Do Infants Grow Out of Colic?

Does Your Baby Really “Grow Out” of Colic? (Spoiler: Not Exactly.)

What do a baby who cries all the time and a kid struggling with ADHD or anxiety have in common? The answer is a lot more connected than you think—and it could be the key to helping your child finally feel calm.

If you’re the parent of a colicky baby, you’ve probably heard the familiar, well-meaning phrase: “Don’t worry, they’ll grow out of it.”

I’m here to tell you what no one else is: They don’t just “grow out of it.” They grow into other challenges.

That endless, soul-crushing crying, the back arching, the sleepless nights that make you question every parenting decision—these aren’t just tough phases that magically vanish. They are your baby’s only way of telling you that something is deeply stressed in their nervous system.

The Real Story of What Happens After Colic

Every single week, parents come into our office with seven-year-olds who are melting down over sensory issues, can’t focus because of ADHD, or are struggling with overwhelming anxiety. When we look at their history, there it is: They were colicky babies.

The same stress that led to all that crying at three months old is now showing up as a meltdown at seven years old. The name on the problem changed, but the underlying issue? It never went away.

You are not imagining this connection, and you are absolutely not failing as a parent.

Why Your “Fixes” Haven’t Worked

If you’re still reading, I know you’ve probably already tried everything: cutting dairy, keeping detailed food logs, trying every gas drop on the market, juggling feeding schedules, and following a million pieces of advice from online forums.

You’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and probably feeling guilty. Stop. You’re not doing anything wrong. You’re just missing the most critical piece of the puzzle.

The Real Root Cause is Deeper Than Digestion

Most people think colic is a stomach problem—just gas, reflux, or a food sensitivity. Yes, those symptoms are real and awful, but they’re only half the story.

Here’s the secret: Your entire digestive system is controlled by the nervous system.

Think of your baby’s nervous system as their internal air traffic controller. This system runs everything. When that controller gets stressed out and overwhelmed, everything starts backing up—sleep, digestion, emotional regulation, and development.

The vagus nerve, often called the “master nerve,” runs right from the brain down to the stomach and intestines. When this nerve gets affected by stress or trauma—especially during birth—digestion literally gets stuck.

That’s why we need to stop thinking of colic as a mysterious thing your baby will just “wait out.” It’s not a condition; it’s a sign that your baby is STUCK.

• Stuck in the birth canal during delivery.
• Stress gets stuck in their nervous system.
• Digestion gets stuck.
• Your baby stays stuck in distress.

The Hidden Trigger: Birth Stress

Here’s a pattern we can’t ignore: nearly 100% of colicky babies have experienced some form of birth intervention—C-section, forceps, vacuum, or induced labor. These procedures, while sometimes necessary, put physical stress on that crucial upper neck area where those master nerves live.

And it can start even earlier. The umbilical cord acts like a direct stress wire, transferring your stress during pregnancy to your baby’s developing nervous system. If you had a stressful pregnancy, their nervous system was already on high alert before they even arrived.

The physical tension from birth gets trapped in two main spots: the upper neck and the middle back. This is exactly why colicky babies arch their backs and stiffen their necks—they are trying to physically stretch out the tension, just like you might after a super stressful day at the computer.

Your baby’s body language is shouting a vital clue: The problem isn’t in their stomach—it’s in their spine and nervous system.

The Transformation Timeline Every Parent Should Know

When that underlying nervous system stress isn’t addressed, this is the progression we see in countless families:

• Colic (0-6 months): Constant crying, digestive pain, sleep disasters.
• Chronic Ear Infections (6-18 months): Frequent infections requiring antibiotics.
• Speech or Motor Delays (18-36 months): Trouble talking or hitting motor milestones.
• Sensory Issues (3-5 years): Overreacting to sounds, clothes, or environments.
• ADHD/Anxiety (5-10 years): Difficulty focusing, explosive emotions, and constant worry.

The colic didn’t vanish; it simply transformed into the next challenge because the core stress pattern in the nervous system was never truly cleared.

Taking Action: What You Can Do Now

This is the hopeful part. Understanding that colic isn’t something you just have to “wait out” is the first step to helping your child thrive. Your baby isn’t broken or difficult—they’re just stuck in a pattern that we can fix.

1. Trust Your Gut. You know your baby better than anyone. If a doctor dismisses you with “they’ll grow out of it,” keep advocating. Your instincts matter.

2. Look for the Nervous System Connection. Find practitioners who look at the whole child, not just the symptom. Ask them how they address the impact of birth trauma and nervous system stress.

3. Consider the Birth Story. Think back to your pregnancy and delivery. Were there interventions (induction, vacuum, C-section)? Did you feel stressed during pregnancy? This is valuable information.

The earlier you address this nervous system stress, the faster children heal. This is because of neuroplasticity—your baby’s brain is literally wired to form new, healthy connections, especially now!

The Bottom Line: Hope is Available

You are not failing. You are not overreacting. You are an advocate for your child, and your effort is not wasted.

Your child isn’t broken—they are stuck. And with the right approach, they can get unstuck.

When that stuck tension from birth is finally addressed, we often see miraculous changes. Crying stops. Sleep returns. Digestion settles. The whole family gets a fresh start.