Infant colic = a benign condition characterized by episodes of unexplained, intense, and prolonged crying in an otherwise healthy baby. Standard definition (Wessel’s rule of three): crying for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for at least 3 weeks, in an infant younger than 3 months. Very common: affects about one in five to one in four infants between birth and 4–5 months of age. Although it can be distressing for parents, it remains a temporary and benign condition that leaves no lasting effects. Understanding the condition and identifying soothing techniques can help parents navigate this period with confidence.

What role does feeding play?

Adjustments to discuss with the pediatrician: proper latch or a slow-flow nipple to limit air intake, breaks to burp the baby mid-feeding and at the end of the meal, more frequent but smaller feedings if the baby is a voracious eater, semi-upright position during and after feedings. For the breastfeeding mother: moderate avoidance of potential trigger foods (excessive caffeine, alcohol); avoidance of cow’s milk only as directed by a pediatrician if CMPA is suspected. Specialized infant formula as recommended by a pediatrician: comfort formulas based on partially hydrolyzed proteins, lactose-free formulas, or extensively hydrolyzed formulas (eHF) in cases of CMPA. Probiotics: Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 has shown benefits in breastfed infants. Systematic avoidance without medical indication should be avoided (to prevent deficiencies or compromised breastfeeding).

How can parents be supported?

a trying time for the family: prolonged crying, difficulty soothing the baby, accumulated fatigue, anxiety, and sometimes feelings of failure or guilt. Coping strategies: parents should take turns caring for the baby to avoid burning out alone; accept help from loved ones (family, friends) with daily tasks, rest at the same time as the baby whenever possible (short naps), go out for fresh air regularly—even briefly—entrust the baby to a trusted person for a break when tension rises, and never shake the baby (shaken baby syndrome = a major neurological emergency with extremely serious consequences), place the baby in a safe spot (crib, baby swing) and leave the room for a few minutes if exhaustion becomes unmanageable, consult a professional in case of persistent exhaustion or signs of depression, and join a support group. Important reminder: Transient colic disappears around 3–4 months of age, with no lasting effects.

What if we could handle colic calmly?

Q: How can you recognize it?

Characteristic signs: intense, high-pitched, sometimes jerky crying that is difficult to soothe. Occurs at set times, most often in the late afternoon or early evening. Legs drawn up to the stomach, back arched or tense. Clenched fists, red face. Bloated, tense abdomen, sometimes hard to the touch. Passing gas or having a bowel movement may sometimes provide relief. The baby appears tense as if in pain, despite being in good overall health. Calm between episodes; normal growth and feeding. Crying that does not respond to usual soothing methods (breastfeeding, holding, diaper changes). Maintaining good overall health between episodes is essential: the baby remains alert and energetic, feeds well at the breast or from a bottle, and gains weight steadily.

Q: What are the possible causes?

The exact cause is not fully understood. Commonly associated hypotheses: digestive immaturity (developing digestive system, irregular intestinal motility), imbalance in the emerging gut microbiota, excess intestinal gas due to swallowing air or fermentation, associated physiological gastroesophageal reflux, sensory hypersensitivity in the late afternoon (sensory overload), immaturity of the nervous system with difficulties in self-regulation, cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA)—a less common cause to consider if associated symptoms (eczema, mucous diarrhea, failure to thrive), environmental factors (parental smoking, anxiety, lack of sleep). No single cause = no universally effective treatment.

Q: What soothing measures can be taken?

Close-contact carrying in a wrap or ergonomic baby carrier. Gentle rocking, slow, rhythmic movements. A stroll in a stroller or car (the movement has a soothing effect). Tummy time on the parent’s forearm (“tiger pose”). Gentle massage of the tummy using clockwise circular motions. Pedal-like leg movements to help release gas. Gentle warmth on the tummy (a lukewarm, securely fastened hot water bottle; skin-to-skin contact). A soothing lukewarm bath. White noise (a vacuum cleaner, a hair dryer at a distance, dedicated apps). Reduce sensory stimulation (dim lighting, calm environment, remove screens and loud noises). A soothing feeding if accepted (non-nutritive sucking). Try different approaches.

Q: When should you see a doctor?

Situations warranting a pediatric consultation: first episode to reassure the parent and confirm the diagnosis; very intense, prolonged, or unusual crying; weight stagnation or a break in the growth curve; projectile vomiting; repeated refusal to eat; chronic diarrhea; blood in the stool; mucous stools, associated eczema, hives, signs of allergy, pallor, fever, unusual drowsiness, severely disrupted sleep outside of crying episodes, worsening or persistence beyond 4–5 months, parental exhaustion, signs of depression in parents. A pediatrician confirms the diagnosis and rules out other causes (pathological reflux, cow’s milk protein allergy, urinary tract infection, ear infection, inguinal hernia). Medication (simethicone, antispasmodics) is rarely necessary.

What is colic?

Infant colic refers to a benign syndrome characterized by episodes of unexplained, intense, and prolonged crying in an otherwise healthy baby. The standard definition (Wessel’s “rule of three”) remains widely used: crying for more than 3 hours a day, on more than 3 days a week, for at least 3 weeks, in an infant younger than 3 months.

Very common, colic affects about one in five to one in four infants between birth and 4 to 5 months of age. Although it can sometimes be trying for parents, it remains a temporary and benign condition that leaves no lasting effects. Understanding this phenomenon and identifying soothing techniques can help you navigate this period with confidence. Additional resources are available for infant colic and infant care in general.

How can you recognize it?

