Infantile Colic: Maternal Coping Responses Across the Severity Spectrum

Background: Infantile colic is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder in early infancy and a frequent cause of parental distress. This study aimed to describe maternal coping behaviors in response to infantile colic and to examine the association with symptom severity among infants younger than 6 months. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among mother–infant pairs who met the inclusion criteria. Colic severity was categorized as mild, moderate, or severe using a composite crying intensity index based on crying duration and frequency. Maternal coping behaviors were categorized into physical soothing, feeding techniques, and medications. Results: Among the 151 infants, colic severity was mild in 32.5%, moderate in 31.8%, and severe in 35.8%. Physical soothing was the most commonly reported coping behavior (75.5%), followed by medication use (70.2%) and feeding strategies (47%), indicating that most mothers used more than one coping approach. A consistent gradient in coping behavior was observed as symptom severity increased. In multivariate analysis, carrying/rocking and formula change were independently associated with severe colic, whereas medication-based strategies were not significantly associated with colic severity. Conclusion: Mothers’ approaches to managing infant colic vary depending on the severity of symptoms, gradually progressing from non-pharmacological soothing to feeding changes and medication as symptoms worsen. These findings highlight the importance of structured parenting guidance that emphasizes the limited nature of infant colic and the cautious, evidence-based use of pharmacological interventions in early infancy.