Is My Baby Crying Too Much? Colic, PURPLE Crying & When to Worry
Quick Answer: Crying peaks at around 6 weeks of age and then gradually reduces. A baby crying 1-3 hours a day at this peak is within the normal range, even when it does not feel that way. Colic — defined as more than 3 hours of crying per day, more than 3 days per week, for more than 3 weeks — affects 10-40% of babies and typically resolves by 3-4 months. The fact that it resolves without treatment is not a failure to find the cause — for most babies, there is no identifiable cause.
How Much Do Babies Normally Cry?
All babies cry. Crying is the primary communication tool for a pre-verbal infant. The question is not whether a baby cries — it is whether the amount and pattern is within the expected range.
Research across multiple cultures shows a remarkably consistent pattern:
- Crying increases from birth through the first 6 weeks
- It peaks around 6 weeks of age, when average daily crying is approximately 2-3 hours
- After 6 weeks, it gradually decreases
- By 3-4 months, average daily crying time drops to about 1 hour
This means the first 6-8 weeks of life are almost universally the most challenging, and the peak is universal — it happens in high-income countries, low-income countries, in cultures where babies are carried constantly and cultures where they are not.
Evening and early night are the most common times for peak crying, which is why the term “witching hour” exists. It is not caused by anything you did.
PURPLE Crying: A Framework That Helps
The Period of PURPLE Crying is a framework developed by infant researchers to help parents understand the normal peak period of inconsolable crying. PURPLE is a mnemonic:
P — Peak: Crying peaks at around 6 weeks and then decreases over the next several months
U — Unexpected: The crying can start and stop without any obvious reason, regardless of what the parent is doing
R — Resists soothing: During these episodes, the baby may not calm down with feeding, rocking, carrying, or other usual techniques — this is not because you are doing it wrong
P — Pain-like face: Even when the baby is not in pain, they may have a pain-like facial expression during these episodes
L — Long-lasting: Episodes may last 30-40 minutes or longer
E — Evening: Although these episodes can happen any time, they tend to cluster in the late afternoon and evening
Understanding that this is a developmental phase — not a failure on the parent’s part and not necessarily a sign of illness — does not make it less exhausting, but it does reframe what is happening.
What Is Colic?
Colic is diagnosed using the Wessel criteria (sometimes called the “rule of threes”):
- Crying for more than 3 hours per day
- More than 3 days per week
- For more than 3 weeks
- In an otherwise healthy, well-fed baby
By this definition, colic affects between 10% and 40% of babies depending on the study. It typically starts in the first 2-3 weeks of life, peaks at 6-8 weeks, and resolves in the majority of cases by 3-4 months.
What colic is not:
- A disease
- A sign that the baby is in constant pain (though they may appear to be)
- Caused by bad parenting
- Always caused by diet (though occasionally it is)
What causes colic?
The honest answer is that the exact cause is unknown and is probably different in different babies. Theories include:
- Gut microbiome: Some research shows colic may be associated with differences in the intestinal bacteria composition. Probiotic trials (particularly Lactobacillus reuteri) have shown modest benefit in breastfed babies in some studies.
- Gas and gut motility: The immature gut of a newborn moves food irregularly. Gas pain is real, though it is unclear whether it is the cause or a consequence of the crying.
- Maternal diet: In some breastfed babies, certain foods in the mother’s diet (particularly dairy, caffeine, cruciferous vegetables) seem to worsen symptoms. This is not universal.
- Overstimulation: A developing nervous system that becomes overwhelmed and cannot self-regulate.
- Parental anxiety: Parental stress and anxiety can affect how crying is perceived and may in some studies correlate with colic reporting, though the direction of causation is unclear.
None of these theories fully explains colic, and no single intervention reliably resolves it.
What Actually Helps
No treatment eliminates colic, but some approaches reduce the duration and intensity of crying episodes.
