When your tiny newborn scrunches up, turns red, and cries like they’re in pain, it’s heartbreaking. It’s no wonder so many parents reach for “gripe water for babies,” a popular over-the-counter remedy marketed to calm colic, gas, and tummy troubles. But does gripe water actually help—and is it safe for your little one?

What is gripe water?

Gripe water is a liquid dietary supplement that’s been around since the 1800s. It’s usually sold as an herbal remedy for infant gas, colic, and fussiness. Common ingredients include: herbal extracts (like dill, fennel, chamomile, ginger, and peppermint), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), and sweeteners, such as sugar or glycerin

However, ingredient lists vary widely from brand to brand! Because gripe water is sold as a dietary supplement (not a medicine), it isn’t regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the same way medications are. That means there’s no guarantee that what’s on the label is exactly what’s in the bottle—or that it’s been tested for safety or effectiveness.

Does gripe water work?

Short answer: There’s no solid scientific proof that gripe water works for colic or gas. Plus, gripe water often contains sugar, sodium bicarbonate, and other additives that babies don’t need. While some herbal teas containing fennel or chamomile have shown modest benefit for infant colic in small studies, these are not the same as commercial gripe water, and results are mixed.

Some parents report that their babies are calmer after gripe water, but it’s hard to know if that’s the remedy, a cuddle, a change in position, or simply the natural ebb of colic cries. Because colic comes and goes, improvement can coincide with giving any treatment.

Is gripe water safe?

This is where things get tricky. Some babies tolerate gripe water without obvious problems, but there are real safety concerns:

• Lack of regulation: Because gripe water is usually sold as a supplement, the FDA doesn’t check each product for quality, purity, or effectiveness before it hits the shelves.
• Questionable ingredients: Past formulations of gripe water have contained alcohol and high amounts of sugar. More modern brands are typically alcohol-free, but you still need to read labels carefully. Many health experts advise avoiding gripe water due to regulation concerns.
• Very young babies: Many pediatricians advise against giving any supplements, including gripe water, to newborns—especially those younger than 1 month—because their digestive and immune systems are still very immature.

There have also been contamination issues. In 2007, the FDA warned consumers about a brand of gripe water contaminated with Cryptosporidium, a parasite that can cause severe diarrhea in infants.

Because of these concerns—and the lack of proven benefit—many pediatric experts recommend skipping gripe water altogether or using it only after a careful discussion with your child’s doctor.

Potential Risks of Gripe Water

• Unwanted additives: Sugar can contribute to tooth decay once teeth erupt and isn’t recommended for infants. Meanwhile, sodium bicarbonate can alter stomach acid levels and, in excess, may affect electrolyte balance.
  
  
• Herbal risks: “Natural” doesn’t always mean safe. Certain herbs (like star anise) have been linked to reactions and neurologic symptoms in infants when given as tea or in remedies.
  
  
• Allergic reactions or tummy upset: Babies may be sensitive to one or more of the herbs, leading to rashes, vomiting, or worsening fussiness.
  
  
• Infection from contamination: As noted, the FDA has recalled gripe water in the past due to contamination with Cryptosporidium, which can cause serious intestinal illness in babies.
  
  
• Masking a medical problem: Relying on gripe water might delay a visit to the pediatrician for issues like reflux, milk protein allergy, infection, or other conditions that truly need medical care. If your baby seems very uncomfortable, has trouble feeding, vomits repeatedly, has blood in the stool, fever, poor weight gain, or just “doesn’t seem right,” call your pediatrician promptly—whether or not you’ve tried gripe water.

What are alternatives to gripe water?

The good news: You don’t need gripe water to comfort a colicky or gassy baby. There are safer, evidence-informed options to try first.

Turn on the calming reflex with the 5 S’s.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) defines colic as intense crying in otherwise healthy babies that typically starts around 2 weeks of age, peaks by 6 weeks, and improves by 3 to 4 months. It affecs about 1 in 5 babies.

For a long time colic was primarily attributed to gastrointestinal distress, but pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp (founder of Happiest Baby!), discovered something interesting during his years of working with infants and exhausted parents.

He noticed that colicky babies would often calm in a car, in a carrier, or when soothed in similar ways with gentle movement and shushing. So, if colic were strictly a tummy issue, why would these methods work? He found that the real issue was that babies are born 3 months too early! After they arrive earthside, they still long for the jiggly motion, squeeze of the uterine walls, and whooshing sound of blood flow that they had in the womb. And when caregivers serve up those soothing sensations—through rocking, white noise, swaddling, etc—it triggers a baby’s calming reflex to quiet fussing.

That’s how The 5 S’s were born. The 5 S’s—Swaddling, Side/Stomach position for calming (never for sleep, Shushing/white noise, Swinging, and Sucking) mimic rhythmic sensations of the womb and can quickly flip on a baby’s calming reflex.

Use colic-friendly feeding habits.

That said, sometimes tummy troubles can lead to fussiness! If you suspect that your baby’s fussiness is the result of gas or other belly discomfort, take a look at their feeding habits. Try feeding in a more upright position and pause to burp frequently. Talk with your pediatrician about latch, flow, and possible over- or under-feeding. In some cases, your doctor may suggest trying a hypoallergenic formula or a short trial of a low-allergen diet for breastfeeding parents if milk protein allergy is suspected. (More evidence-backed ways to deal with gas!)

Explore other medically guided options.

Of course, your pediatrician is a great resource if something seems off! They can check for reflux, allergies, or constipation and offer some solutions. Sometimes pediatricians recommend probiotics for colic—though the evidence on them is mixed, and they’re certainly not a magic cure.

Bottom Line on Gripe Water for Babies

When you’re exhausted and your baby is screaming, it’s so tempting to grab anything that might help. But gripe water for babies is not proven to relieve colic or gas, is not strongly recommended by major pediatric organizations, and carries potential risks, including contamination and unregulated ingredients.

If you’re considering gripe water, talk with your pediatrician first about your baby’s age, symptoms, and safer options. And remember: Colic is incredibly stressful, but it is temporary. With time, supportive care, and soothing tools like the 5 S’s, most babies outgrow those intense crying spells—and calmer days (and nights!) really are ahead.

More on Soothing Babies:

• How White Noise Helps Babies Sleep
• The Science of the 5 S’s
• What Is the Fourth Trimester?
• How to Calm a Very Fussy Baby

 

***

REFERENCES

Dietary Supplement Label Database (NIH): Gripe Water Product Search Results
Columbia Doctors: Colic and Harmful Treatments
Infantile Colic — A Review of Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment, American Family Physician, October 2015
Cleveland Clinic: Gripe Water for Babies — Is It Safe?
Infection Control Today: FDA Warns Consumers About Risk of Cryptosporidium Illness from Baby’s Bliss Gripe Water
Neurotoxicities in Infants Seen With the Use of Over-the-Counter Herbal Teas, Pediatrics, November 2004
Healthy Children (AAP): Colic — When Your Baby Can’t Stop Crying
Boston Children’s Hospital: Colic — Information for Families 
Mayo Clinic: Colic — Diagnosis and Treatment

View more posts tagged, soothing

Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.