Which Formulas Help With Colic? | Picks Parents Regret Less

Colic can make a calm home feel loud. It can also make shopping for formula feel like a gamble. Brands promise comfort. Friends swear by one can. Your baby keeps crying anyway.

This article gives you a clear way to choose a formula change that has a reasonable chance of helping, plus a way to test it without bouncing from one product to the next. It also flags the moments when crying is not “just colic,” so you can act early.

How colic usually shows up

Colic is a pattern, not a diagnosis you can see on a label. Many clinicians use a version of the “rule of threes”: crying for long stretches, several days a week, in an otherwise healthy baby. It often peaks in the early weeks and eases as the months pass.

What parents notice tends to be the same. Crying that ramps up in the late afternoon or evening. A red face, clenched fists, drawn-up legs. A belly that feels tight. A baby who takes milk, then cries again ten minutes later.

One helpful frame is this: colic is common, and most babies with colic are growing fine. Still, crying can also be a signal that something else is going on. That’s why it helps to sort colic-like crying into two buckets:

• Functional colic (common): intense crying with normal weight gain and no red flags.
• Crying with a trigger (less common): feeding intolerance, allergy, reflux with poor growth, infection, constipation, or another condition that needs care.

Red flags that mean “don’t wait it out”

Before you change formula, scan for signals that point away from typical colic. If any of these are present, call your baby’s clinician soon, the same day when you can:

• Fever (especially in young infants), lethargy, or a baby who seems hard to wake
• Vomiting that is forceful, green, or frequent enough to affect feeds
• Blood in stool, black stools, or persistent diarrhea
• Poor weight gain, fewer wet diapers, or a sudden drop in feeding
• Breathing trouble, wheezing, blue lips, or repeated choking
• A swollen belly that stays firm, or a baby who cannot pass stool for long stretches with distress
• A new rash paired with feeding trouble

If none of these fit and your baby is growing well, a formula plan can be reasonable. The aim is not “zero crying.” The aim is fewer long, intense bouts, with feeds that settle more smoothly.

Why formula changes sometimes help and often don’t

Colic is not one single problem with one single fix. A baby can cry from swallowed air, fast flow nipples, being over-hungry, being over-fed, or plain immaturity in digestion. Many of those issues do not change just because the can says “gentle.”

When a formula swap does help, the pattern is usually tied to one of these:

• Protein sensitivity (rare in true colic, more likely when there are skin or stool clues): changing the protein form can help.
• Gas from feeding mechanics: formula type matters less than bottle, nipple flow, pacing, and burping.
• Constipation-style discomfort: a different blend can change stool texture, which can reduce straining in some babies.

A helpful reality check from the American Academy of Pediatrics’ parent guidance is that only a small share of colicky crying is linked to food sensitivity, and a protein-hydrolysate formula is the type they mention when a switch is tried. You can read their colic tips on HealthyChildren.org’s “Colic Relief Tips for Parents”.

Which Formulas Help With Colic? Options for bottle feeding

If you’re formula feeding, the choices below are the ones people talk about most. The list also shows what the evidence and guidelines tend to say, so you can spend your money with your eyes open.

Extensively hydrolyzed formulas

This is the most evidence-backed “try” when a formula change is going to help. The protein is broken down into smaller pieces, which can reduce immune-type reactions in babies who react to intact cow’s milk protein.

Some studies and reviews report reduced crying in a subset of formula-fed infants after a switch to an extensively hydrolyzed formula. A clinical review in American Family Physician notes that switching to a hydrolyzed formula may improve colic symptoms in some infants. See “Infantile Colic: Recognition and Treatment”.

What this means in plain terms: if you’re going to do one formula trial, this is usually the one with the clearest logic. It’s also pricey, and taste can be a hurdle. Still, many babies take it fine when the change is done cleanly and consistently.

Partially hydrolyzed “gentle” formulas

These are common on shelves and often marketed for fussiness. The protein is only partly broken down. That can change digestion for some babies, but it does not make the formula hypoallergenic. If your baby’s crying is tied to cow’s milk protein allergy, a partially hydrolyzed formula is less likely to solve it.

Parents still try these first because they are easy to find and cheaper than extensive hydrolysates. If you try one, set a clear test window and keep notes. If there’s no change, you’ll know quickly.

Amino acid–based formulas

These are the “no intact protein” option. They’re used for babies with confirmed allergy or severe symptoms. They can also be used when an extensively hydrolyzed formula fails and symptoms still point toward allergy.

