Best Formula for Colic: A No-Nonsense Guide for Exhausted Parents

Few things test your patience quite like a colicky baby. The hours of crying, the 2 a.m. searches (best formula for colic, colic formula, anything that might help), the nagging feeling that you must be doing something wrong (you're not).

The short answer: no single formula is right for every colicky baby, and for most babies colic is not caused by formula. AAP (the American Academy of Pediatrics) says less than 5% of colicky crying comes from food sensitivity. If your baby is formula-fed, it suggests asking your pediatrician whether a protein hydrolysate formula is worth a try.

Comfort formulas, such as those in our comfort formula collection and our wider specialty formula range, list hydrolysed protein and reduced lactose on the label. Their brands label them for use on medical advice or under medical supervision, so choose one with your pediatrician.

Call your pediatrician first if the crying comes with fever, vomiting, poor feeding or weight loss, or if it does not stop.

Disclosure: Formuland sells the formulas named in this guide; this guide does not rank them and makes no claim that any formula eases colic. Medical guidance comes from AAP's HealthyChildren.org site, the U.K. National Health Service (NHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), checked November 8, 2026. It is general information, not a diagnosis.

What Colic Is (and Isn't)

Colic means a lot of crying in a baby who is otherwise healthy. An AAP-hosted crying guide says all babies have some fussy crying every day, and when it goes over 3 hours a day, it is called colic. AAP's abdominal pain page defines it as fussiness or crying for three hours at least three times a week. The NHS uses more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week, for at least 1 week.

AAP's colic page says about one-fifth of all babies develop colic, usually between the second and fourth weeks. The crying often gets worse in the early evening. While crying, a baby may clench their fists, go red in the face, bring their knees up or pass a lot of wind, the NHS notes.

The cause is not clear. AAP says colic most often means a baby is unusually sensitive to stimulation and cannot yet calm themselves, and that it is only rarely caused by sensitivity to milk protein in formula. The AAP-hosted guide adds that colic is due to your baby's temperament and has nothing to do with your parenting. If the crying comes with fever, vomiting, poor feeding or a cry that sounds different from usual, call your pediatrician now (see the table below).

It also passes. AAP says colicky crying generally stops by 3 to 4 months, though it can last until 6 months. The AAP-hosted guide says it peaks at 4 to 6 weeks and is most often gone by 3 months. AAP's bonding page calls it a brief stage, and adds that you cannot spoil a baby by comforting them.

When to Call Your Pediatrician About Colic

Colic is a label for crying with no other cause, so the first step is a check-up. AAP says to consult your pediatrician first to make sure the crying is not related to a medical problem, such as a hernia or an illness. AAP's abdominal pain page adds that babies with colic should not have other symptoms like weight loss, poor feeding, vomiting or dehydration. Call before you change to a formula for colic, not after.

Stool and feeding changes matter too. AAP lists pain with feeds, vomiting, blood or mucus in the stool and poor weight gain as possible signs of a milk protein allergy, and says to always mention blood in the stool. A milk protein allergy is diagnosed by your pediatrician, who also chooses the formula; AAP says to ask your pediatrician to recommend a hypoallergenic formula if your baby needs one for allergies.

Does Formula Choice Matter for Colic Babies?

Not every case of colic is formula-related; in fact, most are not, so a formula for colic is rarely the whole answer. Still, if your baby's crying seems to spike during or after feeds, or comes with vomiting, blood in the stool or poor weight gain, tell your pediatrician.

Here is what the AAP and NHS pages we checked say about formula for colic:

So when searching for a formula for colic, the useful question is not which can is best but whether your baby's crying has a food cause at all. That is your pediatrician's call. Our lactose-free formula guide and hydrolyzed formula guide explain those label terms.

European Formulas Parents Ask About for Colic Babies

These are the formulas parents most often ask us about when they search for a formula for colic babies. They are not one category: four are comfort formulas, one is a hydrolyzed (HA) formula and one is a standard A2 formula.

We report the composition and use instructions from each brand's own label page, checked November 8, 2026, not the brands' benefit wording. UK and EU labels follow a different rulebook from U.S. requirements, so ask your pediatrician before choosing one.

