Is it safe to use gripe water?

[JFTB1177]

My 4-week-old has terrible gas and reflux, I was wondering if gripe water was safe to use and if any of you have ever used it?? I bought it but am afraid to use it. Thanks!

[Mosaic]

I used it, but my DD was a bit older. I will say that the dosage amount recommended on the bottle seemed like a lot: seldom could I get her to take it all. I had better luck with my DD's reflux when I cut dairy out of my diet. I hope your LO feels better soon!

[Knitting Mama]

I think it's safe, but I don't think it's particularly effective, or at least it wasn't for us. Here's what worked best for when Cecilia was in her reflux and gas stage.

First, she was never laying down flat. Nursing, sleeping, floor time, etc. were all done with her upper body elevated. We had to get kind of creative with it for sleeping as she sleeps in my arms every night. I ended up putting her head and shoulders on my pillow and putting my arm under the pillow to hold her. Nursing was easier, as I could just shove a small pillow under the end of the Boppy her head was on.

Second, I wore her upright as much as possible. It really seemed to help with the reflux, and it helped with the gas too, as her legs were froggied up in the wrap and that helped her push out her toots more easily.

Third, we spent a lot of time on the changing table doing knees-to-belly, slowly but fairly firmly, over and over until she stopped tooting. And belly massage, in clockwise circles around her navel.

Thankfully, she outgrew the worst of both by 3 months old.

Edited to add: I totally agree with scotia that the biggest effect of gripe water seemed to be a distraction. Sometime it helped us to get her calm, but usually she was back to being uncomfortable a little while later.

Edited by Knitting Mama - 3/8/11 at 3:51pm

[scotia]

We used gripe water when our LO was about six weeks old.  I agree that the recommended amount seemed like a lot - we rarely, if ever, gave him the full dose.  To be honest, I'm still not sure whether it worked or not.  I feel like sometimes just the surprise of a new taste and consistency in his mouth helped distract him from his discomfort for a few minutes - that was sometimes enough to allow him to settle a bit and let us comfort him.  

We had asked our pediatrician about it before giving it to him.  He sort of shrugged a bit and said that it certainly couldn't hurt. He also mentioned that about 1/3 of his patients who try it have some success.  So, who knows?  We figured it was worth a shot though.  Good luck!

[JFTB1177]

Thank you so much guys! And thanks for all of the advice, Cecilia's mama, I will def be trying some of those ideas!! Maybe I'll just wait and see if it gets any worse before trying the GW, I have a ped appt tomorrow so I'll see what his doc says!

Mosaic- did you have to cut ALL dairy out?

[LadyCatherine185]

i have also had 2 refluxy babes who have needed me to cut dairy.. luckily #2 seems ok with dairy again already (he is 3.5 months) but with #1 I had to cut it for 9 months.

I had a naturopathic doctor tell me to use a catnip/fennel herb (you can get at an herb shop, they should know what it is and the dosage) for reflux, that her son took it and it went away for her.

[new2this]

I used it with DD and still do at different times for her teething. It helps calm her down if she is more on the fussier side and fighting the sleep because of pain and it will knock her out within 5 minutes. I buy the stuff at Target as it tastes better then the Little Tummies Brand. and it seems to work better as well. 

[Eeyore35]

I used gripe water with my daughter, and I think it helped. Belly massage, and bicycling her legs really helped too though. My dd didnt have too many problems with gas, and hardly at all after about 2 months. If she had a really rough time, I also would put a warm cloth on her tummy. That seemed to help too. Oh, I do remember having trouble finding alcohol-free gripe water.

My daughter is 5 now, and for stomach pain, i use a tbs. or so of olive oil and add a couple drops each of pepermint & lavender essential oils, and massage it onto her abdomen.It works for me too.  I wouldn't use peppermint on a baby though, and I wouldn't suggest lavender under 6 months. It runs in my mind that there is some issue with it being from the ragwweed family, and not to use under 4-6months? I couldn't find any info on babies in my aromatherapy book.

[asberck]

As far as I can remember, one should go easy on the lavender when they are under six months.  Although lavender is the only essential oil that can be used in its pure form without a carrier oil, it shouldn't be used on a teeny baby.  However, putting a little in a safe carrier oil, say one drop in a good dollop, could be ok.  I had forgotten about the ragweed thing and I just looked in my basic aromatherapy book and didn't find anything.  But that was a really basic book so I'm gonna look into that further and thanks for reminding me Eeyore35!

My DS had a really hurty tummy today and I put one drop of lavender in his bath and he went from stinky, screamy, thrashy baby to cuddly pumpkin in minutes.  

We think we are noticing a difference with teething and gripe water too.  In general, the gripe water seemed to help DS and his constant hiccups.  

Originally Posted by Eeyore35 

I used gripe water with my daughter, and I think it helped. Belly massage, and bicycling her legs really helped too though. My dd didnt have too many problems with gas, and hardly at all after about 2 months. If she had a really rough time, I also would put a warm cloth on her tummy. That seemed to help too. Oh, I do remember having trouble finding alcohol-free gripe water.

My daughter is 5 now, and for stomach pain, i use a tbs. or so of olive oil and add a couple drops each of pepermint & lavender essential oils, and massage it onto her abdomen.It works for me too.  I wouldn't use peppermint on a baby though, and I wouldn't suggest lavender under 6 months. It runs in my mind that there is some issue with it being from the ragwweed family, and not to use under 4-6months? I couldn't find any info on babies in my aromatherapy book.