Gripe water is a traditional remedy given to babies for colic, wind and unsettledness. It is a general-sale product rather than a registered medicine, formulations differ between brands, and the evidence that it works is weak. Check your bottle, and know when a crying baby needs a doctor.
What is Gripe Water?
Gripe water is a liquid preparation sold for infant colic and wind. It is not a registered medicine in South Africa — it is a general-sale traditional remedy, which means it has not been through the assessment a scheduled medicine undergoes.
Formulations vary between brands, so read your own bottle. Products sold under this name typically contain some combination of sodium bicarbonate, dill or fennel oil, sugar or a sweetener, and water. The proposed rationale is that bicarbonate neutralises stomach acid and the herbal oils relieve spasm and help wind pass.
Two things are worth knowing about the history.
Older gripe waters contained alcohol — sometimes a substantial amount — and that is where much of the reputation for “settling” a baby came from. Alcohol-containing formulations have been withdrawn in most countries, but products bought informally, imported, or from an old cupboard may still contain it. Check the label, and do not use a bottle whose ingredients you cannot read.
The evidence that gripe water works is weak. Trials have generally not shown a benefit over placebo. That does not mean parents imagine the improvement — colic peaks at around six weeks and resolves on its own by three to four months, so almost anything tried during that window appears to work as the condition naturally settles.
What is Gripe Water commonly used for?
Parents use it for:
- Colic — prolonged crying in an otherwise healthy, well-fed baby.
- Wind and trapped gas.
- General unsettledness and fussiness.
- Hiccups.
- Discomfort during teething.
Colic is worth understanding, because understanding it helps more than the bottle does. It is defined by prolonged crying in a baby who is otherwise well, feeding and growing normally. It typically starts around two to three weeks, peaks around six weeks, and resolves by three to four months. The cause is not fully known.
It is not caused by bad parenting, and it is not a sign anything has been done wrong. Exhausting as it is, colic in a thriving baby is self-limiting.
What has better evidence than gripe water:
- Holding, motion and skin-to-skin contact.
- Winding during and after feeds, and keeping the baby upright afterwards.
- Checking feeding technique — a poor latch or a fast flow causes air swallowing. A clinic sister or lactation consultant can assess this, and it is one of the more useful things to do.
- Getting help so you can rest. Parental exhaustion is part of the problem, and asking for support is practical rather than weak.
**Probiotics containing *Lactobacillus reuteri*** have some evidence in breastfed infants — worth asking a doctor or pharmacist about.
How Gripe Water fits into this medicine category
| Type | Examples | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional infant remedies | Gripe water | General sale; weak evidence |
| Simeticone drops | Various anti-wind drops | Widely used; evidence also limited |
| Probiotics | L. reuteri drops | Some evidence in breastfed infants |
| Antacids | Mist Alba, Gaviscon | For acid, not colic |
| Antispasmodics | Hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan) | Adults; not for infant colic |
See the digestive, stomach and nausea medicines hub.
What to check before using Gripe Water
Read the ingredients on your bottle, and check specifically for alcohol. Do not use a product containing alcohol in a baby, and do not use an unlabelled or imported bottle whose contents you cannot verify.
Check the age from which it is recommended, and use the measure supplied.
Note the sugar content. Many formulations are sweetened, which is not ideal in a very young infant and can affect feeding.
Speak to a clinic sister, pharmacist or doctor before using it if:
- Your baby is under one month old, or was premature.
- Your baby has a kidney or heart condition — some formulations contain sodium, which matters here.
- Your baby is not gaining weight, feeding poorly, or vomiting frequently.
- You are already giving another remedy — do not combine several.
- You are unsure whether it is colic, which is the most important reason to ask.
Ask about feeding technique at the same time. It is free, it is the commonest fixable cause of wind and crying, and it is more likely to help than the bottle.
Possible cautions and when to ask a pharmacist or doctor
The real risk is not the gripe water itself — it is treating a baby who needs to be seen. Colic is a diagnosis of exclusion, and several conditions cause a young baby to cry inconsolably. Reaching for a remedy can delay recognising them.
Take a crying baby to a doctor urgently if there is:
- Fever — any temperature of 38 °C or above in a baby under three months is an emergency.
- Vomiting that is forceful or projectile, or green vomit.
- Blood in the stool, or redcurrant-jelly-like stool.
- A swollen or tender abdomen, or drawing the legs up with severe episodic screaming.
- Poor feeding, or fewer wet nappies than usual.
- Unusual drowsiness, floppiness, or difficulty waking.
- Fast or laboured breathing, or grunting.
- A rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass.
- A bulging fontanelle — the soft spot on the head.
- Crying that is high-pitched, weak, or different from their usual cry.
- Not gaining weight.
Trust your instinct. A parent who feels something is wrong is right often enough that it is always worth having the baby checked. No clinician will mind.
Do not give honey to a baby under one year, and do not give adult medicines or traditional remedies to an infant without asking.
If crying is overwhelming you, put the baby down somewhere safe and take a few minutes. Never shake a baby. Ask for help — from a partner, family, your clinic, or a helpline.
Related medicine guides
- Browse Digestive, Stomach & Nausea Medicines guides
- Read: Hyospasmol used for
- Read: Adco Contromet used for
Frequently asked questions
What is gripe water used for? Parents use it for infant colic, wind, hiccups and general unsettledness. It is a traditional general-sale remedy rather than a registered medicine.
Does it actually work? The evidence is weak — trials have generally not shown benefit over placebo. Colic resolves on its own by three to four months, which is why remedies tried during that window appear to work.
Does it contain alcohol? Older formulations did, and some informally sold or imported products still may. Read the label and do not use an alcohol-containing product in a baby.
From what age can I give it? Check your bottle, and ask a clinic sister or pharmacist first if your baby is under a month old or was premature.
What works better for colic? Holding and motion, correct feeding technique, winding well, and keeping the baby upright after feeds. Probiotic drops have some evidence in breastfed babies.
When should I take my baby to a doctor? Urgently for fever in a baby under three months, forceful or green vomiting, blood in the stool, poor feeding, fewer wet nappies, unusual drowsiness, laboured breathing, or a rash that does not fade under pressure.