HiPP Formula

Formuland carries HiPP Comfort Formula in UK and German versions. HiPP's UK page calls it a food for special medical purposes (FSMP) that should only be used on the advice of a healthcare professional. It lists reduced lactose and partially hydrolysed (broken down) cow's milk protein; the first ingredients are lactose, maltodextrin and vegetable oils.

HiPP's German page describes the German box as a Spezialnahrung (special formula) to be used only after talking with your pediatrician ("nur nach Rücksprache mit Ihrem Kinderarzt"). It lists a hydrolysate and a reduced lactose content. Partially hydrolysed is not the same as the extensively hydrolyzed formulas AAP describes for babies with allergies.

HiPP Dutch HA 1 is a different product. HiPP's Dutch page describes HA 1 Combiotik as a complete cow's-milk-based infant formula from birth, and HiPP's German glossary explains HA as hydrolysierte Anfangsnahrung (hydrolyzed infant formula). The Dutch page does not list the full ingredients, so read the can, and ask your pediatrician whether a hydrolyzed formula fits your baby.

Holle A2 Formula

Some parents ask about A2 (beta-casein type) formulas. A2 refers to the type of beta-casein, a milk protein: Holle's label page explains that regular cow's milk carries two types, A1 and A2, and that its A2 Organic Infant Formula 1 uses milk with the A2 type. The page notes "Contains lactose only" (its carbohydrate) and describes the formula as organic and suitable from birth.

The ingredient list for Holle A2 Stage 1 starts with skimmed A2 cow's milk, whey and vegetable oils (palm, rapeseed and sunflower), then lactose; it lists no maltodextrin and no soy. Neither Holle's page nor the AAP pages we checked say that A2 formula helps with colic. It is a standard infant formula, not a comfort or hydrolyzed one.

Kendamil Comfort

Kendamil Comfort is the third option families often ask about. Kendamil's page says it is a food for special medical purposes that should be used under medical supervision, suitable from birth to 12 months. It lists partially hydrolysed protein and reduced lactose, and Kendamil uses whole milk as a fat source.

Aptamil Comfort

Aptamil Comfort is also in our comfort formula collection. Aptamil's UK page calls it a food for special medical purposes with partially hydrolysed protein, reduced lactose and GOS/FOS (galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides, two prebiotic fibers), to be used under medical supervision. Aptamil's German label says not to use it if a cow's milk protein allergy exists or is suspected.

What To Look for When Choosing a Formula for Colic

These are the terms you will see on formula for colic labels and what each one means, without the marketing. We describe what a formula for colic label lists, not what its brand says it will do.

Hydrolyzed protein is protein that has been broken down into smaller pieces. Partially hydrolysed protein appears on the Comfort labels above. Extensively hydrolyzed formula is a different category: AAP calls it "predigested" and says to ask your pediatrician to recommend a hypoallergenic formula if your baby needs one for allergies. AAP also says goat milk formula is not for babies with a cow's milk allergy.

Reduced lactose means less of the milk sugar lactose than a standard formula. AAP says it is extremely rare for babies to have a significant problem digesting lactose, and that a few infants have brief, temporary trouble after diarrhea. AAP says to check with your pediatrician before starting a lactose-free formula, and we suggest the same for a reduced-lactose one.

Prebiotics and probiotics on a label are ingredients, such as GOS/FOS fibers or lactic acid cultures. A label listing them is not evidence about crying. For colic supplements, the NHS says probiotic drops are not recommended and have no evidence of helping, while AAP says to discuss them with your pediatrician first.

The carbohydrate ingredients tell you which carbohydrate sources a formula uses. EU rules (Regulation (EU) 2016/127) allow sucrose only in infant formula made from protein hydrolysates, and list the other permitted carbohydrates, such as lactose, maltodextrins and glucose syrup. That is a different rulebook from U.S. requirements; ask your pediatrician which formula suits your baby.

