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 options1 graded A2 graded C3 traditional or ungraded
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Choose what sounds familiar, then choose the kind of support you want to explore. HealisticMD narrows the library without presenting the result as personal medical advice.
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.
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.
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.
EvidenceSupported by controlled trials · Centuries of traditional useTime to resultsTypically 1-3 weeksTraditional useLong-standing traditional staple
Caution: Use only infant-specific probiotic products, and check with your pediatrician before starting one in a newborn.
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.
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.
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.
EvidenceCenturies of traditional use · Limited human trials so farTime to resultsOften within 1-2 weeksTraditional useLong-standing traditional staple
Caution: Talk to your pediatrician before giving any herb to a baby, and avoid essential oils in infants.
Evidence grade not assigned · Traditional use recognised
Worth checking if fussiness is hard to pin down
Why it may be relevant
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.
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.
Key study Presented as a deficiency-awareness prompt; the colic link is observational and not confirmed by a cited trial here.
EvidenceNot yet assessed · We have not reviewed the literature for this oneTime to resultsVaries; this is a general wellbeing check rather than a quick fixTraditional useRecognised traditional use
Caution: Do not exceed pediatric vitamin D dosing, and confirm any supplement with your pediatrician.
When the crying hits, what does it mostly look like for your baby?
Lots of gas, a tight or bloated tummy, legs pulled up - it really seems digestive
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.
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.
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.
EvidenceSupported by controlled trials · Centuries of traditional useTime to resultsTypically 1-3 weeksTraditional useLong-standing traditional staple
Caution: Use only infant-specific probiotic products, and check with your pediatrician before starting one in a newborn.
Evidence grade not assigned · Traditional use classical
Classic carminative herb for gas and tummy spasm
Why it may be relevant
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.
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.
Key study Traditionally used as a carminative for digestive gas; no specific infant-colic trial is cited here.
EvidenceCenturies of traditional use across more than one tradition · Human evidence not yet assessedTime to resultsOften within 1-2 weeksTraditional useClassical use across multiple traditions
Caution: Do not give fennel essential oil to infants; discuss any herbal use with your pediatrician first, especially in newborns.
Evidence grade not assigned · Traditional use long-standing
Gentle gut-microbiome support for gas-related fussiness
Why it may be relevant
When the crying seems tied to gas and tummy discomfort, gently supporting a healthy gut microbiome is a reasonable place to start.
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.
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.
EvidenceCenturies of traditional use · Human evidence not yet assessedTime to resultsTypically 2–4 weeksTraditional useLong-standing traditional staple
Caution: Use only infant-formulated products, and check with your pediatrician before giving any supplement to a newborn.
When colic appears more tension- or stress-driven, a gentle manual therapy approach may help calm an overstimulated nervous system.
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.
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.
EvidenceLimited human trials so far · Most of the research is laboratory or animal workTime to resultsTypically 2–6 weeks
Caution: Ensure the practitioner is trained and experienced specifically with newborns and infants.
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.
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.
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.
EvidenceCenturies of traditional use · Limited human trials so farTime to resultsOften within 1-2 weeksTraditional useLong-standing traditional staple
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. A higher grade is not a personal recommendation. Nothing here is medical advice — talk to your clinician before starting anything, especially alongside prescription medication.
We track 5 natural options for Infant Colic — what each is typically used for, usual dose, cautions, and the study behind the ones with real trial data.
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