For colic alone, this is rarely the first step. Cost is high, and you want medical guidance before you commit.

Anti-reflux (AR) formulas

AR formulas are thicker. They can reduce visible spit-up in some babies. Colic and reflux can overlap, yet spit-up does not always mean pain. If your baby is gaining weight and seems comfortable after feeds, thickening may not change crying.

If your baby arches, refuses feeds, coughs with feeds, or seems distressed during and after feeds, talk with your clinician about whether reflux is part of the picture before you choose an AR formula.

Reduced lactose or lactose-free formulas

These are tempting because gas is often blamed on lactose. For most young infants, lactose is normal and expected. True lactose intolerance in early infancy is uncommon. Many clinical pathways do not recommend low-lactose formula as a routine move for colic alone.

Some babies do better on a different carbohydrate blend for reasons that are not clear. Still, if you choose a lactose-reduced formula, treat it like a test, not a permanent leap.

Probiotic-added formulas

Some formulas add bacteria strains that have been studied for infant gut symptoms. Evidence depends on the strain and the baby’s feeding type. Research is mixed, and professional groups tend to be cautious about blanket use of probiotics in formula-fed infants.

A recent ESPGHAN position paper on formulas for functional gastrointestinal disorders reviews the state of evidence for special formulas in colic and other symptoms. You can see the paper here: “Infant formulas for the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders” (ESPGHAN).

Soy formulas

Soy is sometimes brought up when cow’s milk protein is suspected. Opinions vary by guideline and by infant age. Soy can also be an allergen. This is not the cleanest first step for typical colic, especially in younger infants.

If stools, skin changes, or family history point toward allergy, talk with your clinician about the most suitable formula type rather than guessing between soy and hydrolyzed options.

Comfort bottles and feeding technique

Not a formula, yet it often matters more than the formula. The UK NHS bottle-feeding guidance for colic points to posture, avoiding air in the teat, and bottle choices. It also warns against frequent formula changes unless advised. See “Colic and bottle feeding” (NHS).

If your baby gulps, coughs, or finishes feeds fast, nipple flow is worth checking. A slower flow often reduces swallowed air. Pacing helps too: small pauses during feeds, with a burp break.

Formula options at a glance

Formula type	When it can make sense	Notes for a clean trial
Standard cow’s milk formula	Baby is growing well, no allergy clues	Work on bottle flow, pacing, and burping before swapping cans
Partially hydrolyzed (“gentle”)	Mild fussiness with no blood in stool, no eczema pattern	Give it a set window; stop if there’s no change
Extensively hydrolyzed	Colic plus eczema, mucus in stool, family allergy history, or strong feeding distress	Use only this formula during the test; taste can take a day or two
Amino acid–based	Symptoms strongly suggest allergy and other trials failed	Best done with clinician input due to cost and diagnosis needs
Anti-reflux (thickened)	Frequent spit-up with feeding refusal or distress	Track comfort during and after feeds, not spit-up volume alone
Reduced lactose / lactose-free	Gassiness with watery stools after a viral illness, or a clinician suggests a short test	Keep the trial short; many infants do fine on regular lactose
Probiotic-added	Parents want to try a formula variation after technique changes	Results vary by strain; give a set window and track changes
Soy-based	Specific cases where a clinician recommends it	Not a default colic pick; soy can trigger reactions in some babies

How to run a formula trial that gives you a real answer

Many parents switch formulas in panic, then switch again three days later. That pattern makes it hard to know what helped, and it can upset feeding rhythm on its own.

Use a simple test plan. One change at a time. One window of time. A few clear measures that matter.

Step 1: Set your “before” baseline

For two days, track:

• Total crying minutes per day (rough estimate is fine)
• Longest crying stretch
• How feeds go: calm, fussy, arched back, refusing
• Spit-up pattern
• Stool pattern: frequency, texture, any mucus or blood
• Number of wet diapers

Step 2: Choose one trial formula that matches the clues

If your baby is thriving and has no allergy clues, technique changes and bottle adjustments are often the better first bet. If crying clusters around feeds, stools look unusual, or eczema is present, an extensively hydrolyzed formula is the most direct test among formula options.

Step 3: Switch cleanly

Pick one of these approaches:

• Direct switch: start the new formula for every bottle at the next feed.
• Two-day mix: 50/50 for one day, then fully new formula on day two. This can help with taste acceptance.

During the trial, avoid changing nipples, bottles, feeding schedule, and burping method all at once. If you change five things, you learn nothing.

