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Exclusive breastfeeding and infant colic: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Duong Tt Doan1,2,3, Thuy P Nguyen4,5, Lam Tk Le4,6,7
1College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Hanoi, Vietnam. duong.dtt@vinuni.edu.vn.
BMC Pediatrics
|July 15, 2026
Summary
Exclusive breastfeeding is linked to a 19% reduction in infant colic odds. This finding supports exclusive breastfeeding for infant health, though more research is needed to confirm the association.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Infant Nutrition
Background:
- Exclusive breastfeeding offers known infant health benefits.
- The relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and infant colic requires further investigation.
- Infant colic affects a significant number of infants, causing distress to both infants and parents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze existing observational studies.
- To determine if exclusive breastfeeding is associated with reduced odds of infant colic.
- To compare exclusive breastfeeding with mixed feeding, formula feeding, and non-exclusive breastfeeding.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across multiple databases (MEDLINE, Embase, etc.) up to March 2026.
- Inclusion of 15 observational studies with 216,314 infants under 12 months.
- Meta-analysis using multilevel random-effects models and subgroup analyses.
Main Results:
- Exclusively breastfed infants showed 19% lower odds of colic compared to non-exclusively breastfed infants (OR=0.81).
- Significant heterogeneity was noted across studies (I² = 92.6%).
- Exclusive breastfeeding was associated with lower colic odds versus mixed feeding (OR=0.72) but not formula feeding (OR=0.92).
Conclusions:
- Exclusive breastfeeding is associated with a reduced likelihood of infant colic.
- The findings suggest a protective effect of exclusive breastfeeding against colic.
- Further high-quality research is recommended to elucidate underlying mechanisms and address evidence limitations.
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