Baby colic: when it starts and when it ends

Colic is one of the few things in motherhood that we recognize from afar: the baby pulls their legs up, clenches their fists, turns red, and cries as if in pain. And along with the crying comes the question that will not leave your head: when does this baby colic start, and when will it finally pass?

What baby colic is

Colic is the name we use for intense, hard-to-soothe crying that appears in healthy babies, usually late in the day. It is not a disease with a test that closes the diagnosis. It is a set of signs that usually come with a tense belly, gas, and a lot of discomfort, and that leaves the baby and the family exhausted.

Many people confuse colic with hunger or sleepiness. Observing the pattern helps tell things apart. If the baby feeds well, gains weight, and the crying improves after burping, passing gas, or having a bowel movement, colic is a good suspicion.

When baby colic starts and how long it lasts

In most cases, episodes appear between the second and third week of life and intensify around the first to second month. They commonly happen at the same time, often in the late afternoon or evening, and last from a few minutes to a few hours. This is not a rule for every baby, but it is the most reported pattern.

The good news, which we hold on to tightly, is that colic tends to improve on its own. In most babies, it eases between the third and fourth month, when the digestive system matures and the baby starts to handle gas and stools better. Some babies have discomfort for longer, others almost none. Each one has their own pace.

• First weeks: shorter and more scattered episodes.
• One to two months: the most intense phase and the most predictable in timing.
• Three to four months: a tendency to improve as digestion matures.

Signs that it may be colic

Some signs appear together during the episodes:

• legs pulled up against the belly and then stretched out hard;
• tense and sometimes swollen belly;
• clenched fists and a reddened face;
• high-pitched crying that is hard to soothe;
• relief after passing gas or having a bowel movement.

If these signs repeat at the same time of day, it is likely colic. The article on how to tell if your baby has colic details this reading and helps tell it apart from other causes of crying.

What helps during the colic phase

There is no formula that solves colic all at once, but a set of care measures makes the baby more comfortable:

1. Offer the breast or the bottle calmly, giving the baby time to burp.
2. Keep the baby upright after feedings, to relieve gas.
3. Massage the belly in gentle circular motions, clockwise.
4. Apply a warm compress, taking care not to make it too hot.
5. Do the motion of folding the little legs, as if the baby were pedaling.
6. Use your arms and contact, which soothe the baby even when they do not end the pain.

It is worth remembering that each baby responds in their own way. What soothes one may have no effect on another, and that does not mean you are doing it wrong. Over time, you will build your own repertoire of what works best.

These measures are detailed in the article on how to relieve baby colic, which brings a step-by-step of massage, compress, and positions. Breastfeeding also comes into this: a baby who feeds at short intervals may swallow more air, and understanding why the baby feeds all the time helps organize the feedings.

When to see the pediatrician

Seek care if the baby has a fever, frequent vomiting, blood in the stools, a very swollen and hard belly, inconsolable crying for hours, refusal to feed, or weight gain below what is expected. In these situations, colic may not be the explanation. When in doubt, it is always worth talking to the pediatrician, who is the one who can truly evaluate the baby.

Frequently asked questions

Is baby colic the mother’s diet’s fault?

Not necessarily. The link between the mother’s diet and colic exists in some cases, but it is not a general rule. Before cutting foods from your diet, talk to the pediatrician or a nutritionist, because restrictions without guidance can weaken your own body.

Does every child have colic?

No. Many babies go through episodes of discomfort, but the intensity varies a lot. Some babies barely feel it and some suffer for weeks. This says nothing about your competence as a mother.

Is there a cure for colic?

Colic is not a disease, so it is not about a cure but about maturing. It usually improves over time as the digestive system develops. What we do in the meantime is offer comfort and relieve the symptoms whenever possible.

Understanding when baby colic starts and when it tends to pass helps you get through this phase with more patience. It is tiring, it tugs at your heart, and it shakes us up, but in most cases it is temporary. In any doubt about your baby’s health, count on the pediatrician to guide the way.