4.8
Infant Colic: natural remedies and the evidence behind them
Infant colic is characterized by episodes of intense, inconsolable crying in an otherwise healthy baby, typically peaking around 6 weeks of age.
6 options · 1 graded A · 2 graded C · 3 traditional or ungraded
When the crying hits, what does it mostly look like for your baby?
Honestly it's a mix, or I can't tell what's driving the crying - I just want to help
Lactobacillus reuteri
Supported by controlled trials· Centuries of traditional use (Evidence grade A · Traditional use long-standing)Long-standing traditional stapleWell-known probiotic for infant digestive comfort
- Why this matches
- Since the crying seems gas- and tummy-driven, this probiotic strain is one of the most commonly chosen options for supporting a colicky baby's gut.
- Why try it
- Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 is the most studied probiotic for colic. A meta-analysis of randomized trials found it reduced daily crying time, with the clearest benefit in exclusively breastfed babies; results in formula-fed infants are less consistent.
- Dose or use
- Use an infant-formulated L. reuteri drop per the label; confirm dosing with your pediatrician.
- Time to results
- Typically 1-3 weeks
- Key study
- Meta-Analysis (2024, PMID 37962097): Probiotics for infantile colic: Is there evidence beyond doubt? A meta-analysis and systematic review. Pooled RCTs showed L. reuteri DSM 17938 reduced crying by roughly 65 minutes per day (p=0.03), with the strongest effect in exclusively breastfed infants.
- Caution
- Use only infant-specific probiotic products, and check with your pediatrician before starting one in a newborn.
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
Centuries of traditional use· Limited human trials so far (Evidence grade C · Traditional use long-standing)Long-standing traditional stapleGentle calming, carminative herb
- Why this matches
- When the crying feels more tense than tummy-driven, lemon balm is traditionally used as a gentle, calming herb that may also ease mild digestive upset.
- Why try it
- Lemon balm is a traditional calming, carminative herb. In infants it has been tested only within a herbal combination (with chamomile and a probiotic), which reduced colic crying in one open trial, so its standalone effect is not established. Treat it as a gentle traditional option.
- Dose or use
- For infants, use only under a pediatrician's guidance and choose infant-appropriate preparations.
- Time to results
- Often within 1-2 weeks
- Key study
- Open randomized controlled trial (2017, PMID 28665038): Efficacy of a standardized extract of Matricaria chamomilla, Melissa officinalis and tyndallized Lactobacillus acidophilus (HA122) in infantile colic. The combination reduced daily crying versus simethicone, but because lemon balm was given within a multi-ingredient product its individual effect cannot be separated.
- Caution
- Talk to your pediatrician before giving any herb to a baby, and avoid essential oils in infants.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Not yet assessed· We have not reviewed the literature for this one (Evidence grade not assigned · Traditional use recognised)Recognised traditional useWorth checking if fussiness is hard to pin down
- Why this matches
- When the fussiness is general or hard to categorize, it can be worth making sure simple basics like your baby's vitamin D status are not being overlooked.
- Why try it
- Lower vitamin D status has been observed alongside more infant crying in some reports. This card is educational, a prompt to discuss vitamin D with your pediatrician, not a treatment claim.
- Dose or use
- Many breastfed babies are advised a daily vitamin D drop; ask your pediatrician about the right amount for your baby.
- Time to results
- Varies; this is a general wellbeing check rather than a quick fix
- Key study
- Presented as a deficiency-awareness prompt; the colic link is observational and not confirmed by a cited trial here.
- Caution
- Do not exceed pediatric vitamin D dosing, and confirm any supplement with your pediatrician.
Lots of gas, a tight or bloated tummy, legs pulled up - it really seems digestive
Lactobacillus reuteri
Supported by controlled trials· Centuries of traditional use (Evidence grade A · Traditional use long-standing)Long-standing traditional stapleWell-known probiotic for infant digestive comfort
- Why this matches
- Since the crying seems gas- and tummy-driven, this probiotic strain is one of the most commonly chosen options for supporting a colicky baby's gut.
- Why try it
- Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 is the most studied probiotic for colic. A meta-analysis of randomized trials found it reduced daily crying time, with the clearest benefit in exclusively breastfed babies; results in formula-fed infants are less consistent.
- Dose or use
- Use an infant-formulated L. reuteri drop per the label; confirm dosing with your pediatrician.
