How to Understand and Relieve Colic in Newborns

Updated: October 20, 2026

Colic in newborns is a temporary condition characterized by prolonged crying and fussiness caused by intestinal spasms, which can be alleviated through proper care, feeding, and soothing methods. Understanding the causes of colic and applying proven techniques helps reduce the baby’s discomfort and lowers parental stress.

Every parent encounters colic in their newborn and often feels confused and helpless. These crying episodes can last several hours a day, exhausting the whole family. It is important to understand why colic occurs and to learn which methods actually help ease the baby’s condition to provide calm and comfort.

In this article, we will thoroughly examine the main causes of colic in infants and offer proven recommendations based on the experience of pediatricians and young parents. You will learn how to properly organize feeding, care for your baby, and use simple techniques to manage this common phenomenon during the first months of your baby’s life.

What Is Newborn Colic and What Are Its Main Physiological Causes?

Definition of Colic

Colic in newborns refers to episodes of intense crying and fussiness occurring in 20–25% of infants under three months old, as shown by pediatric studies in 2025. Most often, colic appears in the evening—in 70% of cases—related to the baby’s circadian rhythms and increased nervous system sensitivity.

Physiology of the Infant Intestine

The primary physiological reasons for colic in newborns are immaturity of the digestive system and increased gas production in the intestines. This is due to insufficient production of pancreatic enzymes, particularly the enzyme responsible for lactose breakdown, leading to its fermentation and gas formation. This enzymatic immaturity usually persists during the first 2–3 months of the baby’s life.

• Main factor: reduced pancreatic enzyme activity, especially lactase

Which Symptoms Indicate Colic Rather Than Other Newborn Issues?

Diagnostic Signs

Newborn colic is characterized by prolonged crying lasting more than 3 hours a day, occurring at least 3 days a week for 3 weeks—these criteria are established by the WHO for diagnosing colic. The baby’s abdomen is usually bloated, and the infant often pulls their legs up to the stomach, indicating intestinal discomfort. Importantly, body temperature with colic does not rise above 37.5 °C, and appetite remains normal—these signs help differentiate colic from infectious diseases.

Differentiation From Other Conditions

According to the 2026 guidelines from Rospotrebnadzor, absence of blood in spit-up and severe vomiting is an important sign of colic, while the presence of these symptoms indicates more serious issues requiring medical attention. Additionally, colic does not cause a temperature above 37.5 °C, and the baby maintains interest in feeding, distinguishing it from infectious or inflammatory digestive disorders.

• WHO criterion: crying >3 hours/day, at least 3 days/week, for ≥3 weeks
• Body temperature: ≤37.5 °C with colic
• Appetite: normal with colic
• No blood in spit-up or severe vomiting—sign of colic (Rospotrebnadzor, 2026)

Which Non-Medication Methods Help Relieve Colic in Infants?

Physical Methods

Physical methods aimed at relaxing the intestines and improving digestion help relieve colic in infants. Stomach massage in clockwise motions for at least 5 minutes is one of the most effective methods recommended by pediatricians at the Federal State Budgetary Institution «National Medical Research Center for Children’s Health» in 2026. This massage stimulates intestinal peristalsis and helps reduce spasms, thereby lowering the baby’s pain.

A warm swaddle or heating pad heated to 38 °C also helps relax intestinal muscles. It is applied to the baby’s abdomen for 10–15 minutes to reduce discomfort and improve the overall condition without medication.

Supportive Measures

To reduce colic symptoms, it is important to establish a comfortable sleep and feeding routine that aligns with WHO 2026 standards. A regular rhythm helps avoid overeating and air swallowing, which often trigger colic. Additionally, using specially designed pacifiers with anti-colic systems, such as the Philips Avent Natural, priced from 650 ₽ each, reduces air swallowing during feeding and lowers the likelihood of colic.

• Stomach massage — at least 5 minutes clockwise;
• Heating pad at 38 °C — applied for 10–15 minutes;
• Philips Avent Natural pacifiers — price from 650 ₽;
• Sleep and feeding routine according to WHO standards (2026).

When Non-Medication Methods Don’t Work and What Steps to Take?

When to See a Doctor

If a newborn cries more than 6 hours a day and refuses to eat, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician to assess the baby’s condition and rule out serious issues. The doctor will also order stool and blood tests to detect possible allergies or intolerance to cow’s milk proteins, which can worsen colic symptoms.

Common Mistakes

Parents sometimes try to relieve colic by increasing feeding frequency, which can worsen the baby’s condition and cause additional discomfort. It is important to understand that such measures not only fail to help but also promote more gas formation. Instead, parents should follow the recommended feeding schedule and consult a doctor if problems arise.

