Colic and Reflux: Practical Comfort Measures for Long Evenings
BabyProduct Team · 15 Jun 2026
What tends to help during a crying spell
Movement, warmth and steady contact are the usual comforts: a slow walk, gentle rocking, a warm bath, or holding your baby upright against your chest. White noise helps some babies and does nothing for others.
Nothing works every time, and that is normal rather than a sign you are doing it wrong.
Reduce the air that goes in
Whether breast or bottle feeding, a good latch or seal means less swallowed air. With bottles, keep the teat full of milk rather than half full, and try a slower flow if your baby is gulping and pulling away.
Pause mid-feed to burp rather than only at the end. Many babies settle better for a short break than a long uninterrupted feed.
Upright after feeds
Holding your baby upright for a while after a feed is a simple, low-cost measure that many parents find reduces bringing-up. It is not a cure, but it is easy and costs nothing to try.
Look after yourself too
Evening crying is exhausting and it is genuinely hard to stay calm through it. If you feel your patience going, it is safe to put your baby down somewhere secure and step away for a few minutes. Swap with a partner or family member where you can.
Being worn down by this is common. It is not a failing.
When to seek medical advice
Talk to your paediatrician if your baby is not gaining weight, is refusing feeds, has blood in their vomit or stool, is arching in obvious pain during most feeds, has a fever, or seems unusually floppy or unresponsive.
Persistent crying that worries you is reason enough to get your baby checked. Nothing in an article can replace someone examining your child.