A friend of mine just gave me a bottle of gripe water. She said that she gives it to her ds, who is 6mos. I mentioned it to my mom, and she said that she didn't think it was safe or something, and that I should ask my doc before giving it to my baby, if I would ever even need to. What do you ladies think about gripe water?
gripe water?
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My DS was a reflux baby with colic and we loved our gripe water.<br><br>
(and I am a pedi nurse <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/duck.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Duck">: )
(and I am a pedi nurse <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/duck.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Duck">: )
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We love gripe water (DD is 6 months and we've been using it since birth). It's great for gas and tummy aches and seems to work almost instantly. I've taken it myself when I've had an upset stomach. Gripe water is all natural, which I'd prefer to give to my baby over drugs (like Mylicon, which IMO, doesn't work).<br>
ETA: we asked our ped, who said it was fine, as long as we weren't giving her the whole bottle
ETA: we asked our ped, who said it was fine, as long as we weren't giving her the whole bottle
We love our Baby's Bliss Gripe Water and have given it to the baby since she was about two weeks old.<br><br>
We've never had to administer the full dosage either. We just used a little bit and it works WAY better than Mylicon.<br><br>
I'm not sure why you were told it was unsafe, unless perhaps it was a dosage concern?<br><br>
I'd much rather my child get relief from something that's natural than something that contains a bunch of unnecessary chemicals and artificial sweeteners, *especially* when she's so young.<br><br>
If you're looking for something that's even more innocuous, try Boiron's Cocyntal. It's a homeopathic and works great too.
We've never had to administer the full dosage either. We just used a little bit and it works WAY better than Mylicon.<br><br>
I'm not sure why you were told it was unsafe, unless perhaps it was a dosage concern?<br><br>
I'd much rather my child get relief from something that's natural than something that contains a bunch of unnecessary chemicals and artificial sweeteners, *especially* when she's so young.<br><br>
If you're looking for something that's even more innocuous, try Boiron's Cocyntal. It's a homeopathic and works great too.
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It's great for minor tummy upsets as well as gas and hiccups. It's used to 'settle' the stomach.<br><br>
However, if you suspect or know that your baby has reflux, do NOT use gripe water if it contains sodium bicarbonate. Bicarb will neutralize stomach acids, but the stomach responds by producing more than ever, so it actually ends up making the reflux worse.
However, if you suspect or know that your baby has reflux, do NOT use gripe water if it contains sodium bicarbonate. Bicarb will neutralize stomach acids, but the stomach responds by producing more than ever, so it actually ends up making the reflux worse.
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We love Baby Bliss gripe water! In fact, we call it DS's "magic medicine". He gets gas bubbles in his little belly and gets miserable if he can't push them out - he's a tooter, not a burper. A little gripe water makes a huge difference, and has since he was about two weeks old. And he seems to looooooove the flavor of fennel and ginger.<br><br>
I think gripe water used to contain alcohol, which I'm sure was effective in calming babies, but probably not all that safe ...
I think gripe water used to contain alcohol, which I'm sure was effective in calming babies, but probably not all that safe ...
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We love Gripe Water and discovered it when a woman mentioned it while I was shopping in an alternative baby store. Whole Foods Market carries it as well. It works quickly when ds has an upset stomach or a stubborn gas bubble and just a little bit will make hiccups go away instantly. I've even used it for myself <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><br><br>
I bet most people would tell you its not safe because its not fda approved and is basically a homeopathic remedy. But it works and its safe enough fo me & my babe
I bet most people would tell you its not safe because its not fda approved and is basically a homeopathic remedy. But it works and its safe enough fo me & my babe
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it's not homeopathic, it's herbal.<br><br>
it's bicarb (baking soda), ginger, fennel and mine has agave syrup to sweeten it. (mine's organic)<br><br>
it's pretty neutral as far as meds for babies.
it's bicarb (baking soda), ginger, fennel and mine has agave syrup to sweeten it. (mine's organic)<br><br>
it's pretty neutral as far as meds for babies.
