Colic

All babies cry, but your baby may have colic if they cry more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week for at least 1 week but are otherwise healthy.

They may cry more often in the afternoon and evening.

It may also be colic if, while they are crying:

• it's hard to soothe or settle your baby
• they clench their fists
• they go red in the face
• they bring their knees up to their tummy or arch their back
• their tummy rumbles or they're very windy

It can start when a baby is a few weeks old. It usually stops by the time they're 3 to 4 months old.

Your baby does not usually need to see a doctor if they have colic.

Remedies for colic, such as anti-colic drops, herbal or probiotic supplements, are available from pharmacies and some shops, but they're not recommended and there's no evidence they help colic.

Speak to your health visitor for advice and support. There are things they'll usually advise to help soothe your baby.

• hold or cuddle your baby when they're crying a lot

• sit or hold your baby upright during feeding to stop them swallowing air

• wind your baby after feeds

• gently rock your baby over your shoulder

• gently rock your baby in their Moses basket or crib, or push them in their pram

• bath your baby in a warm bath

• have some gentle white noise like the radio or TV in the background to distract them

• keep feeding your baby as usual – you do not need to make any changes to your diet if you're breastfeeding

• do not try putting gentle pressure to your baby's spine (spinal manipulation) or skull (cranial osteopathy) – there is little evidence this works, and it may hurt your baby

• you're worried about your baby's crying
• your baby has colic and nothing seems to be working
• you're finding it hard to cope
• your baby is not growing or putting on weight as expected
• your baby still has symptoms of colic after 4 months of age

A GP will check for possible causes of your baby's crying.

It's not known exactly what causes some babies to get colic. But it may be because babies find it harder to digest food when they're young.

Or they may be crying because they have problems with food allergies, such as a cows' milk allergy.

A baby may have colic if they cry a lot for no obvious reason. Other signs include clenched fists, a red face, and arching their back while crying.

Things you can do help with colic include gently rocking your baby on your shoulder, winding them after feeds and giving them warm baths.

The cause of colic is not always clear. It may be because babies find it difficult to digest food when they’re young, or they may have a food allergy.