Several characteristic signs help identify colic:

Intense, high-pitched, sometimes jerkycrying that is difficult to soothe
Occurs at set times, most often in the late afternoon or early evening
Legs drawn up to the stomach, back arched or tense
Clenched fists, red face
Bloated, tenseabdomen, sometimes hard to the touch
Passing gas or having a bowel movement may sometimes provide relief
Baby appears tense, as if in pain, despite being otherwise healthy
Calm between episodes; normal growth and feeding
Crying that doesn’t respond to usual soothing methods (breastfeeding, holding, diaper changes)

Maintaining good overall health between episodes is essential: the baby remains alert and energetic, feeds well at the breast or from a bottle, and gains weight steadily. For this baby —and for “big eaters” in general—specific resources are available.

What are the possible causes?

The exact cause of colic remains poorly understood. Several hypotheses, often related, are currently being studied:

Digestive immaturity: a digestive system still developing, irregular intestinal motility
Imbalance in the developing gutmicrobiota
Excess intestinalgas related to swallowing air during feedings or to digestive fermentation
Associated physiologicalgastroesophageal reflux
Sensory hypersensitivity at the end of the day: accumulated sensory overload
Immaturity of the nervous system with difficulties in self-regulation
Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA): a less common cause but one to consider in the presence of associated symptoms (eczema, mucoid diarrhea, weight stagnation)
Environmental factors: parental smoking, parental anxiety, cumulative sleep deprivation

The absence of a single identifiedcause explains the lack of a universally effective treatment. Management remains primarily symptomatic and based on parental support. For regurgitation in general, specific resources are available.

What soothing measures can be taken?

Several approaches can provide relief for a baby during a colic episode:

Close-contact carrying in a wrap or ergonomic baby carrier
Gentle rocking, slow, rhythmic movements
A stroll in a stroller or car ride (the soothing effect of movement)
Placing the baby face-down on a parent’s forearm (“tiger position”)
Gently massaging the tummy in clockwise circular motions
Pedal-like legmovements to help release gas
Gentle warmth on the tummy (a lukewarm hot water bottle secured safely, skin-to-skin contact)
Soothinglukewarm bath
White noise: vacuum cleaner, hair dryer at a distance, dedicated apps
Reduce sensory stimulation: dim the lights, create a calm atmosphere, remove screens and loud noises
Soothing feeding if the baby accepts it (non-nutritive sucking)

No single method works for every baby. Trying different approaches and identifying which ones soothe your own child the most is often the best strategy. For digestive issues in general, specific resources are available.

What role does diet play?

Several dietary adjustments can be discussed with your pediatrician:

Proper latch or a slow-flownipple to limit air intake
Pauses to burp the baby midway through a feeding and at the end of the meal
More frequent but smaller feedings if the baby is a big eater
A semi-upright position during and after feedings
For the breastfeeding mother: moderate avoidance of potential trigger foods (excessive caffeine, alcohol); avoidance of cow’s milk only as directed by a pediatrician if CMPA is suspected in the infant
Specialized infant formula as recommended by a pediatrician: “comfort” formulas based on partially hydrolyzed proteins, lactose-free, or extensively hydrolyzed formulas (eHF) in cases of confirmed CMPA
Probiotics: Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 has shown benefit in several studies involving breastfed infants (its effect is more controversial in bottle-fed infants); should be offered based on advice from a pharmacist or pediatrician

Systematic elimination of foods without a specific medical indication should be avoided in breastfeeding mothers (risk of nutritional deficiencies and compromised breastfeeding without proven benefit). Specific resources are available regarding infant formula,breastfeeding, andinfant feeding in general.

When should you see a doctor?

Several situations warrant a pediatric consultation:

First episode, to reassure parents and confirm the diagnosis
Very intense, prolonged, or unusual crying
Weight plateau or a break in the growth curve
Projectile vomiting, repeated refusal to eat
Chronic diarrhea, blood in the stool, mucus in the stool
Associated eczema, hives, signs of allergy
Paleness, fever, unusual drowsiness
Severe sleep disturbances outside of colic episodes
Worsening or persistence beyond 4–5 months
Parental exhaustion, signs of depression in parents

The pediatrician confirms the diagnosis, rules out other possible causes (pathological reflux, cow’s milk protein allergy, urinary tract infection, ear infection, inguinal hernia), and guides treatment. Medications (simethicone, antispasmodics) are rarely necessary and have not been shown to be more effective than non-pharmacological measures in simple colic.Nephrogenic colic is a separate condition affecting adults. Specific resources are available to improve digestion in general.

How can we support parents?

The colic period is trying for the family: prolonged crying, difficulty soothing the baby, accumulated fatigue, anxiety about the baby’s health, and sometimes feelings of failure or guilt. Several strategies can help protect parental well-being:

Take turns between parents so neither one gets completely worn out
Accept help from loved ones (family, friends) with daily tasks
Resting at the same time as the baby whenever possible (short naps)
Go outside for some fresh air regularly, even if only briefly
Leaving the baby with a trusted person for a break when stress levels rise
Never shake the baby: shaken baby syndrome is a major neurological emergency with extremely serious consequences
Place your baby in a safe spot (crib, baby swing) and leave the room for a few minutes if exhaustion becomes overwhelming
Consult a professional if you experience persistent exhaustion or signs of depression (primary care physician, midwife, perinatal psychologist)
Join a support group (parent organizations, specialized helplines)

The key point to remember is that colic is temporary and resolves on its own around 3 to 4 months of age, with no lasting effects on the child’s future development. Your pharmacist remains a valuable resource for providing guidance on daily care, recommending appropriate probiotics, and listening to parental concerns, in addition to regular pediatric follow-up.