Infant Colic

Also known as: Infant colic, Colic, Persistent crying in infancy, Excessive infant crying, Unsettled baby, Infantile colic, Evening colic

Infant colic describes long bouts of crying or fussing in an otherwise healthy, thriving baby, usually beginning in the first few weeks of life, peaking around 6 weeks and settling by 3 to 4 months. The Rome IV criteria describe recurrent, prolonged crying that starts and stops without obvious cause in an infant under 5 months, with no failure to thrive, fever or illness [1]. Colic is a diagnosis of exclusion: infection, reflux disease, cow's milk protein allergy, feeding problems, hernia, injury and other causes must be considered, and parental wellbeing, including postnatal depression and the risk of shaking a crying baby, is a central part of care [1][2][3]. Management focuses on reassurance, feeding review, settling strategies and support for parents. In Chinese medicine, persistent infant crying corresponds to Yè Tí 夜啼 (night crying) and digestive disharmony, reflecting the delicate Spleen of infants: Spleen Cold, Heart Heat, food retention and fright. Gentle paediatric techniques such as tuina (massage) and very brief, shallow needling are sometimes used as adjuncts. Acupuncture is adjunctive and must never delay medical assessment of an unwell baby [1][2][4].