Gripe water is an over-the-counter liquid supplement that is marketed as a remedy for digestive troubles in babies, including gas, colic, hiccups, and stomach discomfort. It is a time-tested herbal supplement that contains a mixture of herbs, such as fennel, ginger, chamomile, dill, lemon balm, or peppermint, depending on the formula. Gripe water is thought to help with colic caused by gassiness, as the herbs in gripe water theoretically help with digestion. However, most of the research on the effectiveness of gripe water is from adults, not infants.

It is important to note that there is no scientific evidence that confirms gripe water is safe or effective. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate gripe water because it is an herbal remedy and not a medicine or food. Therefore, it is not something that pediatricians tend to recommend because its safety cannot be guaranteed.

If your doctor does suggest a kind of gripe water thats safe for your baby, it should be given in small quantities and only as directed. It should never be given in large quantities to a baby or used as a dietary substitute. Infants this age should be fed breast milk or formula (or a combination of the two) exclusively. Most pediatricians will advise parents to try other methods of soothing a colicky baby before giving them gripe water.