The 5 S’s (Harvey Karp Method)
These five techniques work together to activate what is described as a “calming reflex” in young babies:
- Swaddle: Wrap the baby snugly with arms at the sides. The contained feeling resembles the womb.
- Side/Stomach position: Hold the baby on their side or stomach while you are holding them (always place on back to sleep). This position reduces gas discomfort.
- Shush: Loud, consistent shushing sound close to the baby’s ear — louder than you think is appropriate. Matches the level of white noise in the womb (approximately 85-90 decibels).
- Swing: Small, fast, jiggly motion — not large rocking. Head support essential. Car rides are the classic version.
- Suck: Pacifier, clean finger, or breastfeeding for comfort sucking.
These work best in combination and in babies under 3 months. Persistence matters — hold and shush for 10-15 minutes, not 2 minutes.
White Noise
Consistent, loud white noise (fan, rain sounds, brown noise, or a white noise machine) is one of the more evidence-supported calming tools. It mimics the constant sound environment of the womb.
Skin-to-Skin Contact
Carrying the baby skin-to-skin — or in a carrier close to the parent’s body — reduces crying in research studies. The warmth and heartbeat sound are calming. In cultures where babies are carried almost constantly (which was historically the norm and remains so in many parts of India), colic rates are sometimes reported as lower, though this is difficult to study rigorously.
Going for a Drive
Car rides work reliably for many babies. The combination of motion, vibration, white noise from the engine, and confinement hits several of the calming mechanisms simultaneously.
Indian Remedies: What the Evidence Says
Gripe Water
Gripe water is probably the most universally used colic remedy in India. It comes in many formulations — the original 19th-century formulation contained alcohol (removed in modern preparations), and various Indian brands contain different combinations of ingredients including sodium bicarbonate, dill oil, fennel oil, ginger, and others.
The evidence is weak. Controlled trials of gripe water show no consistent benefit over placebo. More importantly, some formulations sold in India contain sugar, alcohol, or herbal ingredients that are not appropriate for newborns. The alcohol-containing formulations are harmful. There is no formulation of gripe water that has strong evidence behind it.
If you choose to use it: check the ingredient list, ensure it contains no alcohol, and use a reputable brand. Do not assume that because it is “herbal” or “natural” it is safe for a newborn.
Hing (Asafoetida)
Applying a paste of hing dissolved in water to the baby’s navel is a widespread Indian folk remedy for colic and gas. There is no published clinical evidence supporting this practice. The safety for newborns has not been established. At least one case report exists of skin burns from hing application.
Probiotics
Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 has the most evidence among probiotic strains for reducing crying time in breastfed colicky babies. Multiple trials show a reduction of approximately 50 minutes per day in crying. Effect in formula-fed babies is less clear. This is one of the few evidence-supported approaches, though it is not widely available in India under the trial strain name.
Maternal Diet and Colic
For breastfed babies, maternal diet can play a role in a subset of cases. A trial elimination of cow’s milk protein from the mother’s diet for 2 weeks is a reasonable first step if colic is severe. If there is clear improvement, the elimination is extended. Other potential triggers: soy, eggs, wheat, tree nuts, caffeine.
This approach works for some babies but not most. It is worth trying before medical intervention, but do not assume dairy is the cause if elimination does not help within 2 weeks.
When Crying Means Something Else
Persistent or unusual crying can occasionally indicate a medical problem. Think through this checklist:
Fever: Temperature above 38°C (100.4°F) in a baby under 3 months is always a reason to call the doctor. Crying with fever in a very young infant needs evaluation.
Ear infection (otitis media): More common after 6 months. Usually presents with fever, increased crying at night or when lying down, and sometimes pulling or rubbing at the ear.
Hernia: An inguinal (groin) hernia that becomes incarcerated causes sudden intense crying and a firm, tender lump in the groin. This is a surgical emergency.
Hair tourniquet: A single hair wrapped around a finger, toe, or (rarely) the penis can cause intense, persistent crying with no other obvious cause. If your baby has been crying inconsolably, check the fingers, toes, and genitals carefully. This is more likely if the household has people with long hair.
