Gripe water what age can it be used

Abdominal uneasiness caused by gas is widely believed to cause colic, and many parents opt for gripe water to remedy this situation.

Gripe water is a liquid solution intended to soothe the discomfort caused by flatulence, colic, indigestion, hiccups, and teething pain. There are different varieties of this liquid available, and they contain a mixture of different herbs.

Fennel, ginger, chamomile, liquorice, cinnamon, and lemon balm are some of the ingredients that are found in gripe water.

Originally water, alcohol, dill seed oil, sugar, and sodium bicarbonate were the ingredients used to make gripe water. Glycerine is also an ingredient used in some brands. The use of alcohol in gripe water has been discontinued, following objections from parents and doctors. Mint oil is another ingredient that can be found in some Indian brands of gripe water. It is available in different flavours such as orange or strawberry. There is no concrete evidence that can prove that gripe water is unsafe for babies.

Opinions differ on whether gripe water is effective as some have found it helpful for their babies while others have not. As far as safety goes, the brands of gripe water that contain alcohol, artificial sweeteners, or sodium bicarbonate are not recommended for babies.

Here is a breakdown of some of the traditional ingredients of gripe water and how they affect the baby:. Alcohol: Alcohol is not suitable for babies and can lead to the baby developing an addiction. Sodium Bicarbonate: Also known as baking soda, this can lead to a milk-alkali syndrome which causes a surge in the levels of calcium in the blood.

Since babies under six months are solely fed breast milk or formula, they are at greater risk of developing this condition which can also cause kidney problems.

Sugar: Excess sugar can lead to tooth decay and cause a dependence on sugar at an early age. Dill Seed Oil: This is an essential oil that is known for offering relief from indigestion. However, some babies might be allergic to it. Therefore, caution must be exercised while using this ingredient.

Present-day gripe water is alcohol-free but its use for infants is not recommended as there are no proven health benefits and use of any prelacteal feeds in infants is not recommended by WHO. 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. Gripe water is neither beneficial nor harmful. Gripe water is just fennel seed water.

Sometimes it even contains chemicals. The brands of gripe water available in the Indian market are alcohol-free but contain sodium bicarbonate. When sodium bicarbonate is fed in a large quantity, it may cause alkalosis and milk-alkali syndrome. Despite the increased awareness about natural ingredients and baby food composition, some brands of gripe water may contain parabens, vegetable carbon, or dairy products that ideally should be avoided. Some doctors believe that gripe water can be given to babies, while others think that it should be avoided.

There are different brands of gripe water available in the market and babies should be given the one that is suitable to their condition. A doctor must be consulted before giving gripe water to a baby. It is believed that gripe water is useful in treating colic in infants and also helps in easing certain digestion problems and hiccups.

Teething babies tend to be irritable and cry a lot. Also, be careful not to use gripe water in place of a feeding. Doing so could cause your baby to miss out on important nutrients they need to grow and develop. In the meantime, make sure you give yourself adequate breaks and that you engage in self care. Having a fussy baby is hard but rest assured with time your baby will outgrow this stage and soon will be giggling instead of fussing.

Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. Gripe water administration in infants months of age: a cross-sectional study. J Clin Diagn Res. Sung V. Infantile colic. Aust Prescr. Food and Drug Administration.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa septic shock secondary to "gripe water" ingestion. Pediatr Infect Dis J. Adhisivam, B. Is gripe water baby-friendly? Lucassen, P. Colic in infants. BMJ Clinical Evidence , , Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellFamily.

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Please try again or use a different postcode or place name. Shop now. Dual action. Rapid relief of wind and gripe See details below. Always read the label. In order to buy non-prescription medicines you must be a registered user of our site as we are obliged to record your transaction history. We also ask that you complete our questionnaire so our pharmacy team can check that this product is suitable for you to buy. Disabled or chronically sick people can claim VAT relief on purchases for personal or domestic use that are applicable to their disability or sickness.

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Please use this overlay to check for product availability. We've found one or more places that match your search. Please select the correct area:. Prices may vary depending on the store. Availability is an indication only and is updated every 30 minutes. Woodward's Gripe Water, alcohol free and sugar free.

Rapid relief of wind and gripe. Dual Action Gripe is caused by muscle spasms and excess acid created when air bubbles form in a baby's tummy. Whenthe air bubbles get trapped in a baby's stomach, the stomach think it is full of food, so acids are produced which would normally break down the food particles.

These acids are not needed and can cause irritation. At the same time, because the stomach is full of air bubbles its muscles are unable to relax causing cramps and spasms. Woodward's Gripe Water contains oil of Dill herb and Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate and brings rapid relief of wind and gripe. Dill Oil warms and relaxes the tummy, breaking down trapped air bubbles.