Baby Care

Colic Baby: How to Tell, What Helps and When to See a Doctor

by BMB Editorial Team

20 OCT 2026

A mum gently rocks her colic baby, swaddled in a lavender wrap, by the window of a softly lit Singapore living room

A colic baby cries for long spells, often in the late afternoon or evening, even though they are fed, clean and otherwise healthy. Doctors often use the “rule of threes”: crying for more than 3 hours a day, on more than 3 days a week (NHS). Up to 1 in 4 babies have colic, even when parents are doing a wonderful job, and it usually eases by 3 to 4 months (HealthHub). Holding, rocking, white noise and good winding can help. Some signs, such as a fever in a baby under 3 months, need a doctor straight away.

What is colic, and what is the rule of threes?

In 1954, Wessel and colleagues described colic as crying for more than 3 hours a day, on more than 3 days a week, for at least 3 weeks, in a baby who is otherwise well fed and healthy (Vandenplas and colleagues, 2025). Singapore’s HealthHub uses the same definition, while the NHS uses a shorter window of at least 1 week. Newer criteria from 2016, called Rome IV, drop the 3-hour cut-off and focus on long, hard-to-soothe crying in a baby under 5 months.

During a bout, babies often clench their fists, go red in the face, pull their knees up or arch their back (NHS). Nobody knows exactly what causes colic.

Is it colic, or is my baby hungry, refluxing, allergic or unwell?

Colic is what is left once other causes are ruled out, such as hunger, a dirty nappy, wind, reflux or constipation (NHS).

  • Hunger is the most common reason babies cry (NHS). A hungry baby settles after a feed; colic crying carries on.
  • Reflux means bringing up milk during or after feeds, coughing or hiccupping while feeding, or being unsettled at feeds (NHS).
  • Cow’s milk protein allergy affects about 1 in 50 babies (Cambridge University Hospitals). It usually brings other signs, such as eczema, vomiting, diarrhoea, blood or mucus in the poo, or slow weight gain. Crying alone is rarely enough to suspect it (Vandenplas and colleagues, 2025).
  • Illness is more likely if the cry sounds different, or your baby has a fever or is not interested in feeding (NHS). See the red flags below.

What actually helps a colic baby?

There is no cure, but these steps from the NHS and HealthHub help many babies. Try them one at a time.

Hold and cuddle

Hold or cuddle your baby when they cry a lot, or carry them close in a sling (NHS). See our bonding guide for more.

Rock and move

Rock your baby gently over your shoulder or in their cot, or push them in the pram (NHS).

Gentle white noise

Soft background noise, such as a radio, can distract your baby (NHS).

Winding and feeding checks

Hold your baby upright during feeds so they swallow less air, and wind them afterwards (NHS). If they cry at the breast, better positioning and attachment can help (NHS).

Do probiotics help colic?

One probiotic has some evidence, but only in breastfed babies. A 2018 review pooled the raw data from four trials of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in 345 babies with colic. Breastfed babies given the drops were much more likely to cry less after 3 weeks. For formula-fed babies there was no clear benefit, and too little data to be sure (Sung and colleagues, Pediatrics, 2018).

The result applies to that one strain, and four trials is a small evidence base. The NHS does not recommend probiotic supplements for colic, and HealthHub says more research is needed. Ask your doctor before giving any supplement.

Does baby massage help colic?

It may soothe some babies, but the evidence is low quality. A Cochrane review of massage in healthy babies under 6 months found some signs of less crying, but judged the evidence poor and did not support massage for low-risk families (Bennett and colleagues, 2013). A 2025 review of seven small trials of hands-on therapies for colic, including tummy massage, found that most reported less crying, but the small, varied studies limit how sure we can be (Tedeschi and Giorgi, 2025).

So think of massage as a calm, close routine, not a cure. At BMB you can learn baby massage in Sister Kang’s Parent & Baby Bonding Class, through clear demonstrations, supervised practice and return demonstrations.

What has no good evidence for colic?

  • Anti-colic drops such as simethicone. A Cochrane review found no evidence that simethicone helps, and said herbal remedies and sugar water cannot be recommended (Biagioli and colleagues, 2016).
  • Spinal manipulation and cranial osteopathy. Trials suggested less crying, but when parents did not know which babies were treated, the benefit was no longer clear (Dobson and colleagues, 2012). The NHS warns these may hurt your baby.
  • Changing your diet or your baby’s milk. A Cochrane review rated the evidence for diet changes, special formulas and lactase drops as very low quality and could not recommend any of them (Gordon and colleagues, 2018).

