Do Infants Grow Out of Colic?
What do fussy babies and kids with attention or focus challenges have in common? The connection might surprise you—and it could also give you new insight into what’s really going on.
If you’re a parent navigating long nights with a colicky baby, you’ve probably been reassured by well-meaning providers: “Don’t worry, they’ll grow out of it.” But here’s the truth—many babies don’t simply “grow out” of colic. Instead, the same stress patterns in their nervous system can often show up later in different ways.
The constant crying, the back arching, the sleepless nights that leave you questioning yourself—these aren’t just “difficult phases.” They’re signals from your baby’s body and nervous system that something deeper may need support.
The Truth About What Happens After Colic
Every week, parents share stories of older children—kids who are navigating big feelings, sensory challenges, attention struggles, or anxious moments. When you look back at these children’s early histories, a common thread often emerges: many of them were colicky babies.
The same stress patterns that showed up as endless crying at three months old may reappear years later in different ways. The names or labels might change, but the nervous system stress underneath can remain.
If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s a connection, you’re not imagining it—and you’re certainly not failing as a parent.
Why Everything You’ve Tried Hasn’t Worked
If you’re here, chances are you’ve already tried it all: eliminating foods from your diet, keeping detailed journals, testing out colic drops and remedies, adjusting feeding schedules, and following countless pieces of advice from family, friends, and online forums.
You’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and probably questioning yourself. Here’s what we want you to know: you’re not doing anything wrong. You’ve been doing everything you can with the tools you’ve been given. What’s often missing is the most important piece of the puzzle—the role of the nervous system in how your baby adapts, rests, and regulates.
The Real Root Cause Goes Deeper Than Digestion
Most people assume colic is only about digestion—gas, indigestion, food sensitivities. While those symptoms are very real and distressing, they’re often just one piece of a larger picture. At the foundation, the digestive system is fully coordinated by the nervous system.
Think of your baby’s nervous system like an internal air traffic controller. It manages the timing and coordination of every function in their growing body. When that controller becomes stressed or overwhelmed, things can start to back up—digestion, sleep, emotional regulation, and even developmental rhythms.
One important player here is the vagus nerve, sometimes called the “master nerve.” It runs from the brainstem down through the neck, connecting to the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. If stress during pregnancy, delivery, or early life affects this pathway, it may contribute to why digestion feels so unsettled.
That’s why it can help to reframe how we think about colic. Instead of seeing it as a mysterious condition babies will eventually “grow out of,” we can recognize it as a sign that their system may be stuck:
Baby gets 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 No One Discusses: Birth Trauma
Here’s a pattern that shows up again and again: many babies who struggle with colic have also experienced birth interventions such as C-sections, forceps or vacuum deliveries, or labor inductions. These procedures are sometimes medically necessary, but they can also add physical stress to a newborn’s delicate neck and shoulders—where key nerves begin and where the nervous system plays a central role.
And the stress doesn’t always start at delivery. During pregnancy, babies are connected to everything you experience. The umbilical cord is not just a lifeline for nutrients—it’s a channel for stress, too. If you faced anxiety, discomfort, or tension during pregnancy, your baby’s developing nervous system may have been “on alert” even before birth.
When those stress patterns carry through to delivery, they often show up as tension in two key areas: the upper neck and the mid-back. This can help explain why colicky babies arch their backs or stiffen their necks—it’s their way of signaling and trying to release tension, much like how you might stretch after sitting at a desk all day.
Your baby’s body language matters. Sometimes what looks like a digestive problem may actually be their nervous system’s way of asking for support.
The Progression Every Parent Should Know About
Many parents share that when early stress in the nervous system isn’t addressed, their child’s challenges seem to “shift” rather than disappear. Here’s a pattern we hear about often:
Colic (0–6 months): Crying, digestive upset, difficulty sleeping
Ear infections (6–18 months): Frequent infections that may require multiple rounds of antibioticsSpeech delays (18–36 months): Late talking or unclear speech
Sensory processing struggles (3–5 years): Sensitivity to sounds, textures, or environments
Attention and emotional challenges (5–10 years): Difficulty focusing, regulating big feelings, or managing transitions
At each stage, the same stress pattern in the nervous system can show up in new ways as a child grows. In other words, the colic may not simply “go away”—it can evolve.
Parents also tell us that repeated courses of antibiotics, while often necessary for ear infections, can leave their child’s gut health out of balance. Other medications may layer on additional stress. Put together, it can feel like your child is doing their best but still running with the “parking brake on.”
What Your Baby’s Body Language Is Telling You
When your baby cries inconsolably and arches their back, it can feel overwhelming—but it’s also communication. That back arching isn’t always about gas or reflux. Often, it’s your baby’s instinctive way of trying to stretch and release tension in their tiny body.
Just as you might roll your shoulders or stretch your back after a long, stressful day, your baby may be using movement to ease physical tension stored from the birth process or early stress.
The key takeaway is this: colic doesn’t always have to be something you simply “wait out.” Your baby isn’t broken, defective, or unusually difficult. They may just be showing you that their system is under stress and needs support.
And here’s the hopeful part—early in life, children’s brains and bodies are remarkably adaptable. Thanks to neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to form new connections), infants and young children often respond quickly when given the right support for their nervous system.
Taking Action: What Parents Can Do
Trust your instincts. You know your baby better than anyone. If something feels off, don’t let your concerns be brushed aside with a simple “they’ll grow out of it.”
Seek out whole-child care. Look for practitioners who consider the role of the nervous system, not just isolated symptoms. Ask about how they approach nervous system stress and whether they take birth experiences into account.
Reflect on your pregnancy and birth story. Consider whether there were interventions, high stress, or extended labor. These details can provide helpful context for understanding your baby’s current challenges.
Think beyond quick fixes. Symptom relief matters, but long-term progress often comes from addressing the underlying stress patterns—not just chasing surface-level solutions.
Keep track of patterns. Document when your baby seems most distressed, what soothes them, and any relevant family history. This kind of information can be a powerful tool in conversations with healthcare providers.
Your Child Deserves More Than Labels and Management
Your baby doesn’t need more labels, more medications to manage symptoms, or parents who feel helpless and exhausted. What they need is support for their nervous system to move from a stressed, stuck state toward balance and growth.
When families find ways to address that underlying stress, they often share remarkable changes: babies who once cried constantly becoming more content, sleep routines smoothing out, digestion settling, and the entire family dynamic beginning to shift.
The Bottom Line for Parents
You are not failing. You are not overreacting. You are not “just anxious new parents.” You are advocates for your child—and your instincts matter.
Your child isn’t broken; they may simply be stuck in a stress pattern. And with the right approach, they can find new pathways forward.
At ChiroHouse, we understand that colic often involves more than digestion—it’s about the nervous system. Our role is to help families explore that connection and find support. Hope and answers are available, and we’d love to walk that journey with you. If you’re not local to us, you can explore the PX Docs directory to find a provider near you.
The earlier you take steps to support your baby’s nervous system health, the more room they have to thrive—not just in infancy, but throughout development, learning, and growth.
