Soothing  ·  Newborn

Colic or Normal Crying? The Rule of 3s + Red Flags

Is all this crying colic, or is something wrong with my baby?

His face is bright red and he’s cried for three hours straight — do I need to go to the ER? First rule out anything serious - read the red flags below. Only if your baby is feeding well, gaining weight, has normal diapers, and looks healthy between cries is this likely colic. Colic is a diagnosis made after serious causes are ruled out, not the first answer.

4 min read Soothing Updated June 2026

Call 911 now if

  • Your baby stops breathing for more than 20 seconds, OR has any breathing pause with blue or gray lips, face, or tongue, limpness, or no response
  • Your baby turns blue or gray, or is gasping
  • Your baby is limp and unresponsive or will not wake
  • If your baby is not breathing or not responding, begin infant CPR now - the 911 dispatcher will talk you through it step by step, no training needed
  • Green or yellow-green (bile) vomit, or vomiting blood (bright red or coffee-ground) - go now
  • A high-pitched cry with arching, stiffening, or limpness (possible severe jaundice) - go now

The Rule of 3s (a common way doctors describe colic)

  • Crying for more than 3 hours a day
  • More than 3 days a week
  • For more than 3 weeks in a row
  • In an otherwise healthy, well-fed baby
  • Often worse in the late afternoon or evening

When it usually peaks and ends

Weeks 2-3
  • Crying spells start to ramp up
  • Often clusters in the evening

This is a normal part of newborn development for many babies.

Around 6 weeks
  • Crying is usually at its worst
  • The hardest stretch for most parents

For babies with true colic, this is usually the peak and it eases from here. But if anything in the red-flag list is present, this is not colic - get care now.

By 3-4 months
  • Crying eases a lot
  • Most colic resolves on its own

Colic does not last. There is a clear end to this.

Calm-down steps to try (one at a time)

  1. Step 1Check the basics first: hunger, a wet or dirty diaper, too hot or too cold, a burp.
  2. Step 2Hold and soothe: skin to skin, gentle rocking, walking, or a baby carrier. Always support the head and neck, and never shake a baby.
  3. Step 3Add steady sound and motion: white noise, a quiet shushing, or a calm stroller walk.
  4. Step 4Try a pacifier or offer a feed if it has been a while. If you swaddle, swaddle snug across the arms only, always place baby on the back, and stop swaddling as soon as baby shows any sign of trying to roll (often around 2 months). Never swaddle for sleep on the side or stomach.
  5. Step 5If you feel overwhelmed, place baby safely on their back on a firm flat surface in a bare crib (alone, room-share not bed-share, no inclined sleepers, swings, car seats, or loungers for sleep), step away for a few minutes, and breathe. Never shake a baby.

Call your pediatrician right away if

  • Rectal temperature of 100.4F (38C) or higher in a baby under 3 months - this is an emergency, call now, and if you cannot reach them go to the ER
  • Low temperature: rectal temp under about 97.7F (36.4C), or baby is cold, mottled, or hard to warm (a newborn infection can show up as a low temp) - call now
  • Fast or labored breathing, grunting with each breath, nostril flaring, or ribs and chest pulling in (retractions)
  • Skin or whites of the eyes look yellow - especially in the first 24 hours, spreading down to the belly, arms, or legs, or getting more yellow - call right away; with poor feeding, sleepiness, or a high-pitched cry, seek care urgently
  • Refusing to feed or feeding poorly, or signs of dehydration: fewer wet diapers than usual (under about 6 a day, or no wet diaper in 6-8 hours), dark urine, dry mouth, no tears when crying, or a sunken soft spot on the head
  • Unusually sleepy, limp, hard to wake, or floppy (lethargic)
  • Forceful or projectile vomiting, or blood or red currant-jelly stool (note: green or yellow-green bile vomit, or blood in the vomit, is a 911 emergency above - go now)
  • A sudden change in crying, hours of inconsolable crying unlike your baby's usual pattern, or crying while pulling the legs up to the belly (possibly with vomiting or red currant-jelly stool) - this can be intussusception, get medical care now
  • The cry sounds different: very high-pitched, weak, or moaning
  • Any swelling, bruising, or a fall, or your gut says something is wrong

Once serious causes are ruled out, take heart: colic says nothing about you as a parent. You did not cause it, and you are doing a good job through a very hard stretch.

Quick answers

How can I tell colic from a baby who is actually sick?
Colicky babies are healthy between crying spells: they feed, gain weight, and have normal diapers. A sick baby usually shows other signs like fever, poor feeding, vomiting, yellow skin, trouble breathing, or being very sleepy and limp. Rule out the red flags above first. When in doubt, call your pediatrician.
Is it safe to put my baby down if I need a break?
Yes. If you feel overwhelmed, it is safe to place your baby on their back on a firm flat surface in a bare crib, alone, and step away for a few minutes to calm down. A crying baby in a safe crib is fine. Never shake a baby.
Will gripe water or gas drops cure colic?
There is no proven cure for colic, and it usually passes on its own by 3-4 months. Talk to your pediatrician before trying any drops or formula changes. Gripe water is not regulated like medicine and some products have contained alcohol or other ingredients, so check with your pediatrician first.

Sources & further reading

  1. American Academy of Pediatrics — HealthyChildren.org

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This guide reflects current AAP and CDC guidance and is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. ParentFlow is a wellness companion — not a substitute for your pediatrician. For any medical concern, contact your healthcare provider.