Probiotics for Baby Colic: Do They Really Help With Gas and Crying?
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Probiotics may help reduce crying in some babies with infant colic, but the benefit depends on the specific probiotic strain and the baby’s feeding method.
The best-studied probiotic for colic is Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938. Research suggests it may reduce crying time in some breastfed infants with colic. Evidence is much less certain for formula-fed babies.
That does not mean every probiotic marketed for babies works for colic, gas, reflux, or fussiness. Before giving a young baby a probiotic—especially a premature or medically fragile infant—talk with your pediatrician.
- Probiotics are not all the same. Benefits are specific to individual strains.
- L. reuteri DSM 17938 has the strongest evidence for treating colic in breastfed infants.
- Evidence is insufficient to know whether the same benefit applies to formula-fed infants.
- Probiotics are not proven to cure ordinary baby gas or reflux.
- A probiotic should not replace evaluation of severe, unusual, or persistent crying.
- Premature, immunocompromised, or medically fragile infants require special caution with probiotics.
- A baby younger than 3 months with a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher needs prompt medical evaluation.
When a baby cries for hours, pulls up the legs, turns red, passes gas, and seems impossible to comfort, parents understandably start searching for something that might help.
Probiotics have become one of the most popular suggestions for infant colic. Some parents hear about them from friends, social media, advertisements, or other parents who feel a particular product helped their baby.
There is real research behind probiotics and infant colic—but the answer is more specific than simply saying “probiotics work.”
The exact bacterial strain matters, the baby’s feeding method matters, and most importantly, persistent crying should always be viewed in the context of the whole baby.
What Is Infant Colic?
Colic describes repeated periods of intense, difficult-to-soothe crying in a young infant who otherwise appears healthy.
Babies with colic generally feed normally, gain weight, have normal wet diapers, and look well between crying episodes.
Crying often becomes most noticeable around 4 to 6 weeks of age and gradually improves during the next several months.
If you are not sure whether your baby’s crying pattern really sounds like colic, start with our complete guide: Newborn Colic: Signs, Causes & How to Help.
Why Are Probiotics Being Studied for Colic?
The intestines contain enormous communities of bacteria and other microorganisms collectively known as the gut microbiome.
Researchers have found differences in intestinal bacteria between some infants with colic and infants without colic. This has raised the possibility that altering the intestinal microbiome might influence inflammation, intestinal movement, gas production, or communication between the gut and nervous system.
That is the theory. It does not mean that colic is simply caused by “bad bacteria,” nor does it mean that adding any probiotic will correct the problem.
Do Probiotics Actually Help Baby Colic?
Possibly—in certain babies and with certain probiotic strains.
The probiotic with the strongest research for infant colic is Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938.
Studies involving primarily breastfed infants have found that some babies receiving this strain had greater reductions in daily crying time compared with babies receiving placebo.
The European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) states that healthcare professionals may recommend L. reuteri DSM 17938 for at least 21 days in breastfed infants with colic.
However, the recommendation is considered weak, not strong, and evidence is currently insufficient to make the same recommendation for formula-fed infants.
The Probiotic Strain Matters
This is one of the most important things for parents to understand.
The word “probiotic” describes many different microorganisms. Two products sitting beside each other on a store shelf may contain completely different bacterial species, strains, concentrations, or combinations.
Evidence supporting one strain cannot automatically be transferred to another strain.
For example, research involving L. reuteri DSM 17938 does not prove that every product labeled “infant probiotic,” “baby probiotic,” or “probiotic for gas and colic” will produce the same effect.
Look for the full strain designation on the label rather than relying only on the words Lactobacillus, reuteri, or “probiotic.”
Do Probiotics Work Better in Breastfed Babies?
Most of the strongest evidence for L. reuteri DSM 17938 involves predominantly or exclusively breastfed infants.
This is why current expert guidance is more supportive of considering this particular strain in breastfed babies with colic.
Studies involving formula-fed infants have been less consistent, and there is currently not enough evidence to say that the same benefit reliably occurs.
That does not mean probiotics cannot possibly help a formula-fed baby. It means the evidence is not strong enough to make that conclusion confidently.
How Long Would a Probiotic Take to Help Colic?
A probiotic is not expected to stop crying immediately after a dose.
Studies showing benefit generally evaluated crying over a period of days to several weeks. Current ESPGHAN guidance referring to L. reuteri DSM 17938 discusses use for at least 21 days in breastfed infants with colic.
Parents should not interpret one quiet evening—or one particularly difficult evening—as proof that the probiotic is either working or failing.
Do Probiotics Help Baby Gas?
This is where marketing and medical evidence sometimes get mixed together.
Many probiotic products are marketed for “gas, colic, and digestive comfort,” but these are not necessarily the same condition.
Babies commonly swallow air while feeding and especially while crying. That means gas may sometimes be the result of crying rather than the original cause.
There is not strong evidence that probiotics reliably eliminate ordinary infant gas.
If gas seems to be the main issue, see: Baby Gas: How to Relieve It and When to Worry.
Do Probiotics Help Infant Reflux?
Probiotics should not be viewed as a standard treatment for normal infant reflux.
Spitting up is extremely common because the valve between a young baby’s esophagus and stomach is still developing. Most babies with uncomplicated reflux improve naturally as they mature.
If your baby is spitting up frequently, read: Why Does My Newborn Spit Up So Much?.
Forceful, green, bloody, or progressively worsening vomiting is different from ordinary spit-up and requires medical evaluation.
What About Probiotics in Baby Formula?
Some infant formulas contain added probiotics. That does not necessarily mean the formula will prevent or treat colic.
The effect depends on the strain used, the amount present, the baby’s individual situation, and the condition being studied.
Parents generally should not repeatedly switch formula solely because a baby is fussy or gassy.
