Colic drops are given to unsettled, crying babies for wind and abdominal cramping. Some are simeticone, which is inert and safe. Others are traditional mixtures containing sedating antihistamines, belladonna or ether — and those need far more caution than their gentle marketing suggests.
What is Colic?
Colic is a condition, not a medicine. It describes a baby who cries excessively without an identifiable cause — conventionally more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, for more than three weeks, in a baby who is otherwise well and growing.
It affects up to one in five babies, peaks at around six weeks, and resolves on its own by three to four months. That last fact is the most useful thing to know: colic ends, and nothing you give changes the underlying process much.
The South African Medicine Price Registry lists several products marketed for colic:
| Product | Schedule | Contains |
|---|---|---|
| Bennetts Colic Mixture | S2 | Diphenhydramine, belladonna tincture |
| Chamberlain’s Traditional Colic Remedy | S1 | Ether, blackberry root powder |
Simeticone drops — the most commonly recommended option — are sold as general-sale products and do not appear in that register.
These are very different things, and the difference matters:
Simeticone breaks up gas bubbles in the gut. It is not absorbed at all — it passes straight through — so it is about as low-risk as an infant preparation can be. The evidence that it helps is modest, but the safety is excellent.
Diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine. A quiet baby on it is a sedated baby, not a comfortable one.
Belladonna tincture contains atropine-like alkaloids. In infants these can cause flushing, fever, rapid heartbeat, urinary retention and, in overdose, agitation and seizures.
Ether is a volatile anaesthetic solvent.
Read your own bottle, and if it contains anything other than simeticone, ask a pharmacist or clinic nurse before giving it.
What is Colic commonly used for?
Products marketed for colic are given for:
- Excessive crying in a baby under four months.
- Wind and trapped gas.
- Abdominal cramping and drawing up of the legs.
- Unsettledness, particularly in the evening.
- Difficulty settling after feeds.
What actually helps, and is better supported than any drops:
- Holding and carrying. Increased carrying reduces crying, and it does not spoil a baby.
- Winding thoroughly during and after feeds.
- Checking feeding technique — a clinic nurse can check the latch, or whether a bottle teat flows too fast and the baby is swallowing air.
- Gentle tummy or back rubbing, and warmth.
- White noise, movement and swaddling.
- A calm, dim environment in the evening, when crying peaks.
- Time. Colic ends.
Do not change formula at random. Where cow’s milk protein allergy is genuinely suspected — with reflux, blood in the stool, eczema or poor weight gain — that is a medical assessment, not a shop decision.
And the part that gets least attention: colic is exhausting. Relentless crying with no clear cause is one of the hardest things new parents face, and it is a recognised risk factor for parental depression and for shaken baby syndrome. If you feel overwhelmed, put the baby down safely in the cot and step away for a few minutes. That is the right thing to do, not a failure. Ask for help early — from a clinic, a partner, family, anyone.
How Colic fits into this medicine category
| Group | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Simeticone | Infant colic drops | Not absorbed; very safe; modest evidence |
| Traditional mixtures | Bennetts, Chamberlain’s | Contain sedating antihistamines, belladonna or ether — use caution |
| Probiotics | Lactobacillus reuteri drops | Some evidence in breastfed babies |
| Lactase drops | Lactase enzyme | Limited evidence |
| Antispasmodics | Hyoscine (Hyospasmol) | Adult use — not for infants |
| Anti-reflux medicines | Metoclopramide (Adco-Contromet), omeprazole | Only where reflux is diagnosed |
See the digestive and stomach medicines hub.
What to check before using Colic
- Read the ingredient list. If it contains anything beyond simeticone, ask before giving it.
- Check the age it is intended for, and the dose for that age.
- Use the dropper or syringe supplied — never a kitchen spoon.
- Do not exceed the stated dose, and do not give it more often than directed. With belladonna-containing products in particular, the margin is narrow.
- Do not combine remedies, or give a colic mixture alongside anything else without asking.
- Do not give it to a newborn without professional advice.
- Tell your clinic what you are giving. Nurses see this constantly and would rather know.
- Store it out of reach. Alcohol- and ether-containing preparations are dangerous if a child swallows a quantity.
- Check the expiry date, and how long it keeps once opened.
Possible cautions and when to ask a pharmacist or doctor
Simeticone has essentially no side effects.
Traditional mixtures containing diphenhydramine or belladonna can cause drowsiness, floppiness, flushing, dry mouth, fever, rapid heartbeat, difficulty passing urine, agitation and, at higher doses, seizures. Babies are far more sensitive to these than adults, and a baby who becomes unusually sleepy or floppy after a dose needs to be seen.
Get emergency help immediately if a baby:
- Is difficult to wake, floppy, or unusually drowsy.
- Has a fever, especially under three months of age.
- Is breathing fast, grunting, or drawing in below the ribs.
- Has a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass.
- Is vomiting persistently, or vomiting green fluid.
- Has blood in the stool, or a swollen, tense abdomen.
- Is not feeding, or has far fewer wet nappies than usual.
- Has a convulsion.
- Has swallowed a quantity of any remedy — take the bottle, and do not induce vomiting.
See a clinic nurse or doctor — rather than continuing to treat at home — if:
- Crying is inconsolable and prolonged, or has changed in character.
- The baby is not gaining weight.
- Colic starts after three months, or continues past four.
- There is persistent vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation or blood in the stool.
- There is eczema, poor feeding or reflux alongside the crying, which may point to cow’s milk protein allergy.
- You are exhausted or struggling. That is a reason to ask for help, and clinics expect it.
Related medicine guides
Frequently asked questions
What are colic drops used for in babies? Wind, trapped gas, abdominal cramping and unsettledness in babies under about four months. Simeticone drops break up gas bubbles; traditional mixtures contain other ingredients.
Are colic drops safe? Simeticone is very safe — it is not absorbed at all. Traditional mixtures containing sedating antihistamines, belladonna or ether need much more caution, and a pharmacist should advise.
Do they work? The evidence for simeticone is modest. Holding, carrying, thorough winding and checking feeding technique are better supported.
When does colic end? It peaks around six weeks and usually resolves by three to four months.
Should I change formula? Not at random. Where cow’s milk protein allergy is suspected — reflux, blood in the stool, eczema, poor weight gain — that needs a medical assessment.
Is it colic or something else? Colic is crying in a baby who is otherwise well and growing. Fever, vomiting green fluid, blood in the stool, poor feeding, fewer wet nappies or a baby who seems unwell mean something else, and need urgent assessment.
What if I feel overwhelmed? Put the baby down safely in the cot and step away for a few minutes. That is the right response, not a failure. Ask for help early.
Should I tell my clinic what I am giving? Yes. Nurses deal with this constantly and knowing helps them advise you.