What do colicky babies and kids with ADHD have in common? The answer may surprise you—and give you a new path forward.
If you’re a parent searching for answers about colic, you’ve probably been told by doctors, nurses, or even friends: “Don’t worry, babies grow out of colic.” But here’s the truth—infants don’t simply outgrow colic. Instead, many grow into new challenges as their nervous system continues to struggle.
The inconsolable crying, constant fussiness, back arching, and sleepless nights that leave you second-guessing every decision as a parent—these aren’t just random phases that magically disappear with time. Colic is your baby’s way of signaling that something deeper is happening in their nervous system development.
Colic Doesn’t Disappear—It Changes
Week after week, parents bring in children—often around seven years old—who are now facing sensory processing struggles, ADHD, or childhood anxiety. And when their early history is reviewed, one detail shows up again and again: they were colicky babies.
The same nervous system stress that led to constant crying and sleepless nights in infancy doesn’t just disappear—it often resurfaces years later as meltdowns, difficulty focusing, or emotional regulation issues. The labels may look different, but the root cause never went away.
You’re not imagining this connection. And most importantly—you are not failing as a parent.
Why Colic Remedies Haven’t Worked for Your Baby
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already tried everything—cutting dairy from your diet while breastfeeding, tracking every meal in a food journal, experimenting with every colic drop and natural remedy you can find, tweaking feeding schedules, and following endless advice from family, friends, and online forums.
You’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and questioning what you’re doing wrong. But here’s the truth: you’re not doing anything wrong. What’s missing isn’t more remedies or restrictions—it’s the most important piece of the puzzle: your baby’s nervous system health.
The Real Root Cause of Colic: It’s More Than Digestion
Most people assume colic is a digestive problem—gas, reflux, or food sensitivities. While those symptoms are real and upsetting, they’re only part of the story. The digestive system doesn’t operate on its own—it’s fully controlled by the nervous system.
Think of your baby’s nervous system as the master “air traffic controller” for their tiny body. When that controller becomes stressed or overwhelmed, every system begins to back up—digestion, sleep, emotional regulation, and development.
A major player in this is the vagus nerve, often called the “master nerve.” It travels from the brainstem down through the neck, controlling the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. If birth trauma, prenatal stress, or other early challenges interfere with vagus nerve function, digestion can literally get stuck.
That’s why colic isn’t just something your baby will “grow out of.” Instead, it’s a sign their body is stuck in stress mode:
- Baby gets stuck in the birth canal during delivery
- Stress gets stuck in their nervous system
- Digestion gets stuck
- And your baby stays stuck in distress
The Overlooked Trigger Behind Colic: Birth Trauma
There’s a pattern too consistent to ignore: nearly all colicky babies have experienced some form of birth intervention—whether it was a C-section, forceps delivery, vacuum extraction, or labor induction. While often necessary for safety, these interventions place significant physical stress on the upper neck, where crucial nerves that control digestion and calming functions originate.
But the stress doesn’t always start at delivery. During pregnancy, the umbilical cord acts as a direct stress line. If you experienced anxiety, high levels of stress, or physical strain while pregnant, your baby’s nervous system was already on high alert before birth.
That physical stress and tension typically get stuck in two areas: the upper neck and the mid-back. This explains why colicky babies often arch their backs, stiffen their necks, or clench their little bodies—they’re trying to stretch out the tension, the same way you might stretch after being stuck at a desk all day.
Your baby’s body language is speaking loud and clear: the root problem isn’t in the stomach—it’s in the nervous system.
The Colic Progression Every Parent Needs to Understand
When nervous system stress isn’t addressed early on, a predictable timeline often plays out for families:
- Colic (0–6 months): constant crying, gas and reflux, sleep struggles
- Chronic ear infections (6–18 months): repeated infections, often treated with multiple rounds of antibiotics
- Speech delays (18–36 months): late talking, unclear words, or difficulty forming sentences
- Sensory processing struggles (3–5 years): sensitivity to sounds, textures, clothing, or busy environments
- ADHD & anxiety (5–10 years): trouble focusing, emotional outbursts, and ongoing dysregulation
At each stage, the same stuck stress pattern in the nervous system is present—it just looks different as your child grows. The truth is, the colic didn’t disappear. It transformed into new challenges.
To make matters worse, frequent antibiotics for ear infections can disrupt gut health, while medications for behavior or focus can add even more stress to the nervous system. The result? A child battling emotional, behavioral, and developmental hurdles—like trying to drive with the parking brake still on.
What Your Baby’s Body Language Really Means
When your baby cries uncontrollably and arches their back, they’re not just being fussy—they’re communicating valuable clues. That arching isn’t simply about gas or reflux; it’s your baby’s instinctive way of trying to release built-up tension in their nervous system.
Think of it like this: after a stressful day, you instinctively stretch your neck and back to relieve pressure. Your baby does the same, only their tension often comes from birth stress and nervous system overload.
Colic isn’t something you have to “wait out” or hope they outgrow. Your baby isn’t broken, difficult, or destined to struggle—they’re simply stuck in a stress pattern that can be corrected.
And here’s the hopeful part: the earlier you address nervous system stress, the faster your child can heal. Thanks to neuroplasticity—the brain’s natural ability to rewire and form new patterns—infants and young children are especially capable of bouncing back and thriving when given the right support.
Taking Action: How Parents Can Help a Colicky Baby
First and foremost—trust your instincts. You know your baby better than anyone. If something feels off, don’t let anyone dismiss your concerns with “they’ll grow out of it.”
Find the right practitioner. Look for providers who understand the nervous system connection and take a whole-child approach, not just symptom management. Ask how they address birth trauma and nervous system stress.
Reflect on the birth experience. Consider your pregnancy and delivery. Were there interventions such as induction, C-section, or a long labor? Did you experience high levels of stress during pregnancy? These details often hold important clues.
Think beyond quick fixes. While colic drops and symptom remedies may provide short-term relief, they don’t resolve the root cause. Focus on care that works to unwind the stress patterns in your baby’s nervous system.
Track the patterns. Keep notes on when your baby seems most distressed, what brings temporary relief, and any family history of similar struggles. This record can give your provider valuable insights into your baby’s needs.
When you look past quick fixes and focus on the root causes of colic, you empower your baby to heal, regulate, and thrive.
Your Child Deserves More Than Labels and Symptom Management
Your baby doesn’t need another label, another prescription, or parents left feeling helpless and worn out. What they truly need is for their nervous system to shift—from a stressed, stuck state into a balanced and thriving one.
When the underlying birth stress and nervous system tension are properly addressed, families often witness remarkable transformations. Babies who once cried for hours finally become calm and content. Sleep patterns improve, digestion settles, and the entire family dynamic begins to change for the better.
The Bottom Line for Parents
You are not failing. You are not overreacting. And you are certainly not “just anxious new parents.” You are your child’s strongest advocate—and your instincts matter.
Your baby isn’t broken—they’re simply stuck in a stress pattern. With the right approach, they can get unstuck and begin to thrive. At 3T Family Chiropractic, we recognize that colic is often a nervous system challenge disguised as a digestive problem, and we know how to address it at the root. Hope, answers, and real help are available—and we’d be honored to provide that for your family. Don’t wait to give us a call today. If you’re not local to us, check the PX Docs directory to find a neurologically focused provider near you.
The earlier you take action to support your baby’s nervous system health, the better their outcomes will be—not just for colic, but for their long-term development, learning, behavior, and emotional regulation as they grow.