If you are wondering whether your baby needs a different formula, see: When Does a Baby Need Special Formula? A Pediatrician Explains.
Are Probiotics Safe for Babies?
Probiotics are generally well tolerated in healthy infants studied in clinical trials, but they are not completely risk-free.
A probiotic contains living microorganisms. Rarely, organisms contained in probiotic products can cause infection, particularly in babies who are premature, seriously ill, immunocompromised, or medically fragile.
The FDA has specifically warned about potentially serious infections associated with probiotic use in hospitalized premature infants.
- Your baby was born prematurely.
- Your baby has a weakened immune system.
- Your baby has significant heart, intestinal, or other medical problems.
- Your baby has a central intravenous catheter or is hospitalized.
- Your baby is feeding poorly or not gaining weight normally.
- Your baby has persistent vomiting, diarrhea, blood in the stool, or significant abdominal swelling.
- You are unsure whether the crying is really colic.
What Else Can Parents Do for Colic?
There is no single treatment that stops every episode of colic. Often the goal is to make the baby more comfortable while helping parents safely get through a difficult developmental stage.
- Check hunger, diaper, temperature, and clothing first.
- Hold your baby close and try gentle rocking, walking, or swaying.
- Reduce bright lights, noise, and stimulation.
- Try quiet white noise or soft humming.
- Offer a pacifier if your baby uses one.
- Burp during and after feeds without repeatedly forcing a burp.
- Avoid feeding every cry if the baby recently ate, since overfeeding may increase discomfort.
- Ask another trusted adult for help when you become exhausted.
When Crying May Not Be Colic
One of the biggest mistakes parents can make is assuming that every screaming baby has colic or gas.
Colic occurs in an infant who is otherwise healthy. A baby who remains abnormal between crying episodes deserves another look.
- The crying is new, worsening, or different from your baby’s usual pattern.
- Your baby regularly seems to be in significant pain.
- Your baby is feeding poorly or refusing feeds.
- Your baby is not gaining weight appropriately.
- Wet diapers have decreased.
- Vomiting, diarrhea, significant constipation, eczema, or blood or mucus in the stool develops.
- Your baby does not return to normal behavior between crying episodes.
- You are worried that something simply does not look right.
- Your baby younger than 3 months has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
- Your baby is weak, limp, unusually sleepy, difficult to wake, or looks seriously ill.
- Your baby is having difficulty breathing or develops blue or gray coloring.
- Vomit is green, bloody, or repeatedly forceful or projectile.
- Your baby’s abdomen becomes markedly swollen, firm, or very tender.
- There is a significant amount of blood in the stool.
- Your baby will not feed or has substantially fewer wet diapers.
- Crying is nonstop and your baby cannot be consoled or cries when moved or touched.
During nearly four decades in pediatrics, I learned not to judge a crying baby by the volume of the crying alone.
I always wanted to know what happened between the crying episodes.
A baby who settles, feeds, urinates, grows, and returns to being alert and comfortable is very different from a baby who remains lethargic, painful, feeds poorly, or simply looks sick.
A probiotic may be worth discussing for some babies with true colic—particularly a breastfed infant when the specific strain has evidence behind it—but never let a bottle of probiotic drops distract you from watching the baby.
Frequently Asked Questions About Probiotics and Colic
What is the best probiotic for a baby with colic?
The most studied strain is Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938. Evidence suggests it may reduce crying in some breastfed infants with colic. This does not mean every probiotic containing Lactobacillus or every infant probiotic has the same effect.
Do probiotics help newborn colic?
They may help some otherwise healthy breastfed infants with colic when a studied strain is used. Evidence remains insufficient to make the same conclusion for formula-fed infants.
How long does it take probiotics to work for colic?
Benefits, when they occur, are generally measured over days to several weeks rather than after a single dose. ESPGHAN guidance discusses at least 21 days of L. reuteri DSM 17938 in breastfed infants with colic.
Can probiotics make a baby more gassy?
Digestive symptoms can change when supplements are introduced, but ordinary infant gas is common even without probiotics. If your baby becomes significantly more uncomfortable, develops diarrhea, vomiting, blood in the stool, poor feeding, or another concerning symptom, contact your pediatrician.
Should I give my baby a probiotic every day?
Do not assume a healthy infant needs a daily probiotic. Whether one is appropriate depends on the reason for using it, the strain, the baby’s health, and the evidence supporting that use. Discuss supplementation with your pediatrician.
Are probiotics safe for premature babies?
Premature and medically fragile infants require special caution. The FDA has warned about serious infections associated with probiotic organisms in hospitalized premature infants. Do not give a premature infant a probiotic without guidance from the baby’s medical team.
References & Medical Sources
- Szajewska H, et al. Probiotics for the Management of Pediatric Gastrointestinal Disorders: Position Paper of the ESPGHAN Special Interest Group on Gut Microbiota and Modifications. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2023. ESPGHAN →
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Colic Relief Tips for Parents. HealthyChildren.org →
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Abdominal Pain in Infants: Possible Reasons Your Baby’s Tummy Hurts. HealthyChildren.org →
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Raises Concerns About Probiotic Products Sold for Use in Hospitalized Preterm Infants. FDA →
Related Parent Resources
This article provides general educational information and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your child’s pediatrician or another qualified healthcare professional.
Probiotic products differ by organism, strain, concentration, formulation, quality, and intended use. Do not use this article to select or dose a probiotic for an individual infant.
Contact your pediatrician for persistent or unusual crying, feeding difficulty, vomiting, stool changes, poor weight gain, fever, breathing problems, dehydration, or any concern about your baby’s condition. If you believe your baby may be experiencing an emergency, call 911 or seek emergency medical attention immediately.