The rule of threes

Paediatricians define colic with the rule of threes: crying for more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, for more than three weeks, in an otherwise healthy baby. It usually starts around two weeks of age, peaks at six weeks, and resolves by three months.

What colic looks like

A predictable evening pattern is the giveaway. Many colicky babies are calmer in the morning and become progressively more unsettled into the late afternoon and evening, with a peak of intense crying that can last one to three hours. The crying is often inconsolable in the moment — picking up, feeding, and rocking can all fail to help.

Body language pairs strongly: a red face, clenched fists, arched back, and legs pulled up to the stomach. After a long bout, babies often pass gas or have a bowel movement and briefly settle.

What helps

Combinations of gentle motion, white noise, dim light, and a warm hand on the belly help many colicky babies. So does carrying in a sling. Some babies respond to a swaddle and side-lying hold; others find the swaddle too restrictive. There is no single technique — pattern matching what works for your baby across a week is the most useful approach.

For breastfeeding parents, an elimination trial of dairy or other common triggers under paediatrician guidance can help in a small subset of cases. Avoid changing formula without your doctor’s input.

Look after yourself

Colic is hard on parents. The crying is not your fault and not a sign that anything is wrong with your parenting. Hand the baby off to a partner, family member, or friend in 30-minute shifts when the crying is intense. Step out of the room. Eat. Drink water. The crying ends — and you matter too.

When to call the doctor

Call your paediatrician if the crying changes character — fever, vomiting, blood in stool, refusal to feed, or unusually limp behaviour. Colic is usually benign, but those signs are not part of colic and deserve a check.