Gripe Water for Babies: Is It Safe and Does It Work?
Gripe water and homemade fennel water have been given to crying babies for generations. Here is what is actually in them, what health bodies say, and gentler ways to get through the colic weeks.
Few things are as hard as a baby who will not stop crying. The NHS describes colic as crying for more than 3 hours a day, on at least 3 days a week, for at least a week, in a baby who is otherwise healthy. It often starts when a baby is a few weeks old and usually stops by 3 to 4 months.
In many countries, families reach for gripe water or a homemade fennel or dill water to settle a colicky baby. A survey of mothers in Sheffield, England, found that 64 percent had given gripe water in the first month, and it is also commonly used in countries such as India and Nigeria. Because these drinks are so familiar, it is easy to assume they are harmless. The facts are more complicated.
What is in gripe water
Mayo Clinic describes gripe water simply as a mix of water and herbs. Its history is more surprising. A short paper by a pediatrician in the Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics explains that the original recipe, borrowed in the 1840s from a remedy for a type of malaria, contained dill seed oil, sodium bicarbonate and alcohol. Some versions once contained up to 9 percent alcohol.
Today most products are alcohol free, but the same paper notes that many still contain sodium bicarbonate, various herbs or dill oil, and a lot of sugar. Recipes differ from brand to brand and country to country. Mayo Clinic points out that herbal products are not regulated, so their contents and any harms are not fully known. The paper also describes contamination problems, including a gripe water product in which the US Food and Drug Administration confirmed the parasite Cryptosporidium.
What the evidence says
The NHS says anti-colic drops, herbal remedies and probiotic supplements are not recommended for colic, because there is no evidence they help. Mayo Clinic notes that several small studies of herbal teas, fennel and gripe water have shown some benefit or mixed results, but that there is not enough evidence to judge whether any benefit outweighs the risks.
Some ingredients have their own problems. The paper explains that colic is not caused by too much stomach acid, so sodium bicarbonate has no useful role, and that large or repeated doses may upset the body's acid balance. It also warns that the high sugar content can harm a baby's new teeth.
Homemade fennel water and herbal teas
Boiling fennel or dill seeds at home does not make the drink safer, and you cannot know how strong it is. The European Medicines Agency's herbal committee does not recommend fennel tea for children under 4 years of age, because there is not enough data on its safety. Fennel should also be avoided by anyone allergic to plants in the carrot family.
There is a second problem: every spoonful of water, tea or gripe water is less room for milk. Mayo Clinic warns that regular herbal teas or other liquids may reduce how much milk a baby takes or lower the level of salt in a baby's blood. The same paper notes that the World Health Organization recommends only breast milk for the first six months, and that extra drinks can get in the way of breastfeeding and may bring in germs.
What to try instead, step by step
First, check the simple things: hunger, a dirty nappy, wind, reflux or constipation. If you are not sure, ask your health visitor, pediatric nurse or doctor.
Next, try soothing. The NHS suggests holding and cuddling your baby, keeping them upright during feeds and winding them afterwards, gently rocking them, a warm bath, and steady background noise such as a radio. Mayo Clinic adds swaddling, a pacifier, a car ride, and dimmed lights. You may need to try more than one.
Keep feeding as usual. Do not change your own diet or your baby's formula without advice from a health professional.
Finally, look after yourself. Colic is exhausting but it passes. Ask family and friends for help, take turns, and if you feel overwhelmed, put your baby down safely in their cot and step away for a few minutes. Never shake a baby.
Questions people ask
Is homemade fennel water safer than shop-bought gripe water?
No. The European Medicines Agency does not recommend fennel tea for children under 4, and a homemade drink has an unknown strength. Talk to a health professional before giving your baby anything other than milk.
When does colic stop?
The NHS says colic usually stops by the time a baby is 3 to 4 months old. If crying carries on after 4 months, see your doctor.
Do probiotic drops help colic?
The NHS does not recommend probiotic supplements for colic, and Mayo Clinic says most experts agree the evidence does not support them at present.
Sources
- Colic — NHS
- Colic: Diagnosis and treatment — Mayo Clinic
- Is gripe water baby-friendly? — Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics (PMC)
- European Union herbal monograph on Foeniculum vulgare Miller subsp. vulgare var. vulgare, fructus — European Medicines Agency
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Herbs can interact with medicines and health conditions. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before trying a herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, giving it to a child, or taking any medication.
