Colic & Excessive Crying

Colic and excessive crying describe long stretches of intense, hard-to-soothe crying in an otherwise healthy, well-fed baby, often in the late afternoon or evening. It is common in newborns and young infants, and while it is exhausting and worrying for parents, it is usually a phase that passes as the baby grows. The nervous system is part of what is happening underneath. In the early months, a baby's nervous system is brand new and still learning to settle, to handle stimulation, and to move between alert and calm. When that system is working hard to find its rhythm, fussiness and crying can be one of the ways it shows up.

Every baby is different, and colic does not look exactly the same from one infant to the next. Many parents notice patterns, with crying that clusters at certain times of day, ramps up when the baby is overtired or overstimulated, or comes alongside gas, squirming, and difficulty settling. Tension a baby may carry from pregnancy or birth, and the simple fact that the nervous system is still maturing, are among the things worth gently considering as part of the whole picture, together with feeding, sleep, and daily routines.

Our approach begins with a thorough, gentle evaluation to understand how your baby's nervous system is functioning. From there, any care we provide is very gentle and personalized, with the goal of supporting your baby's developing ability to settle and self-regulate. We make no cure claims and offer no timelines, and we always work alongside your pediatrician-led care, never in place of it. If you are running on no sleep and feeling stretched thin, please know that is normal too, you are doing a good job, and we are glad to be one calm, supportive part of your baby's care team.