Step 4: Give it enough time, then stop if it’s not working

Some changes can show within a few days, while stool and gas patterns can take longer. A reasonable window is 7–14 days for a first read, with up to 2–4 weeks when allergy is suspected and a clinician is involved.

If crying is the same by the end of your trial window, it’s okay to move on. That result is still useful. It tells you to shift attention toward feeding mechanics, sleep rhythm, and medical review rather than another random can.

Trial timeline you can stick on the fridge

Day range	What you do	What you watch for
Days 1–2	Baseline tracking with current setup	Crying minutes, longest bout, feed comfort, diapers
Days 3–4	Start the trial formula (direct or two-day mix)	Taste acceptance, spit-up change, feed settling
Days 5–7	Stay consistent with the new formula	Any drop in long crying bouts, calmer post-feed window
Days 8–14	Keep the trial going if there’s any improvement	Stool pattern, belly comfort, night stretches
After day 14	Decide: continue, stop, or talk with your clinician	Weight gain, red flags, and whether gains are steady

Feeding changes that often beat formula changes

Even when a hydrolyzed formula helps, day-to-day feeding still matters. These are practical moves that many parents can try right away.

Slow the feed down

If a bottle is finished in minutes, your baby may swallow more air and overfill fast. Try a slower-flow nipple. Try paced bottle feeding: keep the bottle more horizontal, let your baby pause, then continue.

Check the latch on the bottle nipple

A shallow latch on a bottle nipple can pull in air. Aim for lips flanged outward with a steady rhythm. If your baby clicks or gulps, try a different nipple shape.

Burp earlier and more often

Some babies need a burp break halfway through a bottle, not only at the end. Try one burp at the halfway mark, then again at the end. Keep it calm and slow.

Mind the feed spacing

Overfeeding can leave a baby uncomfortable, yet underfeeding can lead to frantic gulps. A steady rhythm helps. If your baby is always ravenous, talk with your clinician about pacing and volume targets for age and weight.

Try a calm reset routine

Colic stretches can loop: baby cries, swallows air, belly tightens, baby cries more. A simple reset can break the loop:

• Hold upright against your chest for a few minutes
• Slow rocking or a gentle walk
• Warm hands on the belly, light clockwise rub
• Short burp attempt, then quiet holding again

These steps won’t erase colic, yet they can shorten the worst bouts and help you stay steady.

When to think about cow’s milk protein allergy

Many parents worry that colic means allergy. Most of the time, it doesn’t. Still, allergy is worth considering when colic is paired with other signs.

Clues that raise the odds include eczema that keeps flaring, blood or mucus in stool, ongoing diarrhea, poor growth, or a strong family history of allergic disease. When those clues appear, the formula choice is less about “gentle” marketing and more about protein form.

In that setting, many clinicians use an extensively hydrolyzed formula trial, then reassess. The AAP’s parent guidance also mentions trying a protein hydrolysate formula in some cases, with a short window to see if crying eases. That guidance is on HealthyChildren.org.

Common mistakes that waste money and energy

Switching formulas every few days

Short switches can confuse the picture. Your baby also needs time to settle into a new taste and digestion pattern. Pick one trial and run it cleanly.

Buying “anti-colic” formula and skipping technique

If air swallowing is driving the worst discomfort, bottle setup can matter more than the ingredient list. The NHS bottle-feeding guidance for colic focuses on posture, teat fill, and other practical steps. See their colic and bottle feeding page.

Chasing lactose-free as a default

Lactose is the main carbohydrate in human milk. Many babies handle it well. If you try lactose-free, treat it as a time-limited test, not a permanent rule.

Ignoring red flags because “everyone says it’s colic”

Trust your gut. If your baby’s cry changes, feeding drops, fever appears, or diapers drop off, call your clinician.

A realistic way to choose your next step

If you want a simple decision path, use this:

• No red flags, good growth, no eczema or stool changes: keep your current formula for now. Work on bottle flow, pacing, burps, and a steady feed rhythm for a week.
• Crying tied to feeds with eczema or stool clues: talk with your clinician about a short trial of an extensively hydrolyzed formula.
• Severe symptoms, blood in stool, poor growth, repeated vomiting: seek medical care soon. Formula choice may need a diagnosis-driven plan.

That’s it. Not ten brands. Not a shopping spree. A clear next step you can run, track, and learn from.

Colic can feel endless when you’re in the middle of it. Most families still see it ease with time. A careful formula plan can help a subset of babies, and a consistent feeding setup helps many more. Your job is not to find a “magic” can. Your job is to run the next reasonable test and keep your baby safe while you do it.