Corneal abrasion: Something in the eye (a hair, a scratch) causes a baby to cry persistently, and the eye may appear slightly closed or watery. If no other cause is found, a pediatric eye examination is worth doing.
Reflux: True gastro-oesophageal reflux causing significant pain (GORD) does occur but is over-diagnosed. Spitting up alone is not reflux disease. Reflux-related crying is typically associated with feeding — arching the back during or immediately after feeds, refusing to feed. If suspected, your pediatrician can assess.
Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Word to All Caregivers
When a baby has been crying for hours and nothing works, the urge to do something — anything — to make it stop is overwhelming. This is the most common context in which Shaken Baby Syndrome (abusive head trauma) occurs.
Shaking an infant — even briefly — causes catastrophic, often fatal brain injury. The infant’s neck muscles cannot support the head, and shaking causes the brain to move violently inside the skull.
If you have reached the point where you feel you cannot cope:
- Put the baby down safely on their back in the cot
- Leave the room
- Call someone — a partner, a parent, a friend — to take over
- Take 10-15 minutes to recover
Putting a crying baby down and walking away for a few minutes is safe. The baby will not be harmed by crying for 15 minutes while you collect yourself. Being put in a cot is always safer than being held by someone who has lost control.
This is not a failure. This is a safety measure. Every parent of a colicky baby will reach this threshold at some point.
When to Call the Doctor
- Fever above 38°C (100.4°F) in a baby under 3 months
- Unusual high-pitched cry unlike the baby’s normal crying (can indicate neurological issue or pain)
- Bile-coloured (green or yellow) vomiting with crying — possible intestinal obstruction
- Inconsolable crying lasting more than 3 hours that does not improve
- Visible lump in groin during a crying episode
- Crying that suddenly worsened significantly after being well
- Baby seems unwell — lethargic, difficult to rouse, refusing all feeds
- You notice your baby has a hair around a digit
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My baby cries every evening from 7pm to 10pm and nothing helps. Is this colic?
A: By the timing pattern alone, this fits the PURPLE crying / colic pattern closely. Evening clustering of inconsolable crying is one of the most consistent features of the normal peak period. Try the 5 S’s, white noise, going for a drive, and skin-to-skin carrying in turns. This phase typically resolves by 3-4 months. Keep a note of total daily crying hours — if the baby is otherwise healthy, feeding well, and gaining weight, this is almost certainly the normal developmental peak.
Q: My mother says gripe water worked for my colic as a baby, so I should give it to my baby too.
A: Many parents and grandparents believe gripe water worked, and the belief is deeply held across generations. The reality is that most babies with colic improve by 3-4 months regardless of what is given — the timing of the “cure” coincides with the natural resolution. If you use gripe water, ensure the formulation contains no alcohol and no ingredients not approved for infant use. It is unlikely to cause harm in safe formulations but is also unlikely to provide meaningful benefit.
Q: Could my baby have reflux? She cries a lot after feeds.
A: Reflux (spitting up) is very common and usually not painful. True reflux disease causing significant discomfort (GORD) is less common than the diagnosis suggests. Signs that distinguish painful reflux from normal spitting up include: arching the back and pulling off the feed in obvious distress, refusing to feed, poor weight gain, and regurgitation that is clearly painful. Spitting up without distress, with normal weight gain, is “happy spitter” reflux and does not need treatment.
Q: My baby is 4 months old and still crying 2-3 hours every day. Should this have stopped?
A: By 4 months, most babies have passed the peak and crying is reducing. If daily crying is still 2-3 hours at 4 months and has not improved since 6-8 weeks, it is worth a thorough assessment by your pediatrician to check for underlying causes (feeding issue, reflux, allergy). This does not mean something serious is wrong, but a 4-month-old with high-volume persistent crying deserves evaluation rather than reassurance that it will pass.
This article was reviewed by pediatricians at Babynama. Last updated: March 2026
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