Colic: why some babies cry for hours, and how to get through it
Colic is exhausting, frightening and, in a healthy baby, temporary. Knowing the numbers helps you see the end of the tunnel.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
Colic is crying for more than 3 hours a day, on more than 3 days a week, for at least 1 week, in a baby who is otherwise healthy. It often starts a few weeks after birth, peaks in the evening and usually stops by 3 to 4 months. Holding, rocking, gentle noise and winding can help; the NHS says colic drops, herbal and probiotic remedies have no proven benefit.
Is it colic? The 3-3-1 definition
The NHS describes colic as crying in a baby who is otherwise healthy:
- more than 3 hours a day,
- on 3 days a week or more,
- for at least 1 week.
During a colic episode, a baby is hard to soothe, may clench their fists, go red in the face, bring their knees up or arch their back, and their tummy may rumble. The crying often clusters in the afternoon and evening; the AAP places the typical fussy period between 6 p.m. and midnight.
Before settling on colic, run through the everyday causes the NHS lists: hunger, a dirty diaper, wind, reflux or constipation. If you are not sure, your health visitor, pediatrician or NHS 111 can check.
How much crying is normal?
Wolke and colleagues pooled diary studies covering 8,690 babies to chart normal crying in the first 3 months:
| Baby's age | Average fussing and crying per 24 hours | Babies meeting the colic definition |
|---|---|---|
| first 6 weeks | 117 to 133 minutes | 17 to 25 percent |
| 8 to 9 weeks | falling | 11 percent |
| 10 to 12 weeks | 68 minutes | 0.6 percent |
Source: Wolke, Bilgin and Samara, Journal of Pediatrics, 2017. The authors found no universal peak exactly at 6 weeks: crying stays high for the first 6 weeks, then drops clearly after 8 to 9 weeks.
So a baby who cries 2 hours a day in the first weeks is within the average, and colic is far rarer after 9 weeks. The AAP gives a similar picture: about one baby in five develops colic, usually starting between the second and fourth week, and colicky crying generally stops by 3 to 4 months, sometimes lasting until 6 months.
Why it happens
No one knows for sure. The NHS mentions that young babies may find digestion harder, and that a cows' milk allergy can sometimes be involved. The AAP describes an immature nervous system that struggles to self-calm, and notes that food sensitivity explains fewer than 5 percent of colicky crying.
What is worth trying
Nothing works every time. These are the measures the NHS and the AAP suggest:
- Hold and cuddle your baby during long crying spells; walking with your baby in a carrier adds motion and contact.
- Feed upright and wind your baby after feeds, to limit swallowed air.
- Rock gently, over your shoulder, in the crib or in the pram.
- Gentle steady noise: a fan, white noise, the radio in the background.
- A warm bath, which calms some babies straight away.
- A pacifier, which some babies take gladly.
- Tummy-down across your knees with a gentle back rub, then back onto their back in the crib if they fall asleep.
- Swaddling in a large thin blanket during awake soothing; follow our swaddling guide and always lay a swaddled baby on their back.
The AAP also advises against overfeeding and suggests leaving at least 2 to 2 and a half hours from the start of one feed to the next.
Feeding questions to discuss with your doctor
- Breastfeeding: the NHS says there is no need to change your diet. The AAP describes trying to remove one possible trigger at a time (dairy, caffeine, onions, cabbage) for about 2 weeks, after discussing it with your pediatrician.
- Formula: the AAP suggests asking your pediatrician whether a protein hydrolysate formula is worth trying.
What has no evidence
The NHS is direct: anti-colic drops, herbal and probiotic supplements sold for colic are not recommended, and there is no evidence they help. It also advises against spinal manipulation and cranial osteopathy, which have little evidence and may hurt your baby.
When to call the doctor
| Situation | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|
| You are worried, nothing seems to work, or you are struggling to cope | call your pediatrician or health visitor, or NHS 111 | NHS |
| Your baby is not growing or gaining weight as expected | see your doctor | NHS |
| Colic symptoms after 4 months | see your doctor | NHS |
| A weak or high-pitched cry, or a cry that does not sound like your baby's usual cry | call 999 or 911, or go to the emergency department | NHS |
| Fever, refusing feeds, floppy or hard to wake, breathing difficulty | call 999 or 911 | NHS |
Looking after yourself
Colic is not your fault and does not mean you are doing anything wrong. Hand over to another adult and leave the house, even for an hour. If no one is there, the AAP says it is fine to lay your baby on their back in the crib and step out of the room for a few minutes. In the UK, the Cry-sis helpline (0800 448 0737, 9am to 10pm, 7 days a week) supports parents of crying babies.
No matter how tired or angry you feel, never shake a baby. The AAP warns that shaking can cause blindness, brain damage or death. A step-by-step plan for the hardest moments is in our page on PURPLE crying.
If you feel low or overwhelmed for more than a few days, tell your own doctor; that matters as much as your baby's care.
Questions parents ask
What is the rule of three for colic?
Crying for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for at least 1 week, in a baby who is feeding and growing well. It is the definition the NHS uses.
At what age does colic stop?
The NHS says colic usually stops by 3 to 4 months; the AAP adds that it can last until 6 months. A meta-analysis of 28 studies found colic in 17 to 25 percent of babies in the first 6 weeks, and in fewer than 1 percent by 10 to 12 weeks.
Should I change my diet if I am breastfeeding a colicky baby?
The NHS says you do not need to change your diet. The AAP says that, after talking with your pediatrician, some parents try removing one food at a time, such as dairy, for about 2 weeks. Discuss it before cutting foods out.
Do colic drops or probiotics work?
The NHS states that anti-colic drops, herbal and probiotic supplements are not recommended and that there is no evidence they help colic. It also advises against spinal manipulation and cranial osteopathy.
Sources
- NHS — Colic checked October 13, 2026
- AAP HealthyChildren — Colic Relief Tips for Parents checked October 13, 2026
- Wolke D, Bilgin A, Samara M. Fussing and Crying Durations and Prevalence of Colic in Infants, systematic review and meta-analysis. J Pediatr 2017 (PMID 28385295) checked October 13, 2026
- NHS — Soothing a crying baby checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.