ear infections, and poor nursing care. Careful questioning may reveal that the crying is not the underlying problem but an excuse used by the parents to justify a visit to the doctor when they really want to discuss another issue, such as worry about the death of a previous child or feelings of helplessness and inability to cope with the new baby. A thorough examination will usually reveal no abnormalities, but will reassure the parents that the doctor is aware of how stressful infant colic is for the parents.
Laboratory tests
There is no need for laboratory testing unless specific abnormalities are identified during the history taking and examination.
How to treat colic in a newborn?
Parents should be reassured that their baby is healthy, that the fussiness is not due to poor care, and that colic will resolve on its own without long-term negative effects. Babies who do not cry for long periods may be soothed by being held and rocked. A baby who sucks very hard and becomes fussy soon after feeding should be fed more. If bottle feeding takes less than 15-20 minutes, nipples with smaller holes may be tried; a pacifier may also be helpful. Very active, fussy babies may, paradoxically, benefit from being swaddled tightly. Rocking, music, and household noises (vacuum cleaner, car engine, hair dryer, iron) may also have a calming effect.
A formula can be given for a few days to ensure that there is no intolerance to milk, but frequent changes of formula should be avoided. Colic in breastfed infants can be reduced by eliminating milk or other foods from the mother's diet.