There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that comes with colic.
The kind where you’ve tried everything, you’re running on almost no sleep, and your baby is still crying. You start to wonder if you’re doing something wrong, if you’re missing something obvious, if this will ever end.
I want you to know right now: you’re not doing anything wrong. Colic is one of the most challenging phases of early parenthood, and it does pass. But while you’re in it, you need real strategies that actually help.
Not vague advice or judgment, just practical tools to get through the next hour, the next feeding, the next long evening. These seven remedies have helped countless families find moments of calm in the chaos.
1) The power of motion and rhythmic movement
Babies spent nine months floating, swaying, and bouncing inside you. That constant motion was their normal, and the stillness of the outside world can feel jarring to a newborn’s system. When colic hits, returning to that familiar rhythm often brings surprising relief.
Try holding your baby securely against your chest and doing a gentle bounce or sway. A yoga ball can be a lifesaver here because you can sit and bounce without wearing out your legs. Some parents find that walking with a slight hip sway works wonders, while others discover their baby prefers the vibration of a car ride or the motion of a swing.
The key is finding your baby’s preferred rhythm. Some like fast, jiggly movements while others calm down with slow, deep swaying. Pay attention to what makes their body relax even slightly, and lean into that.
When Milo was tiny and fussy, we discovered he loved being held facing outward while I did a sort of gentle squat-bounce. It looked ridiculous, but it worked.
2) Skin-to-skin contact and babywearing
There’s solid science behind why skin-to-skin contact soothes distressed babies.
Research published in BMC Pediatrics has shown that skin-to-skin care helps regulate a baby’s heart rate, temperature, and stress hormones. For colicky babies, this regulation can be the difference between endless crying and a few precious moments of peace.
Strip your baby down to their diaper, place them against your bare chest, and cover you both with a blanket. The warmth of your body, the sound of your heartbeat, and the smell of your skin create a cocoon of comfort that mimics the womb.
Babywearing extends this closeness while freeing your hands. A soft wrap or carrier keeps your baby snug against you while you move around, combining the benefits of motion and contact. During peak fussy hours, wearing your baby might be the only way to eat dinner or comfort an older sibling. It’s not a luxury; it’s survival.
3) White noise and womb sounds
The womb was loud. Between your heartbeat, blood flow, and digestive sounds, your baby was surrounded by constant noise at about the volume of a vacuum cleaner. The quiet of a nursery can actually be unsettling to a newborn.
White noise machines, apps, or even household sounds like a running fan or dryer can help recreate that familiar soundscape. The key is making it loud enough to actually compete with the crying. A gentle shushing sound in the background won’t cut it when your baby is in full colic mode. You need something robust enough to break through.
Try holding your baby close to your mouth and making a loud, sustained “shhhhhh” sound right near their ear. It might feel strange at first, but this technique, part of pediatrician Harvey Karp’s well-known calming method, works because it mimics the whooshing sounds of the womb.
Combine it with swaddling and swaying for maximum effect.
4) Infant massage and tummy techniques
Colic is often connected to digestive discomfort, whether from gas, immature gut development, or difficulty processing feeds. Gentle massage can help move things along and provide relief from that uncomfortable pressure building in your baby’s belly.
With warm hands and a bit of natural oil like coconut or olive, try the “I Love You” massage on your baby’s tummy.
Trace the letter I down the left side of their belly, then an upside-down L from right to left across the top and down, then an upside-down U starting from the lower right, going up, across, and down the left side. This follows the path of the intestines and can help trapped gas move through.
Bicycle legs are another simple technique. Gently move your baby’s legs in a cycling motion, bringing their knees up toward their belly one at a time. You might be rewarded with some impressive sounds as gas releases. Tummy time during calm moments can also help strengthen their core and encourage gas to pass, though obviously skip this during active crying episodes.
5) Adjusting feeding practices
How and when your baby eats can significantly impact colic symptoms. If you’re breastfeeding, make sure your baby is latching deeply and draining one breast fully before switching sides. A shallow latch or frequent switching can mean your baby gets more foremilk, which is higher in lactose and can contribute to gassiness.
For bottle-fed babies, consider paced feeding, where you hold the bottle more horizontally and let your baby control the flow. This reduces the amount of air they swallow. Anti-colic bottles with venting systems can also make a difference for some babies.
Frequent burping is essential. Don’t wait until the end of a feed; pause every few minutes to burp, especially if your baby tends to gulp or eat quickly.
Some babies need to be burped in multiple positions before that stubborn bubble finally comes up. Over the shoulder, sitting upright on your lap, or lying across your knees can all work differently depending on where the air is trapped.
6) Evaluating your diet if breastfeeding
This one comes with a caveat: don’t eliminate foods unnecessarily or restrict your diet without good reason. But for some breastfeeding mothers, certain foods do seem to correlate with increased fussiness in their babies.
The most commonly reported culprits are dairy, caffeine, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that while true food allergies in breastfed babies are relatively rare, some infants do show sensitivity to proteins that pass through breast milk, particularly cow’s milk protein.
If you suspect a connection, try eliminating one food at a time for at least two weeks to see if symptoms improve. Keep a simple log of what you eat and when your baby seems most uncomfortable.
But please don’t cut out entire food groups without guidance from your healthcare provider. Your nutrition matters too, and most dietary changes don’t actually affect colic.
7) Creating a calm environment during witching hour
Colic often peaks in the late afternoon and evening, that dreaded “witching hour” that can stretch into multiple hours. During this time, your baby is likely overstimulated from the day and overtired, making everything feel more intense.
Dimming the lights, reducing noise, and minimizing visitors during this window can help. Your baby doesn’t need entertainment or stimulation right now; they need less. A dark room, gentle motion, and your calm presence are often more effective than any gadget or technique.
Your own state matters here too. Babies are remarkably attuned to our stress levels. As noted by Zero to Three, infants pick up on caregiver tension through our muscle tightness, breathing patterns, and voice. Taking a few deep breaths before picking up your crying baby, even when you’re exhausted and frustrated, can genuinely help both of you.
It’s also okay to put your baby down in a safe place and step away for a few minutes if you’re feeling overwhelmed. A crying baby in a crib is safe. A parent at their breaking point needs a moment to reset. This isn’t failure; it’s wisdom.
Closing thoughts
Colic typically peaks around six weeks and often improves significantly by three to four months. I know that timeline feels impossibly long when you’re in the thick of it, but there is an end point. This phase will pass, and it won’t last forever, even though it feels that way at 2 a.m.
In the meantime, accept help when it’s offered. Let someone else hold the baby while you shower or sleep. Lower your standards for everything that isn’t keeping your baby safe and yourself functioning. The dishes can wait. The thank-you notes can wait. You are doing the hardest work right now.
These remedies won’t magically cure colic, but they can take the edge off and help you find pockets of peace in difficult days. Trust your instincts, be gentle with yourself, and know that you’re exactly the parent your baby needs.
