What Is Gripe Water for Babies?

During the first weeks and months of life, babies often experience some amount of distress and crying. Some parents worry that their baby's upset stomach or gas might cause this inconsolable crying. For these situations, you might seek gripe water, which is a common home remedy marketed for colicky babies.

  1. Common Ingredients

    • The old-fashioned gripe water recipe included alcohol ̵1; as much as 9 percent, according to B. Adhivisam, author of ̶0;Is Gripe Water Baby-Friendly,̶1; published in the ̶0;Journal of Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapeutics.̶1; Many current formulations of gripe water contain herbs such as ginger, dill and fennel, states WebMD in the article ''How to Soothe a Crying Baby.'' These herbs might help relax muscles and settle a little one̵7;s stomach.

    Gripe Water Warnings

    • Check with your baby̵7;s physician before you give her gripe water, because some babies might be allergic to gripe water ingredients. Many gripe water products are not regulated by the FDA, warns WebMD. Some gripe water brands, however, have received the FDA̵7;s testing and approval, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

    • Diaper rash is common in infants, causing a sore, red patch of skin within the babys diaper area. Diaper rashes can worsen and become severe if not treated quickly by caregivers, so it is important that every step is taken to heal the rash as soon as
    • Parents of newborns are often desperate for advice about how to get their children to take pacifiers. After all, a pacifier can soothe infants during fussy periods or help them fall asleep more easily, and there is some evidence that pacifier use may
    • The Mayo Clinic advises that newborns and young babies should see a doctor at the first sign of a cold. For older babies, colds are a common occurrence and the average baby suffers up to seven colds in his first year of life. Colds are uncomfortable