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Colicky Baby Sleep: Can They Make It Through the Night?

Can a colicky baby sleep through the night?

Yes—some colicky babies can sleep through the night, but it’s not a guarantee and it may happen later than it does for babies who aren’t dealing with frequent crying spells. Colic tends to peak around 6 weeks of age and often improves by 3 to 4 months, so longer stretches of sleep may become more realistic as the digestive and nervous systems mature.

Even when a baby is colicky, nighttime sleep can look surprisingly “normal” on some nights and very disrupted on others. A baby might sleep in longer blocks but still have intense evening crying (often called the “witching hour”). If your baby is gaining weight, having normal wet diapers, and can be soothed at least some of the time, sleep consolidation is still possible.

What to expect from sleep with colic

Night sleep may improve before evening fussiness does

Many families notice the hardest hours are late afternoon through bedtime. A baby might still wake for feeds as expected for their age, yet also have a predictable daily period of inconsolable crying.

“Sleeping through the night” depends on age

For young infants, sleeping through the night rarely means 10–12 hours straight. More commonly, it means one longer stretch (for example 5–8 hours) with fewer wake-ups, which varies widely by baby and feeding needs.

Ways to support better sleep during a colic phase

Focus on calming the nervous system and reducing overtiredness. Keep a consistent bedtime routine, offer feeds before baby becomes frantic, and aim for earlier bedtime if evenings are escalating. White noise, swaddling (when safe and age-appropriate), gentle rocking, or a pacifier may help some babies settle.

If crying is paired with vomiting, poor weight gain, blood in stool, fever, or you can’t soothe your baby at all, check in with a pediatrician to rule out reflux, allergies, or other issues. For a deeper breakdown of what’s typical and what can help, see the full guide here: Can a colicky baby sleep through the night?

FAQ

How can I tell if my baby has colic or reflux?

Colic is defined by frequent, prolonged crying in an otherwise healthy baby, often at similar times each day. Reflux is more likely when there’s frequent spit-up with discomfort, back-arching, feeding struggles, or poor weight gain—your pediatrician can help confirm what’s going on.