When To Switch Formulas (and What To Expect)

If your baby's current formula seems to be making colic worse, talk to your pediatrician before switching to a formula for colic or any other formula. CDC asks parents to talk with their child's doctor or nurse before switching formula brands or types. If you agree on a change, many babies can move to the new formula straight away.

If you prefer a slower change, switch one feed at a time: every bottle is made from one formula only, with that formula's own scoop and the exact water its label lists. Never combine two formula powders, or two prepared formulas, in one bottle. A bottle made with the wrong scoop or water can end up too strong or too weak. If your pediatrician tells you to stop a formula right away, for example for a suspected allergy, follow that instead.

What to expect: the AAP and CDC pages we checked give no fixed timeline for judging a new formula, so agree with your pediatrician how long to try it and what to watch for. Keep a simple diary of feeds, sleep and crying, as AAP's calming page suggests, and bring it to the next visit. Our formula preparation guide covers safe water and storage times.

Gas often comes up alongside colic. Our guide on when to switch formula because of gas covers bottle technique and the AAP view on switching, and 5 signs of a gassy baby explains what everyday gas looks like. If gas comes with vomiting, blood in the stool, fever or poor feeding, call your pediatrician now.

Colic can also be confused with reflux. AAP's calming page says to contact your child's doctor if your baby is fussy after feeding, spits up or vomits a lot and is not gaining weight. Our guide on formula for acid reflux in infants explains anti-reflux labels, and our constipation guide covers hard stools.

How to Soothe a Colicky Baby: What AAP Suggests

While you wait it out, AAP's colic page lists several things worth trying, after your pediatrician has checked that nothing else is going on. No formula for colic replaces time and comfort, and every baby responds differently, so try one thing at a time.

• Walk your baby in a carrier; the motion and body contact reassure them.
• Rock and add steady sound: a fan, a white-noise machine or the dryer in the next room. Never place your baby on top of a washer or dryer.
• Offer a pacifier. Some babies refuse it; for others it helps right away.
• Lay your baby tummy-down across your knees while they are awake and you are watching, and rub their back softly. If they fall asleep, move them onto their back in the crib, as AAP's colic page says.
• Swaddle in a large, thin blanket. The AAP-hosted guide says not to cover the head or overheat your baby, and to stop swaddling when your baby shows signs of rolling over, with an age limit of 2 months.
• Do not overfeed. AAP suggests waiting at least 2 to 2½ hours from the start of one feed to the start of the next, and the AAP-hosted guide says to let your baby decide when they have had enough. This is not a reason to hold back a hungry baby: follow hunger cues and your pediatrician's feeding plan.

For sleep, AAP's safe sleep guidance is to place your baby on their back on a firm, flat surface with no incline, and to keep soft objects and loose bedding out of the sleep area. If your baby falls asleep in a carrier, sling, swing or stroller, move them to a firm sleep surface on their back as soon as possible.

Take care of yourself, too. AAP says that when you feel tense, it is OK to have someone else look after the baby, or to lay your baby on their back in the crib and leave the room for a few minutes, then check back. The AAP-hosted guide adds: call or ask a friend or relative for help and take a break until you calm down.

A baby should never be shaken; shaking can cause blindness, brain damage or death. If you are afraid someone might hurt or shake your baby, call your doctor now, and tell your own doctor if you feel depressed.

Formulas in This Guide at Formuland

These are the formulas named in this guide (comfort, HA and A2 formulas are different categories), with one-time prices for a single unit, checked November 8, 2026. If your pediatrician suggests a comfort formula for colic, note that these are labeled for use on medical advice or under medical supervision. Label version is as stated on our listing.

Prices are one-time purchases before any multi-pack discount or Subscribe & Save, which takes 7% off eligible items. Formuland offers free U.S. shipping on orders of $100 or more. Browse the full comfort formula collection or our Stage 1 formulas, and see our guide to formula and tummy troubles for related questions.

Disclosure: Formuland sells HiPP, Kendamil, Aptamil and Holle formulas and the other products linked in this guide. This guide does not rank them and makes no claim that any formula eases colic, gas or crying. Decisions about your baby's formula belong with your pediatrician.

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