Gripe Water: Does It Work? Which Brand Is Best? Is It Safe? And How to Make Your Own

You have your beautiful newborn baby. The first week or two, baby just eats, sleeps, poops, and nuzzles. Aaah. Why do people complain so much about babies screaming?

Then the gas hits. Your babe is miserable despite your efforts of massage, leg bicycles and other burping techniques. In desperation, you stumble upon Gripe Water and wonder…

What is gripe water? Does it works? Which brand is best? Can you create your own?

In this post, we’ll cover all of this and more.

But, first thing’s first…

Why Is My Baby Gassy?

Babies aren’t born with fully developed digestive systems–that’s one of the reasons they don’t start eating solid foods until at least six months. The sphincter in their esophagus is underdeveloped, which stops babes from burping up trapped air by themselves. That gas can also move into the intestines, causing belly discomfort.

What Is Gripe Water?

If your child is struggling with gas sorenes, the pediatrician may recommend gripe water.

The original formula was a combination of dill seed oil, sodium bicarbonate( baking soda ), and alcohol, among other substances. Back in the 1840 s, physicians used it to treat a kind of malaria in babies.

Today, it’s most commonly used to relieve babies’ gas and indigestion. Some brands likewise tout it as a answer for teething ache, hiccup, and colic.

 

 

How Does Gripe Water Work?

There is no one recipe for gripe water, but most have some combination of the following :

Fennel:

Packed with dietary fiber, fennel provides the bulk the digestive tract needs to encourage the gastrointestinal musclesto push things through.

Ginger:

Ginger known to help relieve GI irritation , but it can also help boost saliva and bile production to help meat move through the stomach.

Chamomile:

Used for centuries as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and mending herb, chamomile is commonly used to treat gas, diarrhea, motion sickness, nausea, and vomiting. It has also been used to treat croup, colic, and fevers in infants.

Licorice:

Recent analyzes in China have shown licorice’s beneficial compounds to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immune-boosting results.

Cinnamon:

Reported as being an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer, lipid-lowering, and cardiovascular-disease-lowering compound, this spice is a popular addition to many homeopathic treatments.

Lemon salve:

With its wide range of topics of antioxidants that boost various systems in the body, lemon balm is known for its they are able to detoxify the liver, safeguard the immune system, and promote healthy sleep, among other things.

All of these ingredients are considered to be soothing herbs to heal indigestion and inflammation.




 

Is Gripe Water Safe? Does Gripe Water Have Any Side Effects?

No matter how natural the ingredients are, you are essentially “introducing a solid” to your newborn at a very young age. As one writer wrote in The Journal of Pharmacology& Pharmacotherapeutics ,

Anything( including gripe water) other than breast milk administered to a babe during the first six months may increase the risk of introducing bacteria, inducing allergies and vexing the baby’s intestines.

Most healthcare professionals will tell you it’s perfectly safe, and in the grand strategy of things, it is. However, some lactation consultants recommend momma eat these allaying herbs in teas( like popular fennel and chamomile teas ), so that the baby get benefits through breast milk.

If you are formula feeding, try a different formula as this could be what is causing baby gas. In some instances, this can be a game changer!

Always talk to your healthcare provider about administering anything to your baby, especially a newborn.

 

Gripe Water Ingredients

The formula has changed quite a bit over the years, swapping alcohol, carbohydrate, and other artificial flavors for more natural, baby-safe parts. Let’s take a closer look at what’s inside. Here are three popular gripe sea brands and their ingredients.

#1 Highest Ranking *: Little Remedies Gripe Water

Zingiber officinale( ginger) root extract, Foeniculum vulgare( fennel) seed extract, purified sea, agave vegetable glycerin( a humectant and sweetener ), glycerin, natural ginger flavor, potassium sorbate( preservative ), citric acid( emulsifier and preservative ), xanthan gum( thickener)

#2 Favorite *: Mommy’s Bliss Gripe Water

Organic Ginger Extract, Organic Passion Flower Extract, Organic Lemon Balm Extract, Organic Chamomile Extract, Organic Fennel Extract, Purified Water, Vegetable Glycerin, Citrus Bioflavonoid Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate, and Potassium Sorbate

#3 Brand *: Wellement’s Organic Gripe Water

Water, Organic Ginger Root Extract( Zingiber Officinale ), Organic Fennel Seed Extract( Foeniculum Vulgare ), Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Lemon Juice Concentrate, Organic Glycerin, Organic Lemon Juice Powder, Sodium Bicarbonate and Organic Chamomile Flower Extract.

* According to Amazon.com patron reviews

get rid of fat lumpy legs

 

Other parts

You may notice some additional parts to just digestive herbs. Here are the roles they serve :

Vegetable glycerin- a humectant and sweetener

Potassium sorbate- a preservative

Citric acid- an emulsifier and preservative

Xanthan gum- a thickener Agave nectar or glycerin- a sweetener

 

Homemade Gripe Water Recipe

As with any natural remedy, the best gripe sea is typically the one you construct yourself, ensuring quality parts and avoiding preservatives. Here is an easy recipe that includes relieving and digestive herbs.

* Always get your healthcare provider’s approving before administering this gripe sea .*

Ingredients :

2 c. purified water 1 slice( about the size of a quarter) fresh, peeled, organic ginger 1 tea container of organic chamomile tea or 2 tsps. of loose organic chamomile. 1 tea container of organic fennel tea or 2 tsps. of organic fennel seeds 1 tsp. dried cumin seeds 1 tsp. dried organic dill If you feel you need to add sweetener, you could try 1 tsp. of organic lactose, which is procured abundantly in breast milk and formula

Instructions :

Brings the sea to a boil in a saucepan or tea kettle. Put the ginger and herbs/ seeds/ tea containers in a glass container. Remove the sea from the hot and pour into the glass jar. Permit to immerse for 20 -3 0 minutes. Remove the tea suitcase. Strain the remaining water into a clean glass container. Store in refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze into smaller sections. Shake well before use. Can be put in a syringe and added directly to mouth or bottle.

 

 

Dosage :

* 0-3 months: 1/2 tsp.( 2.5 mL)* 3-6 months: 1 tsp.( 5 mL)* 6-12 months: 2 tsp.( 10 mL)

Shake thoroughly before using, and do not exceed 6 dosages in a 24 -hour interval

Other Baby Gas Alternatives

If you’re not too keen on gripe water, there are some other natural alternatives.

Simethicone: Another gas-relieving redres made by many of the same brands that carry gripe sea. This anti-foaming agent works by reducing tensions surface of the mucus, letting trapped air bubbles to disperse. Some investigates have shown that Simethicone can help reduce gas with no adverse side effect.

Nat Phos 6X :This natural digestive cell salt supports the body in breaking down acids and balancing acid degrees. The only part is lactose–something babes are quite accustomed to through breast milk or formula.

Newborn massage: Rub baby’s belly in gentle circular motions to push out those gas bubbles. Infant massage is also a great way to connect with and soothe your newborn.

Mama’s diet: Remember, child is eating what you’re eating. Start by cutting out some of the more popular allergens one at a time, such as dairy or soy.

 

Have you tried gripe water? Did it help? What other natural ways did you give your own gassy babies some relief?

 

 


Read more:
mamanatural.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.