Colic vs. Reflux: Telling Them Apart and Finding Relief

Few things are more distressing for new parents than a baby who cries inconsolably for hours. If your baby cries excessively, the first question is whether it is colic or reflux—two different conditions requiring different approaches.

Infantile colic is defined as inconsolable crying lasting more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, for longer than three weeks. It affects about 10 to 40% of infants and peaks around six weeks, typically resolving by three to six months. Colicky babies are otherwise healthy, eating well, and gaining weight. The cause remains unclear, but colic is self-limiting—it will resolve.

Reflux—the movement of stomach contents into the esophagus—is incredibly common. Most babies are happy spitters experiencing normal reflux without distress. Studies show that acid-blocking medication does not reduce colic. If your baby has colic, treating reflux will not help.

For colicky babies the approach is supportive. Gentle soothing techniques—rocking, white noise, swaddling, car rides—may help. Some breastfed babies improve when mothers eliminate dairy and eggs for two to four weeks. Taking turns with a partner during evening hours, when colic often peaks, helps you both survive these exhausting weeks. Colic is hard, but it ends.