As a new parent, you want your baby to be happy and healthy all the time. The reality is, though, that sometimes your baby isn’t going to feel well. Luckily, there is a treatment that has been used for more than a century to help your little one through the tummy troubles and other ailments that come with growing. In fact, gripe water is so popular that you can find it and purchase it as part of a newborn starter bundle.
What Is Gripe Water?
Gripe water is a liquid supplement that you can purchase over the counter and use to help your baby through a variety of ailments. The exact makeup of the water depends on the manufacturer, but most of them contain some combination of herbs and sodium biocarbonate. Common herbs in the mixture include fennel, chamomile, lemon balm, peppermint, ginger, and dill. In the United States, ingredients also include water and sugar, which helps to create a taste that babies enjoy and will take more easily.
Although there is no concrete proof regarding exacly why or how gripe water works, many parents swear by it. Experts believe that the mixture of herbs and sodium bicarbonate work together to ease tummy trouble and other ailments while the sugar water base is soothing for babies and may even help them to relieve pain.
How Will My Child Benefit From Gripe Water?
There are a number of benefits to purchasing an organic baby bundle that includes gripe water for your little one. When you give it to your baby, it helps them feel relief from tummy upset related to trying new foods, constipation, diarrhea, or other gastrointestinal ailments. The combination of herbs also helps to ease the pain and discomfort related to colic, gas, and indigestion in a lot of babies. Because your little one’s tummy is likely to start feeling better if they take gripe water, they are also more likely to be more relaxed and sleep more easily. Some parents also report seeing results when using gripe water to help ease the dicomfort of teething periods.
When Should I Give My Baby Gripe Water?
New parents often have a lot of questions about administering gripe water, such as “Can I give gripe water before feeding?” and “Is it really safe to use?”. The short answer is that yes, it’s safe to use, and you can give it to your baby nearly any time you feel they need it. Most often, parents choose to give gripe water to their babies right after they eat, which helps to releive the symptoms of gas pain and may even prevent them altogether. While it’s ok to mix the water into breast milk or formula, it may not achieve the maximum result. For this reason, experts agree the best way to administer it is via a medicine dropper straight into the mouth, providing a bit at a time to give them time to swallow. Regardless of when or why you decide to give your baby gripe water, always read the manufacturer’s instructions first to ensure you’re providing the right dose and doing so in the right way.
Gripe water is not a solution to every ailment your baby will meet as they grow, but it may help with a lot of them. Always talk to your pediatrician to ensure you’re doing what’s best for your baby and be sure to purchase your gripe water from a reputable manufacturer.