- Time to results
- Typically 1-3 weeks
- Key study
- Meta-Analysis (2024, PMID 37962097): Probiotics for infantile colic: Is there evidence beyond doubt? A meta-analysis and systematic review. Pooled RCTs showed L. reuteri DSM 17938 reduced crying by roughly 65 minutes per day (p=0.03), with the strongest effect in exclusively breastfed infants.
- Caution
- Use only infant-specific probiotic products, and check with your pediatrician before starting one in a newborn.
Fennel
Centuries of traditional use across more than one tradition· Human evidence not yet assessed (Evidence grade not assigned · Traditional use classical)Classical use across multiple traditionsClassic carminative herb for gas and tummy spasm
- Why this matches
- You told us the crying comes with gas and bloating, and fennel is a traditional carminative used to help ease trapped gas and calm digestive spasm.
- Why try it
- Fennel has a long traditional history as a gentle digestive and anti-gas herb. It is offered here as a traditional option rather than from a cited infant trial.
- Dose or use
- For infants, use only under a pediatrician's guidance; never give whole seeds or essential oil directly to a baby.
- Time to results
- Often within 1-2 weeks
- Key study
- Traditionally used as a carminative for digestive gas; no specific infant-colic trial is cited here.
- Caution
- Do not give fennel essential oil to infants; discuss any herbal use with your pediatrician first, especially in newborns.
Lactobacillus Acidophilus
Centuries of traditional use· Human evidence not yet assessed (Evidence grade not assigned · Traditional use long-standing)Long-standing traditional stapleGentle gut-microbiome support for gas-related fussiness
- Why this matches
- When the crying seems tied to gas and tummy discomfort, gently supporting a healthy gut microbiome is a reasonable place to start.
- Why try it
- Probiotics are widely used to support the developing infant gut. Note that the strongest colic research points to other strains (such as L. reuteri) rather than acidophilus, so treat this as general microbiome support.
- Dose or use
- Follow product labeling for infant-specific probiotic drops; consult a healthcare practitioner.
- Time to results
- Typically 2–4 weeks
- Key study
- Presented as general gut-microbiome support; this specific strain's use for infant colic has not been confirmed in a cited controlled trial.
- Caution
- Use only infant-formulated products, and check with your pediatrician before giving any supplement to a newborn.
My baby seems wound-up, tense, or overstimulated - more nerves than tummy
Craniosacral Therapy
Limited human trials so far· Most of the research is laboratory or animal work (Evidence grade C · No traditional record)Gentle hands-on therapy for crying and tension
- Why this matches
- When colic appears more tension- or stress-driven, a gentle manual therapy approach may help calm an overstimulated nervous system.
- Why try it
- One small randomized trial suggests this gentle hands-on therapy may help reduce crying in colicky infants, but the evidence is preliminary and has not been replicated.
- Dose or use
- Seek a certified craniosacral therapist experienced with infants; session frequency guided by the practitioner.
- Time to results
- Typically 2–6 weeks
- Key study
- Single RCT (2022, PMID 36113708): Treatment of infant colic with craniosacral therapy — a small randomized controlled trial; findings are preliminary and await replication.
- Caution
- Ensure the practitioner is trained and experienced specifically with newborns and infants.
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
Centuries of traditional use· Limited human trials so far (Evidence grade C · Traditional use long-standing)Long-standing traditional stapleGentle calming, carminative herb
- Why this matches
- When the crying feels more tense than tummy-driven, lemon balm is traditionally used as a gentle, calming herb that may also ease mild digestive upset.
- Why try it
- Lemon balm is a traditional calming, carminative herb. In infants it has been tested only within a herbal combination (with chamomile and a probiotic), which reduced colic crying in one open trial, so its standalone effect is not established. Treat it as a gentle traditional option.
- Dose or use
- For infants, use only under a pediatrician's guidance and choose infant-appropriate preparations.
- Time to results
- Often within 1-2 weeks
- Key study
- Open randomized controlled trial (2017, PMID 28665038): Efficacy of a standardized extract of Matricaria chamomilla, Melissa officinalis and tyndallized Lactobacillus acidophilus (HA122) in infantile colic. The combination reduced daily crying versus simethicone, but because lemon balm was given within a multi-ingredient product its individual effect cannot be separated.
- Caution
- Talk to your pediatrician before giving any herb to a baby, and avoid essential oils in infants.
Evidence grades describe the strength of published research for Infant Colic, not a promise of results. Nothing here is medical advice — talk to your clinician before starting anything, especially alongside prescription medication.