What is gripe water?
Gripe water is an herbal liquid that's meant to soothe baby gas, colic, hiccups, and fussiness. The original recipe for gripe water comes from doctors in Nottingham, England. In the 1800s, they used a mixture of dill seed oil, sodium bicarbonate, alcohol, and other substances to treat symptoms of malaria in children.
A pharmacist named William Woodward discovered that the concoction seemed to relieve gastrointestinal upset in infants. He may have taken the name "gripe" from "watery gripes," which is what doctors called upset stomach at the time.
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Today, gripe water is a popular remedy for colic. Having a baby who cries inconsolably day and night can make parents desperate for solutions – and sleep. Parents around the world use gripe water to soothe their fussy babies, even though there's no research to show that it works.
How does gripe water work?
It's not clear that gripe water does anything to help babies, since it's not a proven remedy. Because it's sold as a dietary supplement, not a medicine, gripe water isn't regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
"When a product is not regulated by the FDA, you can never be 100% sure of what you're getting, how it was made, or exactly how it's going to affect the human body," says Liz Donner, M.D., a pediatric hospitalist and member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board. "For this reason, I don't routinely recommend gripe water. However, some parents find it to be very effective without any noticeable side effects. To those families, I wouldn't necessarily convince them to stop using it, either."
Babies with colic cry or fuss without an obvious reason. Experts don't know exactly what causes colic, but the fussiness may stem from digestive problems like gas or extra sensitivity to formula or breast milk.
"Gripe water was a lifesaver for my firstborn," says BabyCenter Community member Jiji24. "She had colic and it was the only thing that helped, in addition to gas drops."
At first, doctors assumed that any relief babies got from gripe water came from the high alcohol content. In the past, some formulations contained as much as 9% alcohol. (Gripe water was so boozy that some parents became hooked on the stuff.)
Thankfully, gripe waters on the market today don't include alcohol. They contain a variety of herbs and often the antacid sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). Because acidity hasn't been shown to cause colic, it probably doesn't help much. But the dill in some formulations may help to relieve gas and belly pain – one study found that dill essential oil helped post-c-section moms with gas and intestinal pain.
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Most of the effects of gripe water seem to come from its sweetness, which babies find soothing. (In studies, sugar water made colicky infants less fussy.) Today's gripe waters don't usually contain sugar, but may contain sweeteners like agave. Also, some of the herbs in gripe water (like fennel) are naturally sweet.
Can I give gripe water to a newborn?
Always talk to your baby's healthcare provider before giving gripe water to your newborn. There's no evidence to show that it helps with colic, and it might hurt.
In one study, gripe water didn't improve colic symptoms, but babies who took it had more vomiting and constipation.
Is gripe water safe?
It's hard to say whether gripe water is safe. Some experts warn against using gripe water (and giving your baby any herbal teas or remedies) because it's impossible to know what strength, dosage, and quality of herbs are in these products.
According to the National Capital Poison Center, children have developed seizures and infections from herbal teas and remedies, lead poisoning and mercury poisoning from traditional remedies, and liver damage from dietary supplements. Herbal remedies could also cause an allergic reaction.
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When a product is not regulated by the FDA, you can never be 100% sure of what you're getting. However, some parents find gripe water to be very effective without any noticeable side effects.
- Dr. Liz Donner, pediatrician
In the past few decades, major gripe water brands in the United States have been recalled for being contaminated with a parasite that causes intestinal infections, and for containing an undissolved ingredient.
That said, it's unlikely that a gripe water sold in the U.S. would hurt your baby. If you want to try gripe water, talk to your baby's provider first.
How to give your baby gripe water
If your pediatrician has given the green light to give your baby gripe water, follow the steps listed on the bottle. Ingredients vary by brand, so dosages and usage guides aren't all the same.
For example, Mommy's Bliss gripe water instructs caregivers to administer 1 milliliter up to 15 times a day for infants who are 2 to 6 weeks old, while Little Remedies suggests 2.5 mL for infants 2 to 4 weeks old up to six times a day.
You'll need to use a syringe to give your baby gripe water, which should be included in the packaging.
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Gripe water ingredients
What's in gripe water depends on the brand you buy, but ingredients usually include water, baking soda, and a variety of herbs. Some gripe waters also contain sweeteners.
Here's what you're likely to find:
- Ginger root extract
- Fennel seed extract
- Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
- Chamomile flower extract
- Lemon balm leaf extract
- Passionflower extract
- Preservatives
- Water
- Agave or other sweeteners
Gripe water side effects
Because gripe water isn't regulated by the FDA, companies aren't required to name side effects, so you won't find them on the side of the bottle – or even readily listed online.
The risks associated with gripe water are mainly due to the unknown nature of the liquid entering your baby's system. Most likely, your baby has only eaten breastmilk and/or formula, so you don't know if they're allergic to any ingredients in the gripe water.
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If after you administer gripe water, you notice swelling of the lips, sneezing, wheezing or coughing, or a red, itchy rash, contact your healthcare provider or call 911 immediately.
Alternatives to gripe water
If you have an especially fussy baby, a good place to start is with a visit to your baby's healthcare provider. An exam can rule out possible causes of colic, such as allergies or intestinal problems.
Colic is one infant ailment that doesn't have a quick fix or simple solutions – though it usually lessens with time and wanes by the time babies are 4 months old. Here are some things to try:
"My baby had bad silent reflux and GI issues," says BabyCenter Community member Goldash23. "We tried gripe water a few times, but honestly I couldn't really tell if it worked. We had better luck with gas drops."
You can also try comfort measures. Rocking or swaddling, baby wearing, and white noise from your dryer or vacuum (or a white noise machine) can be soothing to a fussy baby.
Key Takeaways
- Gripe water hasn't been medically proven to ease baby gas, colic, hiccups, or fussiness.
- Talk to your pediatrician before giving your baby gripe water and always read the instructions carefully, as brands have varying formulas that require different dosages.
- There are many alternatives to gripe water, including gas drops, probiotics, and baby bottles designed to decrease symptoms of colic.
Learn more:
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