When does colic start in a baby?
Applies to age: 0–4 months
In short
Colic may start when a baby is a few weeks old. Crying in babies usually increases around week 2 of life and gradually decreases around month 3.
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- The amount babies cry usually increases around week 2 of life and then gradually decreases around month 3.
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:
The amount babies cry tends to increase when they're around 2 weeks old and then gradually reduces at around 3 months old.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · 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: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Colic sometimes occurs in babies under 5 months of age.
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:
This sometimes happens in babies who are under 5 months old.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- The time of day when a baby most often cries a lot and is hard to comfort is 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:
Afternoon and evening are the most common times for this to happen.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
- Constant crying that the baby cannot be soothed or distracted from, or crying that is unlike the usual cry, can be a sign of illness.
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:
If your baby is crying constantly and you cannot console or distract them, or the cry does not sound like their normal cry, it can be a sign they're ill.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
Worth discussing with a doctor:
- Colic symptoms that continue after 4 months of age are worth discussing with 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: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- A lack of expected growth or weight gain in a baby with colic is worth discussing with 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: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
ER / 112 (Poland)
Some claims: international norm
Immediate medical help needed: international norm
- A weak or high-pitched cry from 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: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Crying that does not sound like a baby's normal cry 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: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Seizures in a crying baby need 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:
has a fit (seizure or convulsion)
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Difficulty breathing, breathlessness or very fast breathing in a crying 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:
has difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), is breathless or breathing very fast
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- An ambulance is called 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: 2026-10-12 · license [2]
- Call 112 (the emergency number in Poland) or 999 (the ambulance number in Poland) when life or health is at risk.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Zadzwoń na 112 lub 999, jeśli zagrożone jest życie lub zdrowie.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [3]
See a doctor
- A sick person who comes to a primary care (POZ) clinic should get an appointment on the day of reporting, and if that is not possible, at a time agreed with them.
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: 2026-10-12 · license [2]
Polish original
Jeśli to niemożliwe - w terminie uzgodnionym z tobą.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]
- After the working hours of a primary care (POZ) clinic, medical help is provided by night and holiday care (NiŚOZ).
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Nocna i świąteczna opieka zdrowotna to pomoc lekarska po godzinach pracy przychodni POZ.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [3]
- When in doubt, it is better to consult a doctor.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Zawsze jeśli masz wątpliwości – lepiej skonsultować się z lekarzem.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · 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)
- https://www.nhs.uk/baby/caring-for-a-newborn/soothing-a-crying-baby/
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/colic/
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.