You have fed your baby, changed their diaper, burped them, rocked them, bounced them, walked around the house, turned on the sound machine, and taken one more drive around the neighborhood. But the moment the movement stops—or you try to put them down—the crying begins again.
Your baby may clench their fists, pull their legs toward their belly, arch through their back, or become stiff and difficult to comfort. They may only settle while being held, moving, nursing, or sleeping upright on your chest. You know they are fed, warm, safe, and loved, but they still seem uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, you are exhausted. You may spend hours searching online, changing bottles or formulas, adjusting your own diet, trying different burping positions, and wondering what you are missing. Friends, family members, or healthcare providers may reassure you that your baby will eventually grow out of it—but waiting does not feel reassuring when your baby is struggling and no one in your home is sleeping.
Colic is common, but common does not always mean normal. Crying is one of the only ways a baby can communicate. When a baby cries frequently, intensely, or inconsolably, it may be their way of telling us that their body is having difficulty finding comfort and regulation.
As parents search for answers, many are exploring natural colic support, holistic approaches to infant discomfort, and ways to better understand the relationship between pregnancy, birth, digestion, body tension, and the developing nervous system.
What Is Colic in Babies?
Colic generally describes frequent, prolonged, and intense crying or fussiness in an otherwise healthy infant. The crying may seem to happen without an obvious cause and can be extremely difficult to soothe.
Colic is often associated with the “rule of threes”: crying for more than three hours per day, at least three days per week, for at least three weeks. However, a baby does not need to fit perfectly within that definition for their crying, tension, or inability to settle to be significant to their family.
Crying is normal and expected. Babies cry when they are hungry, tired, cold, overstimulated, uncomfortable, or in need of connection. With colic, the crying tends to be more intense, lasts longer, and may continue after the baby’s immediate needs have been addressed.
Colic is not a diagnosis that explains why a baby is crying. It is a description of the pattern a family is experiencing. The more important question is what may be contributing to that pattern and making it so difficult for the baby’s body to settle.
What Are Common Symptoms of Colic?
Colic can look different from one baby to another. Some babies cry for hours each evening, while others seem uncomfortable throughout the day and rarely settle unless they are being held or moved.
Common symptoms and patterns may include:
- Frequent or prolonged periods of crying
- Crying without an obvious cause
- Intense crying that sounds like screaming or pain
- Crying that frequently occurs at the same time of day
- Extreme fussiness or irritability
- Difficulty settling after becoming upset
- Clenched fists
- Stiffened arms or legs
- Pulling the knees toward the chest
- Arching through the back
- A firm or tense abdomen
- Facial redness while crying
- Excessive gas or apparent digestive discomfort
- Reflux or frequent spitting up
- Constipation or irregular bowel movements
- Difficulty latching or feeding comfortably
- A preference for turning the head in one direction
- Discomfort in certain feeding or holding positions
- Disliking tummy time
- Only sleeping while being held, moving, or positioned upright
- Waking shortly after being put down
- Appearing unusually alert, tense, or easily startled
Parents may describe their baby as stiff, rigid, tight, restless, uncomfortable, or constantly “on.” They may feel as if their baby wants to settle but cannot figure out how.
Colic Can Affect the Entire Family
Colic does not only affect the hours when a baby is crying. It can influence feeding, bonding, sleep, postpartum recovery, relationships, work, siblings, and the overall rhythm of the home.
Parents may begin to anticipate the crying before it starts. Evening approaches, and instead of settling into a calmer part of the day, the entire household braces for another difficult stretch. One parent may walk or bounce the baby while the other searches for a new solution. Meals are interrupted, sleep happens in short shifts, and even setting the baby down long enough to shower can feel impossible.
You may question your instincts or wonder whether you are doing something wrong. You might feel guilty for becoming frustrated, overstimulated, or desperate for a break. You may compare your experience to families whose babies seem content anywhere and wonder why everything appears so much harder for yours.
Your baby’s struggle is not a reflection of your parenting. You are not failing because your baby is difficult to soothe, and your baby is not giving you a hard time. They may be having a hard time inside their body.
Why Is My Baby So Uncomfortable?
Colic rarely has one simple explanation. Feeding difficulties, swallowed air, reflux, constipation, food sensitivities, overstimulation, illness, and other factors may contribute to a baby’s discomfort.
