Yes, a breastfed baby can get colic, but symptoms often ease with feeding tweaks, soothing routines, and time as the gut matures.
When crying fills the house every evening, many parents wonder if breastfeeding should protect their baby from colic. The short answer is that breast milk does not cause colic, yet a breastfed baby can still have long bouts of crying that fit the colic pattern. Understanding what colic is, how it shows up, and what actually helps can make the next few weeks or months feel a lot more manageable.
What Colic Means In Young Babies
Colic is a label for frequent, intense crying in an otherwise healthy baby. Many guidelines describe colic as crying that lasts more than three hours a day, on at least three days a week, over at least one week, in a baby who is feeding and growing as expected. The crying often clusters in the late afternoon or evening and can feel endless for tired parents.
Health services such as the NHS colic guidance explain that this pattern affects around one in five babies and usually gets better by three to four months of age. That means many colicky babies are completely healthy from a medical point of view, even if the crying is intense and draining for the family.
| Common Colic Sign | What You Might See | Typical Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Long Crying Spells | Crying that can last an hour or more with short or no breaks. | Often starts in late afternoon or evening on most days. |
| Hard To Soothe | Usual calming tricks such as feeding, rocking, or a pacifier barely help. | Baby may calm for a moment, then start again just as strongly. |
| Tense Body | Arched back, clenched fists, red face, or stiff legs. | Body can relax again once the crying spell eases. |
| Legs Pulled Up | Baby pulls knees toward the tummy or kicks with force. | Often makes parents think of gas or tummy cramps. |
| Lots Of Gas | Frequent burps or gas during or after crying. | Gas often comes from swallowing air while crying hard. |
| Normal Feeding | Baby still feeds well across the day and gains weight. | Weight checks stay on a steady line on growth charts. |
| Starts In Early Weeks | Crying builds in the first few weeks of life. | Often peaks around six to eight weeks, then settles by three to four months. |
Many child health groups describe colic as excessive crying without a single proven cause. Several factors may add together, including gut sensitivity, immature digestion, and the way babies process stimulation and stress signals.
Can A Breastfed Baby Get Colic From Feeding Alone?
Many families ask in clinic visits, “can a breastfed baby get colic?” Some hope that breastfeeding prevents colic altogether, while others worry that their milk might be the cause of the crying. Large reviews used in national guides show that colic occurs in both breastfed and formula fed babies at similar rates, which means feeding type alone does not protect against or create colic.
Guidance used by services such as NICE in the United Kingdom encourages parents to keep breastfeeding during a colicky spell because breast milk still gives strong health benefits and there is no proof that stopping will solve the crying. Colic can still feel linked to feeds because babies often want to nurse more during a fussy period and may pull on and off the breast while crying.
Why Breastfed Babies Still Develop Colic
Several ideas help explain why a breastfed baby with good growth can still show colic symptoms:
- Immature digestion: The gut and nervous system are still growing fast, so sensations from gas or stretching may feel louder to the baby.
- Swallowed air: Long crying spells lead to extra air in the stomach, which can create more gas and burping.
- Strong temperament: Some babies react strongly to light, noise, or changes and have trouble settling once upset.
- Normal crying peak: Studies show that crying tends to rise in the first six to eight weeks for many babies, with or without colic.
None of these points mean breast milk is a problem. Instead, they show that colic often reflects how the baby’s body and brain are maturing. Breastfeeding through this stage gives comfort, steady nutrition, and closeness, even while you search for ways to ease the crying.
When Colic Might Relate To Feeding Or Milk
In a small share of breastfed babies, colic-like crying links to another issue such as cow’s milk protein allergy or strong reflux. These babies may have extra signs such as blood in stool, poor weight gain, frequent vomiting, rash, or wheeze. In those cases a doctor may suggest short trials such as a dairy-free diet for the breastfeeding parent or medicine for reflux, under clear supervision.
How To Tell Colic From Another Problem
Colic tends to follow a pattern and the baby otherwise looks healthy. That pattern matters because it separates colic from crying caused by illness or pain that needs treatment. Watch both the crying itself and what your baby is like between episodes.
Signs That Fit Typical Colic
Typical colic still feels hard, but the baby feeds, wees, and grows as expected between crying spells. Between episodes, the baby may look content, make eye contact, and settle after feeds. Crying often clusters in the evening and follows the same rhythm on most days.