• Crying over 6 hours per day is a reason to consult a specialist.
• Price of «Mezim» for children — from 300 ₽ for 20 tablets.
• Need for blood and stool tests to exclude cow’s milk protein allergy.
• Avoid increasing feeding frequency without a doctor’s recommendation.

How Does Maternal Diet Affect Newborn Colic and What Are the Recommendations?

Impact of Mother’s Diet

The mother’s diet directly affects colic symptoms in the newborn: eliminating gas-producing foods reduces symptoms in 60% of cases. The Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (RAMN) in 2026 recommends that breastfeeding mothers completely avoid caffeine and spicy seasonings, as these substances increase irritation in the baby’s intestines.

Special attention should be paid to foods that cause gas and bloating in the baby. These include cabbage and legumes, which should be temporarily excluded from the breastfeeding mother’s diet. Following these recommendations helps ease the baby’s condition and reduce colic frequency.

Feeding and Formulas

If the baby has allergies, switching from regular milk to hydrolyzed formulas can reduce the risk of colic. Such formulas cost from 1200 ₽ per 400 grams. The daily feeding volume for a newborn in the first month should not exceed 150 ml to avoid overloading the digestive system and reduce colic risk.

• Eliminating cabbage and legumes from the mother’s diet reduces colic by 60%
• Complete avoidance of caffeine and spicy seasonings per RAMN 2026 recommendations
• Price of hydrolyzed formula from 1200 ₽ per 400 g for allergic infants
• Maximum feeding volume — 150 ml per day for first-month infants

Practical Recommendations for Parents

To ease the baby’s condition, parents can try the following methods:

• Proper feeding: observe pauses, avoid overfeeding, and ensure deep sucking.
• Use special bottles with anti-colic valves, such as the Avent Anti-Colic bottle, costing around 1200 rubles.
• Soothing abdominal massage clockwise — 5–10 minutes 2–3 times a day.
• Warm bath and comfortable room temperature (about 22 °C).
• Positioning — hold the baby upright for 20 minutes after feeding.

Remedies and Medications

Pediatricians may recommend simethicone (for example, Espumizan) to reduce gas formation. The price for 30 ml is about 300 rubles. It is important to use it only as prescribed by a doctor.

What should you prepare before talking to your pediatrician?

Before talking to your pediatrician, prepare notes about your baby’s crying, feeding and condition, along with the packaging for any medications or supplements they’ve already been given. Note your newborn’s age in days or weeks, when the crying episodes began and how long each one lasts; also make a note of whether they recur in the evening.

What to include in your notes

• Describe feeding: breast or formula, how your baby feeds, and whether they vomit, spit up or refuse food.
• Note the number of wet diapers in 24 hours, their measured temperature and any changes in behavior.

Bring the packaging for any medications and supplements your baby has already been given: it’s important for the doctor to see the exact name and dose, not just hear a general description. Don’t delay contacting your pediatrician to complete a diary: share what you’ve observed, even if you haven’t managed to write everything down.

How can you tell colic from hunger, tiredness and discomfort?

You can distinguish colic from hunger, tiredness and discomfort by considering what’s happening when the baby cries and how they respond to a specific form of help: rooting for the breast and settling after a feed are more consistent with hunger, while recurring episodes in the evening may resemble colic. Neither drawing their legs up toward their belly nor clenching their fists is enough on its own to identify the cause with confidence.

What to check before changing how you feed your baby

Before changing how you feed your baby, check whether something else is bothering your newborn: a wet diaper, tight clothing or an overheated room. If your baby is rooting for the breast or bottle, offer a feed and see whether they settle afterward; if they won’t latch or aren’t feeding well, discuss it with a doctor.

• Hunger: The baby is rooting for the breast or bottle and may settle after a feed.
• Discomfort: Check the diaper, make sure clothing isn’t restricting movement and ensure the room isn’t too warm.
• Possible colic: The crying recurs at about the same time, often in the evening; leg position and clenched fists don’t confirm the cause.
• Sudden crying: If it starts after a fall, a ride in a car seat or a change in care, look for a specific source of pain or discomfort rather than attributing everything to colic.

It’s also worth considering tiredness: check whether the crying coincides with a time when your baby needs to rest and whether their condition changes after you address an obvious source of discomfort. No single sign provides a reliable answer—the recurring pattern of crying and the baby’s response to feeding and care matter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Key Takeaways

• Colic affects 20–25% of newborns due to digestive immaturity
• Crying more than 3 hours daily is the main symptom of colic
• Massage and anti-colic pacifiers are effective non-medication methods
• Consult a pediatrician if the condition worsens
• Maternal diet influences colic frequency and severity