Colic 101: What New Moms Need to Know

Babies who are frequently upset or screaming at the breast, who are distraught, incessantly crying, or always fussy—especially babies who pull their legs to their stomach and kick them away, who are gassy and uncomfortable—are often said to have colic.

As a new mother, dealing with a colicky baby can be overwhelming, but you are not alone. And here’s the good news: colic symptoms often have real, treatable causes.

One surprisingly common cause of colic-like symptoms is lactose overload.

Lactose overload often happens when a mother has a very abundant milk supply ⁽¹⁾ . It’s not a problem with the milk itself, and it’s not because the baby can’t digest lactose properly. The real issue is that the baby isn’t getting a balanced mix of the milk — specifically, they’re getting more of the watery, sugar-rich milk from the beginning of a feed and not enough of the creamier, fat-rich milk from the end of a feed.

• Try nursing on just one side per feeding and let your baby fully empty that breast before switching.

• Use breast compressions to help the richer fatty milk flow faster.

• If you have an overactive let-down, hand-express or pump a little milk first before latching your baby.

Also, according to Hilary Jacobson, author of Mother Food, if you're following a low-fat diet, your milk might naturally be lower in fat, too. Boosting healthy fats in your meals — like olive oil, flaxseed oil, fish oil, and butter — can make a big difference.

If your baby still seems unsettled, look at your diet. Sugar and caffeine can sneak into your breast milk and affect your baby’s mood, digestion, and sleep.

• Cut back on sugary snacks and processed foods.

• Limit or avoid coffee, soda, and other caffeinated drinks.

Even small changes can lead to big improvements.

Some babies who seem colicky are actually struggling with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) — where acidic stomach contents back up (reflux) into the esophagus, causing inflammation and pain ⁽²⁾ .

• Spitting up or vomiting large amounts after feeds

• Arching backward in pain

• Fussiness at the breast

• Seeming constantly hungry but not truly feeding

• Try keeping your baby's head higher than their tummy during and after feeds.

• Talk to your pediatrician — there are treatments that can help, from dietary changes to medication if needed.

GERD can cause babies to refuse feeds, cry endlessly, and even cause a mother’s milk supply to drop — so don’t hesitate to get professional support from a lactation consultant.

Sometimes colic is caused by a food sensitivity or allergy. Babies can react to something in your diet, especially:

• Dairy products

• Wheat (gluten)

• Soy

• Corn

• Eggs

• Peanuts

• Always speak with your doctor before beginning any elimination diet

• Keep a food and symptom journal.

• Record the time of day, what you eat and drink, what your baby’s poop looks like, and any behavioral changes.

• Try eliminating dairy first for 3–4 weeks. If no change, move to other common allergens one at a time.

Colic isn’t always about what baby is eating—sometimes it’s how.

Oral ties like tongue-tie or lip-tie can make it hard for babies to latch properly ⁽³⁾ . Poor latch can mean excess air intake, poor milk transfer, frequent feeds, and gassiness.

• Clicking or popping off the breast

• Poor weight gain

• Milk leaking from baby’s mouth

• Fussiness or frustration during feeds

An oral assessment by an IBCLC or pediatric dentist can help determine whether a tongue or lip tie might be at play. If needed, a procedure (called a frenotomy) may dramatically improve feeding.

Body tension can also mimic colic. Babies who experienced a difficult birth, in-utero constraint, or simply have tight fascia may struggle with digestion and latch.

• Arching, stiff posture

• Trouble turning head side to side

• Preference for one side

• Fussing when laid flat

Gentle therapies like infant chiropractic care or craniosacral therapy may help relax the nervous system, reduce digestive issues, and improve latch.

Another important factor in colic is the state of the infant gut microbiome—the community of beneficial bacteria that lives in the digestive tract. At birth, a baby’s gut is relatively sterile, and it develops its microbiota over time through exposures like vaginal birth, skin-to-skin contact, and breast milk. This developing ecosystem plays a critical role in digestion, immune function, and inflammation ⁽¹⁾ .

Disruptions in the gut microbiota—whether due to cesarean birth, antibiotic exposure, or lack of breastfeeding—have been linked to higher rates of colic ^(2). A lack of beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium may increase intestinal permeability and inflammation, contributing to discomfort and excessive crying ⁽³⁾ .

Supporting the gut through breast milk, probiotics, and minimizing unnecessary antibiotic use can help nurture a more balanced microbiome—and a more comfortable baby.

The simple act of holding and carrying your baby more often — even when they're not crying — can help soothe colic. Babywearing can relieve gas, especially after feeding.

• Special holding positions (like the "colic carry")

• Gentle bouncing or rocking

• Warm baths

• Baby massage

• Singing and talking rhythmically

• Burping during and after feeds

Physical closeness and emotional reassurance go a long way toward calming an overwhelmed baby — and an overwhelmed mama.

Research shows that certain probiotic strains may help reduce crying time in colicky babies.

• Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG

• Lactobacillus reuteri

One study found that babies who took Lactobacillus reuteri had fewer spit-up episodes, improved gastric emptying, and less bloating ⁽⁵⁾ . These probiotics support gut health, digestion, and immune resilience — and can be found in Legendairy Milk’s Organic Probiotic Drops.

If you’re in the thick of colic, exhausted and second-guessing yourself—you are not failing. You are doing an incredible job.

Colic is almost always temporary, and there are real, actionable steps you can take to support your baby’s digestion and comfort.

You are not alone. And you’ve got this. Let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

1. https://llli.org/breastfeeding-info/foremilk-and-hindmilk/

2. https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/gastroesophageal-reflux-disease-gerd-in-infants

3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17931-tongue-tie-ankyloglossia

4. Borre YE, et al. (2014). Microbiota and the gut-brain axis. Nutr Rev.

5. Sung V, et al. (2018). Probiotics to prevent or treat excessive infant crying. JAMA Pediatrics.

6. Rhoads JM, et al. (2018). Infant colic: New insights into an old problem. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr.

7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21114493

8. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229921001229

9. https://llli.org/breastfeeding-info/tongue-lip-ties

10. https://www.balancechiroandrehab.com/blog/b48zpqv5k2h6tjknetmcbmaha6m450