In most cases, colic develops in the second or third week after the baby is born. It worsens after one month when the baby is six weeks old.

At around twelve weeks, the colic starts to improve with some babies settling quickly while others improve slowly.

Colic can start at a later stage, but most babies are free of colic by the time they reach six months old, which means that colic usually lasts for a period of three months.

Premature babies tend to start and finish having colic later than term babies.