What exactly is colic?

Long, intense, hard-to-console crying in a healthy, well-fed baby with no clear cause — commonly the "rule of threes": more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week, for over 3 weeks.

It usually peaks around 6 weeks and settles by about 3–4 months of age. It is self-limiting — it does end.

Is it something I did wrong, or is my baby in danger?

No. Colic is common (about 1 in 5 babies), is not caused by parenting, and does not cause long-term harm. The baby is otherwise well and growing.

What can I do to soothe my baby?

Try holding and rhythmic rocking, white noise, a warm bath, gentle tummy massage, a dummy, good winding, and a calm environment. And look after yourself — if overwhelmed, put baby down safely and take a break. Never shake your baby.

When should I see a doctor?

If there is fever, vomiting (especially green or projectile), blood in the stool, poor feeding or poor weight gain, breathing problems, or if your baby seems unwell between cries — or if you are not coping. These are not colic and need checking.

Colic in Babies: Why They Cry & How to Cope (Singapore)

Written & reviewed by the BestDoctors.sg editorial team · Last updated 1 Sep 2026 · General information, not medical advice

Quick answer. Colic is frequent, prolonged and intense crying or fussiness in an otherwise healthy, well-fed baby with no clear cause. It is often described by the “rule of threes” – crying for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks. It typically begins in the first few weeks, peaks around 6 weeks, and settles by about 3–4 months. Colic is common, self-limiting and not the parent’s fault, and it does not cause long-term harm. It is exhausting, so look after yourself – it is OK to put your baby down safely and take a break, and you must never shake a baby.

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An inconsolable baby is one of the hardest things new parents face. The most reassuring fact is that colic ends – and knowing that helps you get through the evenings until it does.

What colic is

Colic is the name doctors give to frequent, prolonged and intense crying or fussiness in a baby who is otherwise healthy and well fed, with no obvious cause that can be found. It is a description of a pattern of crying rather than a disease or an illness. In between the crying spells your baby feeds, settles and grows just as expected, which is one of the most reassuring signs that this really is colic and nothing more serious.

Three things are worth holding on to. Colic is common – a great many babies go through a phase of it, and you are far from alone. It is not your fault – it does not mean you are doing anything wrong, feeding the wrong way, or missing something. And, importantly, it is harmless and self-limiting – it does not damage your baby, and it eases on its own as your baby grows. It is exhausting to live through, but it is not dangerous to your child.

The typical pattern

Colic tends to appear in the early weeks of life and to settle again over the following months, so it is very much a passing phase of early babyhood. The crying usually comes in bouts rather than being constant, and for many families these bouts cluster in the late afternoon or evening, just when everyone is most tired.

During a spell your baby may cry hard and be difficult to soothe, no matter what you try. You might notice your baby clench their fists, go red in the face, draw up their legs towards the tummy, or seem tense and windy. This picture is well recognised by doctors and nurses – it is a familiar pattern, not a sign that something is wrong – and it passes as your baby matures. Between the bouts, your baby usually returns to being calm, alert and content.

What causes colic

The honest answer is that the cause of colic is not fully understood, and often no single reason can be pinned down. Several ideas have been suggested. One is that a young baby’s digestive system is still developing and settling in, and may be a little sensitive. Another is that some babies are simply more sensitive to stimulation – light, sound and activity – and cry to release the build-up of a busy day. A third is that a certain amount of crying is normal for a developing baby as their nervous system matures, and colic sits at the more intense end of that normal range.

What the evidence does not support is the idea that colic is caused by bad parenting, by holding your baby too much or too little, or by something you ate or did. In a thriving baby it is also usually not a sign of serious illness. Understanding that there is often no clear reason can, paradoxically, be a relief – there is nothing you have failed to fix.

How colic is diagnosed

Colic is recognised mainly by the pattern of crying in a baby who is thriving – feeding, growing and developing well – rather than by any test or scan. A doctor, such as your GP, a polyclinic doctor or a paediatrician, will usually want to examine your baby to check that they are otherwise well and to make sure nothing else is causing the crying.