How do I look after myself when the crying won’t stop?

Feeling angry or close to tears is common. If the crying gets too much, it is OK to put your baby down safely in their cot, close the door and go to another room. Set a limit, such as 10 minutes, then go back (NHS). Our newborn checklist covers a safe sleep setup.

Never shake your baby, however frustrated you feel. Shaking can cause brain damage.

Ask family to take over for a few hours so you can rest, and remember colic is temporary (HealthHub). If you are finding it hard to cope, tell your doctor. When the colic weeks pass, our baby sleep regression guide and The Sleep Training Clinic can help with sleep.

A record of when your baby cries helps your doctor look for a cause (NHS). Try the diary below.

Crying diary: does this week fit the rule of threes?

Log roughly how many minutes your baby cried each day, and tick any warning signs. A rough guide only, not a diagnosis.

1. Minutes of crying each day (leave blank if not logged)
2. How old is your baby?
3. Does your baby have any of these? Tick all that fit.

Based on the NHS and HealthHub descriptions of colic and NHS urgent-care advice. If you are worried about your baby at any time, see a doctor, whatever the diary says. Your diary entries stay on this device only.

When should I take my crying baby to a doctor?

Go to A&E now if your baby (NHS):

  • is under 3 months old with a temperature of 38°C or higher, or 3 to 6 months old with 39°C or higher
  • has a weak, high-pitched or non-stop cry, or a cry that is not their normal cry (NHS)
  • is floppy, unresponsive or hard to wake
  • is breathing very fast or grunting, or has blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue

In Singapore, call 995 for life-threatening emergencies such as breathlessness, a fit or loss of consciousness (SCDF).

See a doctor today if the vomit is green or yellow or has blood in it, there is blood in the poo, or your baby is refusing feeds, keeps being sick or has a swollen tummy (NHS).

Book a check soon if your baby is not gaining weight, still has colic after 4 months, or you are finding it hard to cope (NHS). Trust your instincts.

Frequently asked questions

When does colic start and stop?

Colic usually starts when a baby is a few weeks old, often at 2 to 3 weeks, and usually eases by 3 to 4 months (NHS, HealthHub). HealthHub says it has settled in 90% of babies by 9 months. If your baby still has colic symptoms after 4 months, see a doctor.

Does baby massage help colic?

It might, but the evidence is weak. A Cochrane review rated the evidence on infant massage as poor and did not support it for healthy, low-risk babies. A 2025 review of hands-on therapies for colic found small trials with uncertain results. Many parents still enjoy massage as a calm, close routine. At BMB you can learn baby massage in our Parent & Baby Bonding Class.

Is my baby’s colic caused by something I ate?

Usually not. The NHS says you do not need to change your diet if you are breastfeeding, and a Cochrane review found the evidence for diet changes is very low quality. If your baby also has eczema, vomiting, diarrhoea, blood or mucus in the poo or slow weight gain, ask your doctor about cow’s milk allergy before you cut foods out.

Could it be reflux instead of colic?

It could. Reflux usually means bringing up milk during or after feeds, coughing or hiccupping while feeding, or being unsettled at feeds (NHS). Hold your baby upright during and after feeds and burp them often. See a doctor if your baby is not gaining weight, and the same day if the vomit is green or yellow or has blood in it.

Should I switch formula?

Not without your doctor. A Cochrane review found the results for special formulas were inconsistent, and colic on its own usually needs no change of milk. If your doctor suspects cow’s milk allergy, they may suggest a 2 to 4 week trial of a special formula, then bringing cow’s milk back to confirm it (Vandenplas and colleagues, 2025). If you breastfeed, there is no need to stop because of colic.

How do I cope when my baby won’t stop crying?

Check that your baby is fed, changed and safe, then hand over to someone else if you can. If no one is around and you feel overwhelmed, put your baby down safely in their cot, close the door and take up to 10 minutes to calm down before you go back (NHS). Never shake your baby. Tell your doctor if you are struggling.

Sources

This article is general information, not medical advice, and cannot diagnose any condition. If you are worried about your baby, please see a doctor. Published 20/10/2026.