Colic, Gas or Just Growing Pains? Understanding Newborn Discomfort the Natural Way

Every parent knows that hour — the one where your baby cries with a force bigger than their tiny body. Knees curled, tummy tight, face red, back arched.
You wonder:
“Is this colic? Is something wrong? Or is my baby just learning their body?”

Here is a truth that brings relief:
Most newborn discomfort is not a medical problem.
It is a developmental phase.

Your baby’s body is adjusting to life outside the womb — tiny organs waking up, gut learning to work, senses expanding too fast.
And every cry is their way of saying, “I need help navigating this new world.”

1 — Why Newborn Digestion Is So Sensitive

A newborn has never eaten, digested, or passed gas before birth. Everything is brand new.
Their digestive system is still learning to coordinate muscles, enzymes, and nerves.

Newborns naturally have:

• Immature digestion

• Irregular bowel movements

• Gas pockets trapped easily

• Sensitive gut microbiome

• Weak abdominal muscles

• A developing nervous system

This is why babies grunt, fuss, squirm, or cry in waves, especially in the evenings.

Your baby isn’t in danger — they’re growing.

2 — Colic vs Gas vs the “Witching Hour”: What’s the Difference?

Understanding the cause helps you respond with confidence, not fear.

 A. What is Colic?

Colic is defined as:
Crying for more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week, for over 3 weeks.

It often peaks at 6 weeks and eases by 12–14 weeks.

Colic signs:

• Intense crying

• Body stiffening

• Face turning red

• Difficulty calming even when held

What causes it?
A combination of immature digestion + overstimulation + difficulty regulating stress.

Colic is not your fault. It’s not preventable. But it is manageable.

 B. Gas and Tummy Discomfort

Gas is extremely common. Babies swallow air while feeding, crying, or even breathing.

Gas symptoms:

• Tummy tightness

• Pulling knees upward

• Relief after burping or farting

• Fussiness but consolable

Gas improves dramatically with massage and burping.

C. The Witching Hour

Evenings bring sensory overload for babies.

Signs:

• Crying in predictable evening windows

• Rests briefly, then starts again

• Difficult to settle but improves with movement

This is not colic — it’s a tired, overstimulated nervous system.

3 — Natural Comfort Techniques Backed by Tradition and Science

Parents have soothed newborn discomfort for centuries, long before colic drops and formulas existed.

And surprisingly, modern science agrees with these ancient rituals.

 1. Warm Oil Tummy Massage (Vagus Nerve Activation)

Massage reduces gas, calms the gut, and relaxes the whole body.
Using Root and Soil cold-pressed coconut or almond oil, warmed slightly, enhances digestion and lowers cortisol.

Try the “I Love You” stroke:

• Down the left side (“I”)

• Across and down (“L”)

• Reverse half-circle (“U”)

This moves gas downward, reduces cramps, and improves bowel movement.

 2. Upright Feeding Position

Helps milk flow smoothly and reduces air intake.

Tips:

• Keep baby semi-upright

• Ensure a deep latch

• Tilt bottle slightly to avoid air

 3. Burping Cycles

Instead of one long burp at the end, try:

• Burp mid-feed

• Burp after feed

• Gentle back circles
  
  

This prevents trapped gas.

 4. Reduce Evening Stimulation

Dim lights, soft voice, slow movements.
Babies cannot shut out stimulation on their own — you do it for them.

 5. Warm Bath or Warm Compress

Warmth relaxes abdominal muscles and soothes trapped gas.

6. Contact Carrying (Babywearing)

Upright carrying aligns the digestive system.
The closeness regulates their nervous system, calming the crying cycle.

 7. Swaddling + Rocking Ritual

Swaddling mimics the womb.
Rocking imitates the gentle swing they lived in for nine months.

Together, these regulate both digestion and emotion.

4 — When It's Not Colic: The Hidden Role of the Nervous System

Most babies crying in “colic-like” ways are actually overstimulated, overtired, or having a nervous system overload, not gut distress.

Newborns cry because:

• Their senses are unfiltered

• Their brain cannot regulate emotions

• Their digestion is still learning

• Their world feels too big sometimes

You aren’t soothing their tummy alone —
you’re soothing their entire system.

5 — The Root and Soil Way: Rituals That Heal, Not Just Soothe

At Root and Soil, every product is crafted to support the newborn’s inner world — gut, skin, senses, and nervous system.

Our colic-friendly rituals:

• Warm oil tummy massage with cold-pressed coconut or almond oil

• Pre-sleep massage to reduce evening fussiness

• Scent-free balms to avoid sensory overload

• Slow, rhythmic routines that anchor babies in safety

No chemicals.
No perfumes.
No shortcuts.

Just nature doing what nature has always done —
soothe, support, and strengthen.

Colic Tummy Roll-On

A gentle ritual for unsettled tummies.

Designed for those moments when your baby needs comfort, not stimulation.
Our Colic Tummy Roll-On is made to support digestion and ease trapped gas through touch, warmth, and rhythm.

• Easy roll-on application for mess-free tummy massage
  
  

• Mild, natural aromas that calm without overwhelming
  
  

• Supports slow, circular movements that help release discomfort
  
  

• Ideal for evening routines and post-feed care
  
  

Used as part of a mindful massage ritual, it helps babies feel held, regulated, and safe — allowing their tiny systems to relax and reset.

Not a quick fix.
A comforting routine.
 One that works with your baby’s body, not against it.

Your baby’s cries are not signs of failure.
They are signs of growth.
Signs of a nervous system adjusting, a gut learning movements, a body discovering comfort for the first time.

You are not “fixing” them —
you are guiding them through their first weeks of life.

With your hands.
Your warmth.
Your patience.
Your love.

Everything else is secondary.

FAQs:

1. How do I know if my baby has colic or just gas?

Gas is relieved by massage, burping, or movement. Colic is intense crying lasting hours without clear relief.

2. Does warm oil massage help with colic?

Yes. It activates the vagus nerve, promotes digestion, reduces gas pockets, and calms the nervous system.

3. Why does my baby cry more in the evenings?

Evenings bring sensory overload and tiredness — this is known as the “witching hour.”

4. Can overstimulation mimic colic?

Absolutely. Bright lights, noise, or too much handling can create colic-like crying.

5. Should I change formula for colic?

Only after consulting your pediatrician. Often, the cause is developmental, not dietary.

6. When should I burp my baby?

Burp mid-feed and after feeding. Several small burps work better than one long effort.

7. How does babywearing help gas?

It keeps the baby upright, promotes gut motility, and regulates stress.

8. Are colic drops safe?

They may offer relief, but should only be used under medical supervision. Natural methods should be the first approach.