Red Flags That Need Medical Advice
Some signs sit outside simple colic and need prompt review by your baby’s doctor or urgent care service:
- Crying sounds weak, high pitched, or different from your baby’s usual cry.
- Fever, breathing changes, or a baby who feels floppy or unusually still.
- Green vomit, blood in stool, or far fewer wet diapers than normal.
- Crying that started suddenly after a quiet spell or injury.
- No interest in feeds or clear weight loss.
Breastfed Baby Colic Triggers And Soothing Routines
Once you know that colic can happen in a breastfed baby, the next step is finding ways to live through it while protecting feeding and family wellbeing. Some small changes may ease symptoms, even if no single approach works for every baby. Think of these ideas as tools you can test, instead of strict rules or cures.
Feeding Tweaks That May Ease Colic
Some parents notice that small shifts in breastfeeding help their baby handle gas or fussing a little better. These ideas are safe to try for most families:
- Check latch and position: A deep latch can reduce swallowed air and help the baby transfer milk smoothly.
- Offer one breast per feed when supply is strong: Letting the baby feed longer on one side may reduce gulping and gassiness in some cases.
- Pause for burps: Short breaks during feeds give trapped air a chance to rise.
- Limit rushed changes: Dim lights and keep feeds calm to reduce extra stimulation.
Soothing Steps During A Colic Episode
During a crying spell, many parents move through a short list of calming tricks. The goal is not to find a magic fix, but to keep your baby as settled as possible and to remind yourself that this phase will pass.
| Soothing Approach | How It May Help | When To Try It |
|---|---|---|
| Holding Close | Skin-to-skin or cuddling on the chest can steady breathing and heart rate. | At the start of a crying spell or between feeds. |
| Rhythmic Motion | Slow rocking, gentle bouncing, or walking can soothe the nervous system. | When baby is fed and changed but still upset. |
| White Noise | Steady sounds like a fan or recording can dampen sudden noises. | During evening crying periods when the house feels noisy. |
| Swaddling Or Containment | A snug wrap or baby carrier can make a newborn feel secure. | For young babies who flail their arms and startle easily. |
| Fresh Air | A short walk outside can reset both you and your baby. | When you feel safe stepping out with another adult at home. |
Any technique that keeps your baby safe and helps you stay calm has value. If you feel yourself reaching the end of your patience, place your baby on their back in a safe sleep space and step into another room for a brief pause, then ask a trusted person to help if possible.
Looking After Yourself While Caring For A Colicky Baby
Colic does not only affect the baby. Long evenings of crying can leave parents drained, lonely, and unsure. Your wellbeing matters because tiredness makes it harder to respond to a fussy baby with patience.
Try to share shifts with a partner, friend, or relative so that one adult can sleep while the other cares for the baby. Keep easy snacks and water nearby, and rest during the day when your baby naps. Short messages to trusted people or online chats with other parents can help you feel less alone in this phase.
When To See A Doctor Urgently
Most babies with colic do not need tests or hospital care. Even so, some signs demand fast medical help. Seek urgent care, an emergency department, or your country’s urgent advice line if you notice any of the following:
- Fever in a baby under three months, based on your local health service threshold.
- Fast, labored, or noisy breathing, or a baby that looks blue around the lips.
- Repeated green or yellow vomit, or swelling of the tummy.
- Crying that stops your baby from waking or feeding at all.
- A rash that does not fade when pressed, or any seizure.
These signs can show illnesses that need urgent treatment and are not simple colic. If you are unsure where to turn, start with your regular pediatric service, after-hours clinic, or emergency care number.
Main Takeaways For Tired Parents
- Colic describes long, hard-to-soothe crying in a healthy baby, usually starting in the first weeks and easing by four to six months.
- Breastfeeding does not cause colic, and stopping breastfeeding rarely ends the crying on its own.
- Some babies have extra problems such as reflux or allergy that need medical care, so new red flag signs always need a doctor’s review.
- Soothing routines, feeding tweaks, and shared care can ease the strain on the whole family.
- Most families find that colic lifts over time, and the same baby who cries for hours at six weeks may laugh and play a few months later.
When you feel worn out and ask again, “can a breastfed baby get colic?”, the honest reply is yes. The good news is that colic nearly always settles with time, steady care, and help from your health team and trusted people around you.