As a new parent, listening to your baby cry can be heart-wrenching, especially when the crying seems endless and inconsolable. Colic, often described as excessive crying in an otherwise healthy infant, affects up to 1 in 5 babies. While it typically resolves on its own by 3-4 months of age, the distress it causes families can be overwhelming. Understanding the potential causes and solutions can help you navigate this challenging phase with greater confidence and compassion.

Colic is not a diagnosis but a pattern of behaviour characterized by:

• Intense crying for more than 3 hours a day
• Crying occurring more than 3 days a week
• Symptoms lasting longer than 3 weeks
• Crying often peaking in the evening hours

These episodes may be accompanied by clenched fists, arched backs, flushed faces, and difficulty soothing—even when all immediate needs (hunger, diaper change, comfort) have been met.

The exact cause of colic remains unknown, but several factors may contribute:

1. Digestive Immaturity: An infant’s digestive system is still developing, which can lead to gas, reflux, or uncomfortable spasms.
2. Neurological Overstimulation: Babies are learning to process sensory input (sound, light, touch), which can sometimes overwhelm their nervous system.
3. Microbiome Imbalance: Early gut health may influence discomfort and crying.
4. Birth-Related Tension: Physical strain during delivery (especially with forceps, vacuum, or rapid birth) can create subtle tensions in a baby’s skull, spine, or diaphragm, contributing to discomfort.

• While there’s no one-size-fits-all cure, these approaches may help:

  • Hold and Sway: Gentle motion—like rocking or carrying your baby in a front pack—can be calming.
  • White Noise: Sounds mimicking the womb (e.g., a fan, humidifier, or white noise machine) may provide comfort.
  • Tummy Time: Supervised time on their tummy can relieve gas and strengthen core muscles.
  • Warm Baths: Warm water can ease tension and distract from discomfort.
  • Check Feeding Technique: If bottle-feeding, try a slower-flow nipple. If breastfeeding, assess latch with a lactation consultant.

Consult your pediatrician if:

• Your baby has a fever, isn’t gaining weight, or shows signs of dehydration.
• The crying is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy.
• You’re feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or unsure how to cope.

When traditional soothing methods aren’t enough, osteopathy can provide a gentle, drug-free option for managing colic. Osteopathic practitioners are trained to identify subtle physical tensions—particularly in the head, neck, diaphragm, and abdomen—that may contribute to digestive discomfort or nervous system overload.

Using light, precise manual techniques, osteopathy can:

• Release tension in the vagus nerve (which regulates digestion).
• Improve mobility of the diaphragm and stomach.
• Ease cranial strain that might irritate nerves involved in gut function.
• Calm the nervous system to help babies self-regulate.

Many parents report reduced crying, improved sleep, and easier feeding after osteopathic treatment. By supporting the body’s natural ability to relax and heal, osteopathy addresses potential underlying causes of colic—not just the symptoms.

1. Carr, A., et al. (2020).The effect of osteopathic manipulative therapy on infantile colic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 48, 102255.
2. Dobson, D., et al. (2012).Manipulative therapies for infantile colic. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 12, CD004796.
3. Pizzolorusso, G., et al. (2014).Effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on length of stay of preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Pediatrics, 14, 191.
4. Hayden, C., & Mullinger, B. (2006).A preliminary assessment of the impact of cranial osteopathy for the relief of infantile colic. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 12(2), 83-90.