When Does Colic Start, and How Long Does Colic Last?

When Does Colic Start, and How Long Does Colic Last?

What is colic in babies?

In a previous post I gave you some basic information on colic. As a quick reminder, colic occurs when your baby cries for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week for more than 3 weeks. I call this the rule of 3s. As an example, when my brother was a baby, he would scream almost all night for no reason, to the point where my parents took turns walking him around the basement so the rest of us could sleep.

Colic occurs when your baby cries for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week for more than 3 weeks. I call this the rule of 3s.

When does colic start?

Colic can start as early as 2 weeks after a baby is born but can occur anywhere between 2 and 8 weeks, and typically peeks when a baby is 6 weeks old. In many babies it starts and different times of the day, although many people say it is worst in the evening.

Tips for dealing with colic

Things to keep in mind, make sure that your baby is well fed, burped, and in a clean diaper. These are the most common causes of crying. When babies cry, they tend to swallow a lot of air that can cause bloating and gassiness. Do your best to calm your baby through these periods with shushing, singing, bouncing, rocking or pretty much whatever it takes (safely).

What about using gripe water for newborns or Biogaia probiotic drops?

Both gripe water and Biogaia drops have some evidence to suggest that they can reduce the symptoms of colic. But there is no scientific or medical evidence that shows they are consistently effective in all babies. We tried both with JJ, but they didn’t help much, if at all.

How long does colic last?

There is some good news – it doesn’t last forever. In fact symptoms of colic begin to fade shortly after they peak and in most cases are gone by 3 – 4 months. Some kids outgrow colic quicker than others, for everyone’s sake I always hope that it’s sooner.

There is nothing worse than being sleep deprived and struggling with a child who is crying for no known reason. Rest assured it will pass. I promise.

Quick Tips

• Colic can start as early as 2 weeks, and peaks around 6 weeks.

• It tends to go away by itself – usually gone by 3-4 months (hopefully sooner!!!)

• Biogaia and gripe water may help, but there is not a lot of medical proof they will.

Take a peek at our baby milestones chart to see if your baby is on track.

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