🌿 7 Hidden Causes of Colic Doctors Often Miss

When your baby cries for hours and nothing seems to soothe them, it can feel heartbreaking and confusing — especially when you’re told to “just wait it out.” But colic is rarely without cause. In most cases, there’s an underlying reason your baby is uncomfortable — and once you identify it, you can start helping them feel better.

Here are seven often-overlooked causes of colic that may explain your baby’s distress.

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Colic Causes

1️⃣ Immature Gut

In the early months, a baby’s digestive system is still learning how to process milk efficiently. An immature gut can cause trapped wind, gas, and discomfort — especially if your baby was born via C-section, prematurely, or after antibiotic exposure.

Supporting your baby’s gut health (and your own if you’re breastfeeding) can make a big difference.

🩵 If your baby struggles with frequent gas, reflux, or tummy pain, start by exploring gut health in my Colic Symptom Questionnaire — it’ll help you identify which symptoms relate to digestion.

2️⃣ Infant Dyschezia (Difficulty Passing Stools)

Some babies strain, grunt, or cry for long periods before finally passing a soft stool. This can look like constipation, but it isn’t. Infant dyschezia happens when babies haven’t yet learned to coordinate their abdominal muscles and pelvic floor.

Gentle tummy massage, leg cycling, and patience often help as their bodies mature. Your Colic Survival Guide includes a full list of techniques to support a baby suffering from Infant Dyschezia.

3️⃣ Oral Dysfunction or Tongue Tie

If your baby gulps, clicks, leaks milk, or struggles to stay latched, they may be swallowing excess air during feeds. This can lead to gas, reflux, and discomfort — symptoms often mistaken for colic.

Oral tension or tongue tie can also make feeding painful for you and exhausting for your baby.

🌸 If these symptoms sound familiar, my Calm Baby Consultation can help identify oral or feeding-related causes of colic and guide you through next steps.

4️⃣ Allergies and Intolerances

A baby’s immune system is closely linked to their gut. Food proteins (especially cow’s milk or soy) can sometimes trigger inflammation, leading to excessive crying, rashes, reflux, or mucus in stools.

Elimination diets, under professional guidance, can help uncover hidden sensitivities.

💛 Your Colic Survival Guide explains how to spot and manage common allergy signs without turning feeding into guesswork.

5️⃣ Reflux

If your baby spits up frequently, arches their back, or seems in pain after feeding, reflux could be a factor. This isn’t always caused by “too much acid” — most commonly it’s linked to swallowed air, feeding technique, or food sensitivity.

Positioning and gentle feeding adjustments often bring big improvements.

6️⃣ Nervous System Imbalance

A difficult birth, prolonged labour, or C-section can put stress on your baby’s delicate nervous system, affecting their digestion, sleep, and overall comfort.

Techniques such as infant craniosacral therapy, gentle physiotherapy, or baby massage can help restore balance.

7️⃣ Overstimulation

Newborns are easily overwhelmed by bright lights, noise, and activity. Too much stimulation can leave them overtired, overstressed, and inconsolable — looking just like colic.

Creating a calm environment, using white noise, dim lighting, and contact naps can make a huge difference.

💕 Final Thoughts

Colic isn’t “just a phase” — it’s a symptom of something deeper. The good news? Once you find the root cause, things can change quickly.

You don’t have to figure it out alone. I’ve developed several gentle ways to help you uncover the reason behind your baby’s distress — from a simple Colic Symptom Questionnaire to a one-to-one Calm Baby Consultation or fully personalised Calm Baby Plan.

However you choose to start, know that you’re not alone — and your baby’s calm is possible. 💛

👉 Start Here