Baby Colic in Pakistan: Causes, Signs & Safe Remedies for Parents (2026)
Baby colic causes hours of crying in healthy infants. Learn the signs, the rule of threes, safe soothing techniques, when drops may help, and red flags needing a paediatrician.
According to the NHS, colic affects up to 1 in 5 babies in their first months, usually starting around 2 to 4 weeks of age. If your baby cries for hours and nothing soothes them, you are not alone, and it is not your fault. This guide covers baby colic in Pakistan, why it happens, safe soothing techniques, and when colic drops may help, always alongside your paediatrician's advice, never instead of it.
What is baby colic?
Colic is excessive, frequent crying in an otherwise healthy, well-fed baby, with no clear cause during an episode.
Doctors often describe it with the "rule of threes". Crying that lasts more than 3 hours a day, on more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks, in a baby who is otherwise thriving.
Colic itself is not dangerous. But because it can look similar to more serious problems, it should always be confirmed by a paediatrician, not guessed at home. If your baby's crying matches the rule of threes, or you are simply unsure, book a paediatric review before assuming it is "just colic".
Why does colic happen?
Nobody knows the exact cause. Several factors are thought to play a part.
- An immature digestive system still learning to move milk and gas along.
- Trapped wind or gas bubbles, causing real discomfort.
- Feeding technique, such as swallowing air during a fast feed.
- In breastfeeding mothers, sometimes maternal diet is linked to fussiness, though evidence here is mixed.
- An overtired nervous system by evening, which is why colic often peaks in the late afternoon.
None of this means you fed your baby wrongly. Colic happens even with careful, attentive parenting.
Colic in the Pakistani home, what parents notice
In Pakistan, joint family households often have many opinions on a crying baby, from gripe water to maternal diet to the weather. Heat and humidity can add to a fussy baby's discomfort, so a cool nursery and light clothing can help.
Treat family advice as a starting point, not a diagnosis. Only a paediatrician who has examined your baby can rule out other causes of crying.
Non-drug soothing techniques to try first
Before reaching for any drops, most paediatricians recommend gentle, non-drug techniques. These are safe to try at home for a well, thriving baby.
- Burping technique. Hold your baby upright on your shoulder and pat their back gently after every feed, and midway through if they feed slowly.
- Tummy massage. With clean, warm hands, massage the tummy in a gentle clockwise direction to help move trapped gas along.
- Gentle bicycle legs. Lay your baby on their back and cycle their legs gently towards the tummy to help release wind.
- Warm bath. A warm, calm bath before the evening fussy period can relax a tense baby.
- White noise. A steady sound such as a fan or white noise app can mimic the womb and settle some babies.
- Holding upright after feeds. Keep your baby upright for 15 to 20 minutes after a feed to reduce reflux and trapped air.
- Paced bottle feeding. Hold the bottle more horizontally and pause often, so your baby swallows less air.
Try one change at a time, and keep a simple diary of feeds and crying times to see what helps.
When gripe water style drops may help
If gentle techniques are not enough, some parents ask their pharmacist or paediatrician about simethicone or herbal gripe water style drops.
Simethicone works by breaking up small gas bubbles trapped in the stomach and gut into larger ones, easier for a baby to bring up or pass, easing pressure and discomfort. Herbal gripe water style formulas combine soothing ingredients traditionally used to settle a fussy tummy.
One such option available in Pakistan is Kidogest Herbal Colic Drops for Babies, formulated to help ease trapped gas discomfort in infants, priced at PKR 165.
Important: never give any colic drop, including Kidogest, to your baby without first checking with your paediatrician or pharmacist. This applies to every brand of drops, herbal or otherwise. A doctor or pharmacist can confirm the product suits your baby's age and weight, and will not interact with anything else your baby is taking.
Safe dosing, always follow the label and your doctor
If your paediatrician or pharmacist agrees that colic drops are suitable, safe use depends on following guidance carefully.
- Check the product label for the correct dose by age and weight before every use.
- Never exceed the stated dose or frequency, even if crying continues.
- Do not combine multiple gas relief or gripe water products without medical advice.
- Confirm with your paediatrician or pharmacist first, particularly for babies under one month, premature babies, or babies with any existing health condition.
- Stop and contact your doctor if your baby has any unusual reaction, such as rash, vomiting, or unusual sleepiness.
Drops are meant to be used alongside proper medical advice, never as a replacement for it. If crying continues despite following the label correctly, go back to your paediatrician rather than increasing the dose yourself.
When does colic usually go away?
Colic typically peaks around 6 weeks and usually resolves by 3 to 4 months, as your baby's digestive system matures. For most families, this is a difficult but temporary phase.
Even so, if crying patterns change suddenly, worsen, or your baby seems unwell in any other way, do not simply wait it out. Contact your paediatrician for a proper check.
The emotional toll on parents, and reassurance
Weeks of a crying baby are exhausting. It is common to feel helpless, frustrated, or guilty, especially when relatives suggest you are doing something wrong.
