Department of Pediatrics
Department of Pediatrics
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Infant Colic:

the not-so-silent stranger in the house


The Clinic for Colic

There are few things that cause such stress to new parents as the sound of their baby crying. There are few things more satisfying to a new parent than soothing their baby's cries. It is not surprising then that infant colic (excessive infant crying) is one of the most common reasons for visits to the pediatrician (outside of the well-child visits) in the first few months of a baby's life. Parents of infants with colic feel helpless. Some parents of infants with colic feel despair ("I must not be a good parent") and frustration ("I must be doing something wrong"), and others fear ("will it strike today") or even anger ("why won't he just stop crying"). These are all normal feelings in response to infant colic. While much is known about infant colic (it goes away), much is still a mystery (what causes it).

Despite the absence of a specific test, x-ray, or physical findings to make the diagnosis of infant colic, there are some characteristic patterns. Babies usually slowly increase their amount of crying between 2 and 4 weeks of age. Parents commonly report that their baby "changed" at 4 to 6 weeks. Parents of infants with colic usually report that the crying clusters in the evening time; there is often a "witching hour". The baby seems to be in pain: legs drawn up to their belly, face red, hands clenched. Often the baby will pass some gas. The parents often report that the baby likes being held or rocked and will cry immediately when placed down. Many families will place their baby in a car seat and drive them in the car. Common criteria used by pediatricians to diagnose colic are an infant who cries more than 3 hours in a day, for more than three days in a week, for greater than 3 weeks ("the rule of 3's").

Infant colic is quite common. It affects between 10 and 20% of all babies and thus most pediatricians have developed their own styles of handling babies with colic (and their parents!). The most important first step in thinking about a child with extreme crying is to make sure that there is no recognizable underlying cause for the crying. If you think that your baby may have colic, it is crucial to have them evaluated by their pediatrician.

Some pediatricians will prescribe medications for colic. This should be discouraged. No medications help infants with colic, and some may have dangerous side effects. The most important thing your pediatrician can do is to address any parental frustration or sadness. Parents should have "crying holidays" (a break given by another adult for a period of time). It is important that parents never, ever shake their baby for any reason. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Colic is seen as a short, but noisy, detour on the road of parenthood.

We offer a consultation service for you and you primary care provider.

  • This is designed to be a consultation/referral clinic to help primary practitioners manage infants with excessive crying (colic). We don't provide other primary care services. Any non-emergent, non-colic questions or concerns will be referred back to your doctor.
  • The primary goal is to see infants with presumed colic between 2 weeks and 3 months. The earlier the better.
  • Families will be offered the opportunity to participate in one of two research projects if they qualify. They have all been approved by the UTH IRB and deemed "low risk" to the infant and family.
  • Currently the clinic is scheduled to meet on Tuesday and Friday mornings in the Texas Medical Center (right across the street from Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital).

    • Download clinic brochure

    To schedule an appointment for the Colic Clinic
    Phone: 832-525-2617
    Email: The Colic Clinic
    Fax: 713-500-0519

    Visit The Fussy Baby Site

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