What are the symptoms of colic in a baby?
Applies to age: 0–4 months
In short
Colic can be suspected when an otherwise healthy baby cries for more than 3 hours a day, on 3 days a week, for at least a week. Weak or high-pitched crying needs immediate medical help.
Do not do this
Dangerous Myth: “Gentle pressure on a baby's spine or skull (spinal manipulation, cranial osteopathy) helps with colic”
Why it is wrong. There is little evidence that this works, and such a procedure may hurt the baby.Instead. When a baby with colic is crying, you can hold or cuddle them.Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
do not try putting gentle pressure to your baby's spine (spinal manipulation) or skull (cranial osteopathy) – there is little evidence this works, and it may hurt your baby
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
hold or cuddle your baby when they're crying a lot
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- Colic is when a baby cries a lot and there is no obvious cause.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Colic is when a baby cries a lot but there's no obvious cause.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Colic can be suspected when an otherwise healthy baby cries for more than 3 hours a day, on 3 days a week, for at least a week.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
All babies cry, but your baby may have colic if they cry more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week for at least 1 week but are otherwise healthy.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A baby with colic may cry more often in the afternoon and evening.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
They may cry more often in the afternoon and evening.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- While crying with colic, a baby may also be hard to soothe or settle.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
it's hard to soothe or settle your baby
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- While crying with colic, a baby may clench their fists.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
they clench their fists
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- While crying with colic, a baby may go red in the face.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
they go red in the face
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- While crying with colic, a baby may bring their knees up to their tummy or arch their back.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
they bring their knees up to their tummy or arch their back
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- While crying with colic, a baby's tummy may rumble or the baby may be very gassy.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
their tummy rumbles or they're very windy
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Colic may start when a baby is a few weeks old.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
It can start when a baby is a few weeks old.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- An infant's crying may have causes other than colic: hunger, a dirty diaper, gas, reflux or constipation.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
It could be they: are hungry have a dirty nappy have wind have reflux have constipation
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A baby with colic usually does not need to see a doctor.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Your baby does not usually need to see a doctor if they have colic.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
Worth discussing with a doctor:
- If a baby is not growing or putting on weight as expected, it is worth seeing a doctor.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
your baby is not growing or putting on weight as expected
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- If colic symptoms continue after the baby is 4 months old, it is worth seeing a doctor.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
your baby still has symptoms of colic after 4 months of age
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- If a parent is worried about the baby's crying, it is worth seeing a doctor.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
you're worried about your baby's crying
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- If a baby has colic and nothing helps, it is worth seeing a doctor.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
your baby has colic and nothing seems to be working
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
ER / 112 (Poland)
Some claims: international norm
Immediate medical help needed: international norm
- Weak or high-pitched crying in a baby needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
your baby has a weak or high-pitched cry
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- If a baby's cry does not sound like their usual cry, the baby needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
your baby's cry does not sound like their normal cry
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Call an ambulance in a situation of immediate danger to life.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
bezpośredniego zagrożenia życia
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [2]
- Also call an ambulance when a sick person's condition suddenly worsens in a way that may lead to harm to health.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
nagłego pogorszenia się stanu osoby chorej, który może prowadzić do uszczerbku na zdrowiu.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [2]
See a doctor
- A sick child reported to a primary care (POZ) clinic should get an appointment on the day of the report, or, if that is not possible, at a time agreed with the parent.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Jeśli przyjdziesz chory do przychodni, powinieneś uzyskać wizytę w dniu zgłoszenia.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [2]
Polish original
Jeśli to niemożliwe - w terminie uzgodnionym z tobą.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]
- POZ clinics are open from Monday to Friday, 8:00–18:00.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Placówki POZ działają od poniedziałku do piątku w godzinach: 8:00–18:00.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [2]
- After the clinic's working hours, night and holiday care (NiŚOZ) is recommended, including when symptoms get worse and you cannot wait until morning.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
objawy się nasilą i nie możesz czekać do rana
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [3]
- Night and holiday care takes patients from Monday to Friday from 18:00 to 08:00 the next morning.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Poniedziałek – Piątek: 18:00 – 08:00 rano dnia następnego.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [3]
- Night and holiday care takes patients around the clock on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Soboty, Niedziele i Święta: całodobowo.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [3]
international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.
Sources
- NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)License: Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The summary is ours and is not attributed to the NHS.
- Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl)
- https://pacjent.gov.pl/aktualnosc/kiedy-wezwac-karetke
- https://pacjent.gov.pl/jak-dziala-podstawowa-opieka-zdrowotna
License: CC BY 3.0 PL. Source: Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. - NFZ i Akademia NFZLicense: Treści NFZ – wykorzystanie ze wskazaniem źródła, bez obrotu komercyjnego. Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ. Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.