Should i use gripe water

Fortunately, gripe water has evolved, though slowly, partly due to alcoholic versions being banned in the United States in Depending on the manufacturer, it can also contain herbs like dill, ginger, fennel, licorice, chamomile and peppermint, and there are DIY recipes for people who want to make it themselves. Well, who knows really? There seems to be anecdotal evidence that modern gripe water works, and it makes sense that sugar and certain herbs might help alleviate some discomfort.

This is the big question. In fact, I recommend against its use. As with any medicine, whether all-natural or otherwise, we recommend consulting with your pediatrician before giving your little one anything. There are many common questions about how to administer gripe water to your infant.

As a mild herbal supplement, it is a safe way to relieve your baby of discomfort from hiccups, colic, and upset tummy—anything related to gas buildup. Our gripe water is also the number one selling natural supplement for relief of colic symptoms. Natalie is the resident Social Media Guru and member of the marketing team. Sign up for our newsletter for tips on making parenthood a little less overwhelming.

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Despite plenty of anecdotal evidence, the research showing that gripe water settles upset little tummies and dries tiny tears is pretty lacking. Researchers also found most infants who received gripe water continued to cry excessively suggestive of colic compared to those who did not receive it [4] Jain K, Gunasekaran D, Venkatesh C, Soundararajan P.

Because gripe water is a supplement and not regulated by the FDA, Dr. Vann suggests chamomile and ginger tea as an alternative. In one clinical study, herbal tea containing chamomile proved useful in treating colic. However, the authors of the study found the risks of repeated and frequent administration of chamomile tea—which carries the risk of microcytic anemia —outweighed the benefits and recommended parents wait the colic out and let problems resolve themselves naturally, which usually occurs by six months of age [5] Crotteau CA, Wright ST, Eglash A.

Clinical inquiries. What is the best treatment for infants with colic? J Fam Pract. Also, be sure to:. Be sure to consider all the facts and speak with your pediatrician to make an informed decision when deciding whether to give supplements like gripe water to your baby.

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Amanda Krupa, M. Mostly this happens when the baby is feeling bloaty or is colic an unexplained digestive difficulty. In such cases, parents prefer to give a herbal remedy called gripe water, which is believed to be very effective and safe. Gripe water has been used from decades to soothe a crying baby. But the question is, is it really safe to give this concoction to the infants? Gripe water is a liquid solution believed to be made of natural ingredients, which can help to soothe the discomfort caused by bloating, colic, indigestion, and hiccups.

Gripe water has been used across the world for a long time and is believed to be quite effective, but the paediatrician does not support this claim. The companies selling gripe water are not regulated. So they do not exactly specify the ingredients they use to process the liquid. You do not know if the ingredients are safe or not. Although Dr Arora does not recommend gripe water, he said if you are still willing to give it then it is important to remember two things- "First It should not be given to a baby less than three-month-old and second it should be homemade.

Sometimes it even contains chemicals. So, we don't advise parents to give gripe water to their child. It is useless.

As per a study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, giving anything other than breast milk to the infants in the first six months may increase the risk of introducing bacteria, causing allergies and irritating their intestine. The same thing applies with gripe water. Traditionally alcohol was used to prepare gripe water, which provides a soothing effect. But the study further revealed that the brands of gripe water available in the Indian market are alcohol-free but contain sodium bicarbonate.

When sodium bicarbonate is feed in large quantity it may cause alkalosis and milk-alkali syndrome. Dr Arora says that rather than giving gripe water there are other things that you can do to soothe a crying baby. Asafoetida and Probiotics may help to reduce or relieve excess gas and pain. Asafoetida: You can take half-a-teaspoon of asafoetida and add a few drops of water to it to make a paste.

Apply this paste around the belly button of the baby for relief. Probiotics: Probiotics may also help to provide relief from pain in breastfed infants. Consult your doctor about it. Burp your baby: After feeding your baby, try to make them burp. Review your diet : Reduce the intake of nuts, soy, eggs, caffeine.

These things may also cause bloating in baby. Bloating is quite normal in breastfed babies and as per doctors, it indicates gastrointestinal GI maturity.