Because babies cannot describe where they feel tension or what makes them uncomfortable, it is important to consider the whole story. That includes pregnancy, birth, feeding, digestion, sleep, body position, muscle tone, head preference, and the baby’s ability to recover after becoming upset.
The nervous system may be another important piece of that story.
The nervous system controls and coordinates every function within a baby’s developing body. It plays a role in digestion, breathing, sleep, muscle tone, internal sensations, feeding, movement, and the ability to transition from alertness into calm.
A baby’s nervous system is constantly receiving sensory information from inside and outside the body. It must process that information, decide what is important, and create an appropriate response. When the nervous system feels safe and adaptable, a baby can become alert when needed and then return to a calmer state.
When that system becomes stressed or overwhelmed, the baby may have difficulty making that transition. Their body may remain tense, reactive, uncomfortable, or easily startled—even when they are safe in their parent’s arms.
The Gas Pedal, Brake Pedal, and Colic
At The Wellery, we often compare the autonomic nervous system to the gas pedal and brake pedal in a car.
The sympathetic nervous system acts like the gas pedal. It supports alertness, energy, protection, and the fight-or-flight response. Babies need this system to respond to their environment and communicate when something is wrong.
The parasympathetic nervous system acts more like the brake pedal. It supports rest, digestion, sleep, recovery, feeding, and calm.
Both systems are necessary. The goal is not for a baby to remain calm or asleep all day. The goal is flexibility—the ability to become alert when needed and then settle once the need or stressor has passed.
A colicky baby may appear to spend much of the day with the gas pedal pressed down. Their body may remain tense, their fists clenched, their back arched, and their senses highly alert. Once they begin crying, they may have an extremely difficult time slowing down and returning to a regulated state.
Parents may eventually find one position, sound, or motion that temporarily helps. But as soon as they stop bouncing, put the baby down, or remove the external calming input, the baby’s nervous system may quickly return to that heightened state.
This does not mean nervous-system stress is the only possible contributor to colic. It does mean that a baby’s ability to shift from protection into rest and regulation may be an important part of the bigger picture.
The Vagus Nerve, Digestion, and Regulation
The vagus nerve is one of the primary communication pathways between the brain and many of the body’s internal organs. It plays an important role in the parasympathetic, or rest-and-digest, side of the nervous system.
This nerve is involved in functions related to digestion, heart rate, breathing, swallowing, and nervous-system regulation. Because feeding, digestion, sleep, and calming are closely connected, it is common for a struggling baby to experience challenges in several of these areas rather than only one isolated symptom.
A baby may be colicky and also struggle with reflux. They may have difficulty latching, swallow excessive air, arch during or after feeding, and only sleep upright. Another baby may seem gassy, tense their abdomen, pull their legs upward, and have difficulty pooping comfortably.
These symptoms do not automatically mean that the vagus nerve or nervous system is the cause. They do show why it can be valuable to look beyond the crying and consider how well the baby’s brain, body, and digestive system are communicating and coordinating.
How Can Pregnancy and Birth Affect the Nervous System?
Birth is one of the biggest physical and neurological events a baby will experience.
For approximately nine months, a baby develops in a warm, dark, protected environment. Then, within a very short amount of time, that baby is introduced to gravity, movement, touch, bright lights, new temperatures, sounds, feeding, digestion, and life outside the womb.
A baby’s story may include:
- Significant physical or emotional stress during pregnancy
- Restricted positioning in the womb
- Breech or transverse positioning
- A very long labor
- An extremely fast labor
- Induction
- Vacuum or forceps assistance
- Cesarean delivery
- Prematurity
- Time in the NICU
- Difficulty immediately after birth
- Trouble initiating feeding
- Oral ties
- Reflux or digestive discomfort
- Early separation from a parent
This is not about guilt, blame, or fear. A healthy mom and healthy baby will always be the priority, and birth interventions can be necessary and lifesaving.
We are simply acknowledging that pregnancy and birth can be physically and neurologically demanding. Even when everything goes according to plan, birth is still an enormous transition for a developing nervous system.
Some babies adapt quickly and settle into feeding, digestion, sleep, and life outside the womb. Other babies may continue carrying physical tension or show signs that their nervous system is having difficulty adapting.