In doing so, the doctor is gently ruling out other explanations that can look similar, such as a feeding problem, reflux, cow’s-milk allergy, an infection, or some other source of discomfort. If your baby is growing well, feeds and settles between spells, and the examination is normal, that reassuring picture points towards colic. It is always fine to bring your baby to be checked – getting that reassurance in person can lift a real weight.

Soothing strategies to try

There is no cure that switches colic off, but there are many gentle ways to comfort your baby, and different things suit different babies – expect some trial and error. Things parents often find helpful include:

Holding and gentle motion – cuddling, rocking or swaying, or carrying your baby close.
A calm, quiet, dimly lit environment, especially in the evening, to reduce stimulation.
White noise or another steady, soft background sound.
A warm bath, which many babies find soothing.
A gentle tummy massage, using soft, unhurried strokes.
Offering a feed and winding your baby to bring up any trapped wind.
A dummy, if you use one and your baby takes it.
Going out for a walk with the pram, or a ride in the car, so the change of scene and motion helps.

Try one thing at a time and give it a little while before moving on, and do not worry if what works one evening does not work the next – that is very common with colic.

Feeding considerations

It is worth checking the simple feeding basics: a comfortable position and latch, an unhurried feed, and winding your baby afterwards to help release any wind. Beyond that, be cautious about making bigger changes on a hunch. Any decision to switch formula, or for a breastfeeding mother to change her own diet, should be made with professional advice – from your doctor, a nurse or a lactation consultant – rather than on assumption. Changes made without guidance often do not help and can add stress and cost. In Singapore, lactation support is available through hospitals such as KKH and NUH, and your GP or polyclinic can point you to the right help.

Looking after yourself

This part matters just as much as soothing your baby. Colic is draining, and being unable to comfort your own crying baby can leave you feeling frayed, tearful or on edge. That is a completely human response, not a sign that you are failing.

When you feel overwhelmed, it is genuinely OK to put your baby down somewhere safe, such as their cot, close the door, and take a few minutes to breathe and steady yourself before going back. A short break can reset both of you. Ask for help and share the load – a partner, family member or friend can take a turn so you can rest, and resting when you can is not a luxury but a necessity.

There is one safety message that must never be forgotten: never, ever shake a baby. Shaking, even briefly and even out of desperation, can cause very serious and lasting harm to a baby’s brain. If you ever feel you might reach that point, put your baby down safely and step away, and reach out to someone straight away – a partner, a family member, or a doctor. Asking for help at that moment is the strongest and most protective thing you can do.

When to see a doctor – and red flags

Colic happens in a baby who is well between the crying spells. It is worth having your baby checked, and treating it as possibly not simple colic, if you notice any of the following:

A fever, or a baby who feels hot or unwell.
A baby who is floppy, very drowsy or hard to rouse.
Feeding poorly, or vomiting – especially green (bile-stained) or forceful vomiting.
Blood in the stool.
Breathing difficulty.
A bulging soft spot on the head.
A cry that sounds unusual or high-pitched, or crying that suddenly changes in nature.
Any sense that your baby seems unwell between the cries, or that something is simply wrong.

These signs suggest the crying may have a cause other than colic and should be assessed. Trust your instincts – if you are worried, seek help. And if you are struggling to cope, that in itself is a good reason to reach out to your GP, polyclinic or paediatrician; support is there for you as well as your baby, and HealthHub also offers trusted guidance for Singapore parents.

Related children’s health topics

Sources

HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — baby colic: rule of threes, onset in first weeks, improves by ~3 months, soothing advice.
KKH / HealthXchange (SingHealth) — infantile colic: features (legs drawn up, gassy tummy, evening pattern), soothing, “management not treatment.”
AAP / HealthyChildren — colic: ~1 in 5 babies, peaks ~6 weeks, resolves 3–4 months; “never shake a baby” safety warning.
NHS / Mayo Clinic — colic: soothing and when crying signals something other than colic.

General information only. This guide is general information about a child’s health and is not a diagnosis or personalised medical advice. See a doctor — a GP or a paediatrician — if you are worried about your child. Go to A&E or call 995 if a child has trouble breathing, is very drowsy or hard to wake, has a fit, has a non-blanching rash (spots that do not fade when pressed), or a baby under 3 months has a fever.

Colic in Babies in Singapore