Your baby will not stop crying. You’ve fed them, changed them, rocked them. They’re inconsolable. Someone has said the word “colic” and you desperately need to know what that actually means.
Here’s the honest answer.
What Is Colic?
Colic is not a diagnosis. It’s a description — a way of saying your baby cries or fusses for more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, with no identifiable medical cause. It typically peaks around 6–8 weeks and usually resolves by the 3–4 month mark, a period often called the fourth trimester.
Your pediatrician telling you your baby is “colic” is essentially telling you: nothing physically concerning is going on, and your baby doesn’t need medical intervention. It can feel like a dismissal. It isn’t — it’s actually reassuring news.
Symptoms of Colic
- Inconsolable crying or loud fussing lasting 3+ hours
- Clenching fists, arching the back, or stiffening limbs
- Refusing or fussing at the breast or bottle
- Crying that doesn’t stop even when all basic needs are met
Is Something Wrong With My Baby?
No. There are no studies linking colic to any medical condition, developmental problem, or future personality trait. Your intense, screaming newborn may grow into the most easygoing toddler you’ve ever met.
What Causes It?
Honestly? Nobody fully knows. Theories include an immature digestive system, tongue tie, brain development milestones, sensory sensitivity, or even mom’s diet. These are theories, not proven facts. Don’t exhaust yourself chasing a definitive answer.
What Actually Helps
Baby wearing. A stretchy wrap (like a Moby) recreates the womb — your heartbeat, your warmth, your movement. Studies show babies who are worn cry less and sleep longer. It’s the single most effective thing many parents find.
Constant gentle motion. Your womb was never still. A quality swing (the MamaRoo has five motion settings designed to mimic how you move) can function as an extra set of hands when you need both of yours.
Hold them. You cannot spoil a newborn. Babies are neurologically wired to need human contact — it regulates their temperature, their nervous system, and their sense of safety. Hold them as much as you can.
Pacifiers. If you’re breastfeeding and baby is using you as a comfort suck, a pacifier can give you a break while still meeting that sucking need.
Take care of yourself. This is not a throwaway suggestion. A regulated, rested parent is the single most powerful tool your baby has. Tag your partner. Put baby down in a safe space and step outside. Walk. Breathe. Come back calmer.
Put baby down if you need to. A crying baby in a safe crib is safer than a parent at the end of their rope. If you feel overwhelmed, lay baby down and take five minutes. There is no shame in this.
When to Talk to Someone
If you’re struggling with feeding, sleep, or your own mental health, please reach out — to your pediatrician, a postpartum nurse, or a lactation consultant. You don’t have to figure this out alone.