Body Tension Can Be an Important Clue
Parents are often the first to notice subtle signs of tension in their baby’s body.
Maybe your baby always looks toward the same side, has difficulty turning their head in the opposite direction, or feeds more comfortably on one breast than the other. Perhaps they strongly dislike tummy time, keep their hands clenched, cross or stiffen their legs, or arch when held.
Some babies appear unusually “strong” and begin lifting their head or rolling very early. Although this can look like advanced strength, it may sometimes reflect tension patterns rather than relaxed, coordinated movement.
Other signs of body tension may include:
- Head preference
- Flattening on one side of the head
- Difficulty opening the mouth widely
- A shallow or uncomfortable latch
- Clicking or leaking milk during feeding
- Frequent arching
- Stiff arms or legs
- Clenched hands
- Difficulty tolerating certain positions
- Turning the entire body instead of rotating the head
- Discomfort in a car seat
- Difficulty relaxing while being held
- Hating tummy time
No single sign proves that neurological stress is present. When several of these patterns occur alongside colic, reflux, constipation, poor sleep, or feeding difficulties, however, they can provide meaningful information about how the baby is moving and adapting.
When Stress Begins to Accumulate
Stress does not only refer to adult worries, deadlines, or responsibilities. For a developing baby, stress may be physical, chemical, sensory, or emotional.
One stressor by itself may not explain why a baby is struggling. Often, it is the accumulation, timing, and sequence of stressors that matters.
A baby may experience physical stress during birth, followed by feeding difficulties, disrupted sleep, digestive discomfort, and repeated periods of intense crying. The crying can lead to more body tension, and the discomfort can make it even harder to sleep or feed effectively.
The nervous system may begin spending more time in protection mode. Instead of smoothly transitioning between alertness and calm, the baby’s body may become increasingly reactive and have a harder time settling after each stressful experience.
This is why we want to understand the entire story rather than focusing on only one symptom. The crying, body tension, feeding, digestion, and sleep patterns may be connected pieces of the same larger picture.
Where Does Chiropractic Care Fit?
Chiropractic care does not diagnose or directly treat colic. A neurologically focused pediatric chiropractor evaluates the neuro-spinal system to identify patterns of stress, tension, and interference that may be affecting brain-body communication and the baby’s ability to regulate.
At The Wellery, we want to understand:
- How much neurological stress the baby’s system may be carrying
- Whether the nervous system appears regulated or overwhelmed
- How effectively the baby is adapting to stress
- Whether the fight-or-flight response appears to be working overtime
- Whether patterns of muscular tension or compensation are present
- Whether the baby has a head or positional preference
- How feeding, digestion, sleep, and calming may be connected
- How organized and symmetrical the sensory information traveling to the brain appears
Gentle and specific chiropractic adjustments are designed to reduce interference within the nervous system and support clearer communication between the brain and body.
The goal is not to make a baby stop crying on command. Crying is necessary communication. The goal is to support the baby’s nervous system so it may become more adaptable and better able to access the rest-and-digest state involved in calming, feeding, sleeping, and digestive function.
Every baby is different, and no specific outcome can be guaranteed. For many families, however, neurologically focused chiropractic care may become an important part of supporting their baby’s comfort, regulation, and overall development.
How The Wellery Uses INSiGHT Neurological Scans
At The Wellery, we do not want to guess about what is happening within a baby’s nervous system. Every patient receives gentle, noninvasive INSiGHT neurological scans as part of their initial evaluation.
We use neurological scanning technology to identify patterns and areas of stress within the neuro-spinal system. These scans allow us to objectively evaluate how the nervous system appears to be functioning, organizing, and adapting.
The scans may help us look at:
- Autonomic nervous-system balance
- Sympathetic and parasympathetic activity
- Patterns of neurological stress
- Areas of muscular tension or compensation
- Thermal patterns along the spine
- Organization and symmetry within the system
- The amount of energy or adaptability the nervous system may have
- Patterns involving the upper neck and other areas of the spine
The scans do not diagnose colic, reflux, constipation, feeding disorders, or other medical conditions. Instead, they help our doctors understand how the baby’s nervous system may be functioning and where patterns of neurological stress or interference may be present.