You are not failing your baby. Colic is a recognised, common condition that happens to attentive, loving parents everywhere.
If you feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or low, tell your own doctor too. Share night feeds and soothing duties with a partner or family member where possible, and rest when you can.
Red flag symptoms, when to see a doctor urgently
Most crying in young babies is not dangerous. However, some signs need urgent medical attention and should never be assumed to be "just colic". Contact your paediatrician promptly, or go to the emergency room, if your baby has any of the following:
- Fever, especially under 3 months old.
- Vomiting, particularly forceful or green/yellow vomiting.
- Blood in the stool, or stools that look black and tarry.
- Poor weight gain, or you are worried your baby is not feeding well.
- Crying well beyond the rule of threes, more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks, especially if worsening.
- A cry that sounds different from usual, or a baby who seems limp, unusually sleepy, or difficult to wake.
- Swelling of the tummy, or the baby drawing their legs up in obvious severe pain.
- Any other symptom that worries you, even if you cannot describe exactly why.
If in doubt, always see a paediatrician. It is always better to have a well baby checked than to wait and hope a serious problem is "just colic". Never try to self-diagnose colic versus a more serious condition at home.
Colic versus other causes of crying
It helps to see how colic compares with reasons that need prompt medical review, though only a paediatrician can confirm which applies to your baby.
| Feature | Typical colic | Needs prompt medical review |
|---|---|---|
| Feeding and weight | Feeding well, gaining weight | Poor feeding or poor weight gain |
| Fever | No fever | Any fever, especially under 3 months |
| Stool | Normal stool | Blood in stool, or black, tarry stool |
| Vomiting | Occasional normal possetting | Forceful or green/yellow vomiting |
| Pattern | Predictable, settles between bouts | Constant, worsening, or unusual cry |
This is a general guide only, not a diagnostic tool. Let a paediatrician examine your baby if you notice anything in the right hand column, or if you are unsure.
Related concerns as your baby grows
Digestive discomfort is not limited to colic. As babies move towards weaning, parents in Pakistan often also ask about constipation and dehydration.
For an older child, our guide to constipation relief home remedies covers safe, gentle approaches. If your baby has diarrhoea or vomiting and you worry about fluid loss, read our guide on oral rehydration solution, when and how to use it, and contact your doctor promptly, since dehydration in infants can become serious quickly. If you also give your baby any other supplement, such as one of the multivitamins for children, mention this to your paediatrician too.
As with colic drops, ORS and any home remedy for a baby should be used only with your paediatrician's guidance, particularly for babies under 6 months.
This article was written and medically reviewed to our medical review board standards and is for general guidance, not personal medical advice. Always speak to a doctor or pharmacist about your own situation. Because this concerns a baby's health, always check with your paediatrician before starting any new drops or remedy, and seek prompt medical care for any of the red flag symptoms above.
Shop Kidogest Herbal Colic Drops for Babies →Further reading: NHS on colic, Mayo Clinic on infant colic, and Cleveland Clinic on colic.
Frequently asked questions
Is baby colic dangerous?
Colic itself is not dangerous and does not cause lasting harm. However, because some serious conditions can look similar to colic in the early weeks, always have a paediatrician confirm the diagnosis, especially if you notice any red flag symptoms such as fever, vomiting, blood in stool, or poor weight gain.
At what age does colic usually start and stop?
Colic usually starts around 2 to 4 weeks of age, peaks around 6 weeks, and typically resolves by 3 to 4 months as the digestive system matures. If severe crying continues well beyond 4 months, or starts very early, ask your paediatrician to review your baby.
Can I give my baby colic drops without asking a doctor first?
No. Always check with your paediatrician or pharmacist before giving any colic drop, gripe water, or simethicone product to your baby, including Kidogest Herbal Colic Drops for Babies. This confirms the product suits your baby's age and health, and should always be used alongside medical advice, not instead of it.
How do simethicone or herbal gripe water drops actually work?
Simethicone breaks up small trapped gas bubbles into larger ones that are easier for a baby to pass or bring up, easing pressure. Herbal gripe water style drops combine traditional soothing ingredients for a fussy tummy. Neither treats an underlying illness, so any red flag symptom still needs medical review.
Could my diet be causing my breastfed baby's colic?
Some breastfeeding mothers notice their baby seems more unsettled after certain foods, though the evidence on maternal diet and colic is mixed. Do not start restrictive diets on your own. Speak to your paediatrician or a lactation consultant first.
My baby cries for hours every evening, or has a fever too. Should I worry?
Predictable evening crying in an otherwise well, feeding, weight gaining baby is often typical colic. But if crying goes beyond the rule of threes, or you notice fever, especially under 3 months, or any other red flag symptom, contact your paediatrician promptly, or seek emergency care. Never wait it out if your instinct says something is wrong.
Liked this one? Get the next in your inbox.
One fortnightly note from the editors, new pieces, restocks, and the routines we're actually using. Unsubscribe any time.
