# Day 39: What helps crying, and what doesn't

> Gas drops, diet changes, probiotics, special formulas: what the reviews found before you spend a dollar, plus one soother that's free and on the AAP's list.

- Series: Your second month, day by day (https://chorevia.com/learn/second-month), day 39 of 120, week 6
- Canonical URL: https://chorevia.com/learn/second-month/day-39
- Last reviewed: 2026-10-20
- Publisher: Chorevia (https://chorevia.com)
- Cite as: Chorevia. "Day 39: What helps crying, and what doesn't." Last reviewed October 20, 2026. https://chorevia.com/learn/second-month/day-39

This guide is general education that summarizes published research and guidance from groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, and the WHO. It isn’t medical advice, and every child develops on their own timeline. Your pediatrician knows your child; if something feels wrong, call them. In an emergency, call 911.

By week six, someone has recommended a drop, a formula, a diet, a gadget. Today is the honest list of what the evidence says, so you can skip the shopping.

## Heart

First, the AAP's rule: you can't spoil a young baby with attention, and babies whose cries are answered cry less overall ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Responding-to-Your-Babys-Cries.aspx)). Picking them up is never the wrong move, and nothing you can buy does more than that.

## Head

Gas drops: a review of reviews found simethicone, the ingredient in most gas drops, showed no benefit ([Ellwood et al., 2020](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32102827/)), and the AAP says studies suggest it doesn't help colic ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/diapers-clothing/Pages/Breaking-Up-Gas.aspx)). Diet: the evidence for diet and formula changes is very low quality ([Gordon et al., 2018](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30306546/)). Probiotics: pooling 4 trials of 345 babies, the probiotic *L. reuteri* DSM 17938 reduced crying in breastfed babies with colic; the effect in formula-fed babies wasn't significant ([Sung et al., 2018](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29279326/)). That result applies to that strain only. Special formulas: European experts advise against special "colic" formulas and against moving a breastfed baby to formula because of colic ([Haiden et al., 2024](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766683/)). Ask your pediatrician before switching formulas or cutting foods from your diet ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Colic.aspx)).

## Body

What has something behind it is mostly free. The AAP's colic tips: walk with your baby in a carrier, rock, add steady sound like a fan, offer a pacifier, or lay your baby tummy-down across your knees and rub their back ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Colic.aspx)). In a 1990 trial of 40 newborns, 80% fell asleep within 5 minutes with white noise, versus 25% without ([Spencer et al., 1990](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2405784/)); keep sound machines quiet and away from the crib, since at full volume some exceed safe noise levels ([Hugh et al., 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24590753/)). And singing is on the AAP's soothing list ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Responding-to-Your-Babys-Cries.aspx)).

## Try today

### Singing and gentle swaying

- **Time:** A song or two, any time
- **From the guide:** [Singing and gentle swaying](https://chorevia.com/learn/1-month#singing-and-gentle-swaying)

1. Hold your baby securely, with head and neck supported.
2. Sing anything, slowly, and sway or rock in rhythm.
3. Keep the same song for the same moment each day, so it becomes a cue.

**Make it work:** Keep movement smooth and gentle. Never shake a baby. The evidence is emerging: one non-randomized study of about 170 mothers linked singing lullabies to stronger bonding at 3 months ([Persico et al., 2017](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28169158/)). You don't need a good voice.

## Watch for

- **Normal:** crying that a song calms for a minute and then doesn't. **Call your pediatrician right away** if your baby looks or acts very sick, or you think they need to be seen urgently ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/symptom-checker/Pages/symptomviewer.aspx?symptom=Crying+Baby+-+Before+3+Months+Old)).
- **Normal:** spit-up with a burp after a long cry. **Call your pediatrician right away** if spit-up turns forceful or projectile, and **go to the ER now** for green spit-up or vomit ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/symptom-checker/Pages/symptomviewer.aspx?symptom=Reflux+%28Spitting+Up%29)).
- **Normal:** a tense, gassy belly before a poop that softens after. **Call your pediatrician right away** if your baby vomits with a swollen belly, or has a new weak suck or weak muscles ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/symptom-checker/Pages/symptomviewer.aspx?symptom=Constipation)).

## For you

Don't buy anything for colic before asking the pediatrician ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Colic.aspx)). The money is better spent on an hour of someone else's arms. Your rest matters more than any product on the shelf: hand the baby to the person who offered, for one song's length, then a nap's length. The newborn guide's rule still holds: accept specific help, like a stroller walk while you sleep ([Chorevia](https://chorevia.com/learn/newborn#parenting-techniques)).

If you're the partner: when the relatives arrive with remedies, you be the one who says, "Let's ask the doctor first." Then take the baby for the walk.

## Sources

- American Academy of Pediatrics. "Responding to Your Baby's Cries." HealthyChildren.org, updated 2025. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Responding-to-Your-Babys-Cries.aspx
- Ellwood J, Draper-Rodi J, Carnes D. "Comparison of common interventions for the treatment of infantile colic: a systematic review of reviews and guidelines." BMJ Open, 2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32102827/
- Jana LA, Shu J. "Gas Relief for Babies." HealthyChildren.org, updated 2025. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/diapers-clothing/Pages/Breaking-Up-Gas.aspx
- Gordon M, Biagioli E, Sorrenti M, et al. "Dietary modifications for infantile colic." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30306546/
- Sung V, D'Amico F, Cabana MD, et al. "Lactobacillus reuteri to Treat Infant Colic: A Meta-analysis." Pediatrics, 2018. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29279326/
- Haiden N, Savino F, Hill S, et al. "Infant formulas for the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders: A position paper of the ESPGHAN Nutrition Committee." Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766683/
- American Academy of Pediatrics. "Colic Relief Tips for Parents." HealthyChildren.org, updated 2024. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Colic.aspx
- Spencer JA, Moran DJ, Lee A, Talbert D. "White noise and sleep induction." Archives of Disease in Childhood, 1990. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2405784/
- Hugh SC, Wolter NE, Propst EJ, et al. "Infant sleep machines and hazardous sound pressure levels." Pediatrics, 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24590753/
- Persico G, Antolini L, Vergani P, et al. "Maternal singing of lullabies during pregnancy and after birth: Effects on mother-infant bonding and on newborns' behaviour. Concurrent Cohort Study." Women and Birth, 2017. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28169158/
- American Academy of Pediatrics. "Crying Baby - Before 3 Months Old" (symptom checker). HealthyChildren.org, accessed 2026. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/symptom-checker/Pages/symptomviewer.aspx?symptom=Crying+Baby+-+Before+3+Months+Old
- American Academy of Pediatrics. "Reflux (Spitting Up)" (symptom checker). HealthyChildren.org, accessed 2026. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/symptom-checker/Pages/symptomviewer.aspx?symptom=Reflux+%28Spitting+Up%29
- American Academy of Pediatrics. "Constipation" (symptom checker). HealthyChildren.org, accessed 2026. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/symptom-checker/Pages/symptomviewer.aspx?symptom=Constipation