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Crying and Colic: Soothing Your Baby

Why babies cry and gentle ways to calm them, plus when to see a doctor.

Before you use this guide: This is general educational information, not an individual medical assessment. We do not identify a clinician reviewer on this page, so please confirm personal health decisions with your doctor, midwife or paediatrician.

All babies cry, usually between one and three hours a day in the first few months. Crying is how they tell us they are hungry, tired, uncomfortable or need company. But some babies cry much more, often in the late afternoon and evening, and seem hard to soothe. This is often called colic. It is exhausting, but it is common and it does pass.

What is colic?

Colic usually means a healthy baby who cries for long periods with no obvious cause. A common guide is the "rule of three": crying for more than three hours a day, on more than three days a week, for more than three weeks. It tends to start at around 2 to 3 weeks of age, peaks at about 6 weeks and usually settles by 3 to 4 months. The cause is not fully understood. It is not caused by something you did, and it is not a sign of poor parenting.

Typical signs

• Intense, high-pitched crying that is hard to console, often at the same time each day
• A flushed face, clenched fists, arched back, or pulling up of the knees
• A tense tummy, and passing wind
• Crying despite being fed, changed and held
• Otherwise feeding well, wetting nappies and gaining weight

First, check the basics

• Is your baby hungry? Offer a feed. Frequent feeding is normal in the early weeks. See our guide to cluster feeding.
• Do they need a burp? Try winding during and after feeds.
• Is the nappy wet or dirty?
• Are they too hot or too cold? Feel their chest or back of the neck.
• Are they tired? Newborns need a lot of sleep and can become overtired. See our newborn sleep basics.
• Do they want to be held? Closeness is not spoiling.

Things that may help

• Hold your baby close, skin to skin or in a sling or carrier, and walk or sway gently
• Gentle motion: rocking, a walk with the pram, a car ride (with a safe seat, secured, and the driver alert)
• White noise or a hum, such as a fan or a recording, or soft singing
• A warm bath, or a gentle tummy massage in clockwise circles, or bicycling the legs
• Holding your baby upright for a little while after feeds
• Swaddling, done safely, for young babies who have not started to roll. See our guide to swaddling safely.
• For bottle-fed babies, try paced feeding and a slower-flow teat, which may reduce swallowed air.
• A dummy (pacifier), if you use one, can soothe some babies

What works for one baby may not for another. Try one thing at a time and give it a few minutes before moving on.

Remedies: what the evidence says

• Gripe water, simethicone drops and herbal remedies have little proven benefit. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using them.
• Changing formula, or cutting foods from a breastfeeding mother's diet, does not help most babies, so only do this on a doctor's advice. A small number of colicky babies have a cow's milk allergy, which usually comes with other signs like eczema, vomiting, blood in the stool or poor weight gain.
• Some research suggests the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri may help breastfed babies. Ask your doctor before trying it.
• Never give babies adult medicines, or any medicine, without advice.

When crying may be a sign of illness

Call your doctor or health service the same day, or go to emergency care, if your baby has any of these:

• A temperature of 38 °C (100.4 °F) or higher in a baby under 3 months. This is an emergency.
• Poor feeding, fewer wet nappies or signs of dehydration
• Green (bile-coloured) or bloody vomit, or blood in the stool
• A swollen or hard belly, or repeated forceful vomiting
• Difficulty breathing, a blue or grey colour, or grunting
• Floppiness, unusual sleepiness, or being hard to wake
• A high-pitched or weak cry that is unlike their usual cry, or a bulging soft spot on the head
• A rash that does not fade when you press a glass on it
• Crying that suddenly changes, or you just feel something is wrong

See our baby fever and illness guide. You know your baby best, so trust your instincts.

When you are at breaking point

A crying baby can push any parent to the edge. Feeling angry, helpless or desperate is common and does not make you a bad parent. But you must never shake a baby. Shaking can cause serious brain injury or death.

• If you feel you are losing control, put your baby down safely on their back in the cot, and leave the room for a few minutes. It is fine to let them cry while you breathe, drink some water or call someone.
• Ask a partner, friend or relative to take over, even for half an hour.
• Contact your doctor, health visitor or midwife. They can check your baby and support you.
• Parents are not alone. Programmes such as "Period of PURPLE Crying" in the US and "ICON: Babies Cry, You Can Cope" in the UK offer helpful guidance on coping with infant crying.
• If you feel very low, anxious or unable to cope, tell your doctor. See our guide to baby blues and postnatal depression.

Looking after yourself

• Share the load, and take turns for breaks, including sleep
• Accept offers of help with meals and chores
• Get outdoors for fresh air each day
• Remember that colic is temporary. It usually fades by 3 to 4 months.

Where to check current advice

Guidance differs a little between countries, so check the latest advice from your own health service: the NHS in the UK, the HSE in Ireland, the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics in the US, the Canadian Paediatric Society in Canada, or the Raising Children Network in Australia.

This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.