We combine the scan findings with the baby’s complete story, including pregnancy, birth, feeding, sleep, digestion, bowel movements, body tension, head preference, early development, and the family’s concerns and goals.
Every baby has a different neurological and developmental story. Taking the time to understand that story—along with objective information from the scans and physical examination—helps us create an individualized chiropractic care plan.
What Do Chiropractic Adjustments for Babies Look Like?
Pediatric chiropractic care looks very different from what many parents picture when they think of an adult adjustment.
Adjustments for infants are gentle, specific, and adapted to the baby’s age, size, development, and comfort. The amount of pressure used is often compared to the gentle pressure you would use to check the ripeness of a tomato.
There is no twisting, cracking, or forceful movement involved in an infant adjustment.
Our doctors take time to help both the baby and parents feel safe and comfortable. Babies may be adjusted while lying on a specially designed pillow, being held by a parent, nursing, or resting in another position that helps them feel secure.
Care is guided by the baby’s history, examination, and neurological scans. The goal is to reduce interference, ease patterns of tension within the neuro-spinal system, and support more effective communication between the brain and body.
Natural and Holistic Support for Colicky Babies
Parents searching for natural remedies for colic are often looking for any safe way to make their baby more comfortable.
A whole-baby approach may include:
- Making sure the baby’s feeding position and latch are effective
- Burping during and after feedings
- Keeping the baby upright after eating when recommended
- Offering supervised tummy time in short, comfortable intervals
- Using slow, predictable movement
- Creating a calm, dimly lit environment
- Reducing excessive sound, light, or handling when the baby is overwhelmed
- Supporting consistent sleep cues and routines
- Reviewing bottles, nipples, formula, or feeding methods with an appropriate provider
- Working with a lactation consultant when feeding is difficult
- Evaluating for oral ties when signs are present
- Discussing reflux, allergies, constipation, or other medical concerns with the baby’s pediatric provider
- Allowing parents to take safe breaks and accept support from trusted family members
- Considering neurologically focused pediatric chiropractic care
A holistic approach means considering the entire baby: their brain, nervous system, digestion, feeding, movement, sleep, sensory environment, development, and unique history.
Chiropractic care is not a replacement for pediatric medical care. A baby should be evaluated promptly when crying is accompanied by fever, difficulty breathing, repeated forceful or green vomit, blood in the stool, poor feeding, dehydration, unusual sleepiness, a bulging soft spot, injury, or any sudden change that concerns the parent.
Parents know their babies. If something feels wrong, seek medical guidance.
What Happens at a Baby’s First Appointment?
Your baby’s first appointment at The Wellery begins with their story.
We want to understand what you have noticed from pregnancy through the present day. This may include:
- Pregnancy experiences
- Baby’s position before birth
- Labor and delivery
- Birth interventions
- Feeding history
- Breastfeeding or bottle-feeding challenges
- Oral ties
- Reflux or frequent spitting up
- Gas or digestive discomfort
- Bowel-movement patterns
- Sleep
- Body tension
- Arching
- Head preference
- Tummy-time tolerance
- Patterns in the timing of crying
- What helps your baby settle
- What your family has already tried
- Your biggest concerns and goals
Every patient receives gentle, noninvasive neurological scans and a physical examination as part of the initial evaluation. Once we have gathered this information, our doctors carefully review the results.
At the next visit, we explain what the scans and examination showed, answer your questions, and discuss whether chiropractic care is appropriate. If it is, we recommend an individualized care plan based on your baby’s specific needs.
Our goal is for parents to leave with a clearer understanding of their baby’s nervous system and the next steps available to their family.
Your Baby Is Not Giving You a Hard Time
Colic can make even the calmest, most confident parent feel defeated.
When you have tried everything and your baby is still crying, it is natural to feel frustrated, overstimulated, helpless, or desperate for rest. Those feelings do not make you a bad parent. They make you a tired parent who wants their baby to feel better.
Your baby is not trying to make life difficult. They may be having difficulty feeling comfortable and regulated within their own body.
You are not failing them, and you do not have to ignore your instincts simply because colic is common. When we look beyond the crying and consider the baby’s complete feeding, digestive, physical, and neurological story, we may uncover another important piece of the puzzle.
