What Is Colic—And What Can I Do To Help My Baby?

• Evidence level: Low (Often acts as a placebo for parents)
• Best time to try: When you suspect trapped gas is making the crying worse.
• Safety: Harmless but unproven. Simethicone simply breaks up gas bubbles in the gut and is not absorbed into the bloodstream. Never use prescription medications. Always consult a doctor.

Most doctors are not big fans of the pharmaceutical approach to colic. Parents should stay away from a drug called dicyclomine hydrochloride (Bentylol), which is not recommended for babies under six months because it can cause breathing difficulties. A few doctors still prescribe it, but given the risks, that is not wise. Some parents find an antispasmodic such as simethicone (Ovol) works, but there is no evidence to suggest why it would be effective. Still, it is harmless.

Finally, do not offer early solids in an attempt to cure colic. Before four months, feeding a baby solids—such as rice cereal or pureed foods—is a risk factor for developing food sensitivities.

Unfortunately, you could try every trick in the book and find that nothing works. Yet as hard as it is to imagine when you’re going through it, it won’t be long until your baby is a smiley, playful six-month-old. Those exhausting early days will gradually fade from memory after your baby — and you — outgrow colic.