Frequently Asked Questions About Colic and Chiropractic Care
What are the signs of colic in a baby?
Common signs include frequent or prolonged crying, intense fussiness, difficulty settling, clenched fists, stiffened legs, pulling the knees toward the chest, back arching, a tense abdomen, and crying that frequently occurs at the same time of day.
Some colicky babies also experience reflux, gas, constipation, feeding difficulties, poor sleep, head preference, or body tension.
Why does my baby cry more in the evening?
Many babies become increasingly tired and overstimulated as the day progresses. A baby who has difficulty processing sensory input or returning to a regulated state may become more unsettled in the evening.
Evening crying can also overlap with hunger, feeding patterns, digestive discomfort, and normal developmental changes.
Is colic always caused by gas?
No. Gas may contribute to discomfort, but colic does not have one single cause. Feeding difficulties, reflux, constipation, food sensitivities, overstimulation, illness, body tension, and nervous-system stress may all be part of the picture.
Can birth stress contribute to colic?
Birth is a significant physical and neurological event. Some babies may carry tension or show difficulty adapting following a long or fast labor, unusual positioning, assisted delivery, cesarean delivery, or other stressful birth experiences.
This does not mean that birth stress is the only cause of colic or that necessary interventions were wrong. It simply makes pregnancy and birth important parts of the baby’s overall story.
What does the nervous system have to do with colic?
The nervous system helps coordinate sleep, digestion, feeding, muscle tone, breathing, and the ability to settle after stress. A baby whose nervous system remains in a heightened protective state may appear tense, reactive, easily startled, and difficult to soothe.
Does chiropractic care treat colic?
Chiropractic care does not directly treat or diagnose colic. At The Wellery, neurologically focused chiropractic care is designed to identify and reduce interference within the nervous system so the brain and body may communicate more effectively.
Do neurological scans diagnose colic?
No. Neurological scans do not diagnose colic or determine the medical cause of a baby’s crying. They provide objective information about patterns of nervous-system stress, muscular tension, autonomic balance, organization, symmetry, and adaptability.
Is chiropractic care gentle for babies?
Yes. Pediatric chiropractic adjustments are gentle, specific, and adapted to the baby’s age, size, development, comfort, and individual needs. Infant care does not involve forceful twisting or cracking.
How quickly will my baby improve?
Every baby is different, and no timeline or specific outcome can be guaranteed. Recommendations depend on the baby’s history, examination, neurological scans, and individual needs.
Should my baby still see a pediatrician?
Yes. Chiropractic care does not replace pediatric medical care. Colicky or inconsolable crying can sometimes be associated with an illness or medical condition, so parents should discuss concerns with their baby’s pediatric healthcare provider.
Seek prompt medical care for fever, breathing difficulty, repeated forceful or green vomit, blood in the stool, poor feeding, dehydration, unusual sleepiness, injury, or any sudden or concerning change.
Where can I find a pediatric chiropractor for colic near Maple Grove, Minnesota?
The Wellery Chiropractic provides neurologically focused pediatric and family chiropractic care in Maple Grove, Minnesota. We care for families from Maple Grove, Plymouth, Rogers, Medina, Corcoran, Elk River, Minnetonka, and surrounding communities throughout the greater Minneapolis area.
Looking for Natural Colic Support in Maple Grove, Minnesota?
Maybe your baby cries for hours every evening. Maybe they stiffen, arch, pull their legs toward their belly, or seem uncomfortable after every feeding. Maybe they only sleep while being held or moving, and the moment you put them down, their eyes open and the crying begins again.
Maybe you have changed bottles, formulas, feeding positions, or your own diet. Maybe you have tried gas drops, burping techniques, movement, white noise, and every suggestion you can find, but you still feel like another piece is being missed.
At The Wellery, our why is your family. We take the time to listen, gather objective information, and understand what your baby’s nervous system, body tension, feeding, digestion, and sleep patterns may be communicating.
Your baby’s crying is communication. You deserve to feel heard, and your baby deserves to have their whole story considered.
Call or text The Wellery Chiropractic at 763-333-7441 to ask questions or schedule your baby’s first visit.
This article is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized healthcare advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Chiropractic care does not diagnose or directly treat colic, reflux, feeding disorders, or other medical conditions.