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Some brands/types of gripe water have alcohol in them, and this may be what your mother was talking about.
We used Minty Ginger by Herbs for Kids with our children--it is amazing stuff. I have an overactive letdown and it would cause a lot of gassiness. Gripe water was recommended to me with DS by our ped at one of the first visits, but since we already knew about Minty Ginger we chose to stick with that instead.
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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>CalenandEllasmomma</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8002048"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">My DS was a reflux baby with colic and we loved our gripe water.<br><br>
(and I am a pedi nurse <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/duck.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Duck">: )</div>
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oh man, please, no one give your reflux babies gripe water. that is the worst thing you can possibly do. it causes acid rebound:<br><br>
One of the main ingredients in gripe water is sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), which is a natural antacid. Unfortunately, on its own sodium bicarb is not a very good antacid, which is why it is not sold as such. The reason for this is that, while it very effectively neutralizes stomach acid, it also activates or "turns on" the acid producing proton pumps in the stomach lining, causing them to produce even more acid. Magnesium hydroxide and calcium carbonate are more often used as antacids because they neutralize acid without turning on the proton pumps.<br><br>
When combined with a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) such as lansoprazole or omeprazole, sodium bicarbonate actually enhances the action of these drugs. In order for a PPI to inhibit or "block" proton pumps, the pumps must be in an active state. So when a PPI is combined with sodium bicarbonate, the bicarb neutralizes the acid, protecting the drug from degradation in the acid, and turns on the proton pumps, which are then blocked by the PPI. Zegerid is an FDA approved form of such a combination. It contains omeprazole, sodium bicarbonate, and a peach/mint flavoring.<br><br><b>Because gripe water contains sodium bicarbonate, which can actually cause more acid to be produced, it often provides temporary relief from the symptoms of reflux, but then causes it to come back even worse than before.</b> For these reasons, I do not recommend the use of gripe water.<br><br>
For information and resources from the University of Missouri's Midwest Acid Reflux Children's Institute, visit <a href="http://www.MARCI-Kids.com" target="_blank">www.MARCI-Kids.com</a>
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>CalenandEllasmomma</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8002048"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">My DS was a reflux baby with colic and we loved our gripe water.<br><br>
(and I am a pedi nurse <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/duck.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Duck">: )</div>
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oh man, please, no one give your reflux babies gripe water. that is the worst thing you can possibly do. it causes acid rebound:<br><br>
One of the main ingredients in gripe water is sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), which is a natural antacid. Unfortunately, on its own sodium bicarb is not a very good antacid, which is why it is not sold as such. The reason for this is that, while it very effectively neutralizes stomach acid, it also activates or "turns on" the acid producing proton pumps in the stomach lining, causing them to produce even more acid. Magnesium hydroxide and calcium carbonate are more often used as antacids because they neutralize acid without turning on the proton pumps.<br><br>
When combined with a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) such as lansoprazole or omeprazole, sodium bicarbonate actually enhances the action of these drugs. In order for a PPI to inhibit or "block" proton pumps, the pumps must be in an active state. So when a PPI is combined with sodium bicarbonate, the bicarb neutralizes the acid, protecting the drug from degradation in the acid, and turns on the proton pumps, which are then blocked by the PPI. Zegerid is an FDA approved form of such a combination. It contains omeprazole, sodium bicarbonate, and a peach/mint flavoring.<br><br><b>Because gripe water contains sodium bicarbonate, which can actually cause more acid to be produced, it often provides temporary relief from the symptoms of reflux, but then causes it to come back even worse than before.</b> For these reasons, I do not recommend the use of gripe water.<br><br>
For information and resources from the University of Missouri's Midwest Acid Reflux Children's Institute, visit <a href="http://www.MARCI-Kids.com" target="_blank">www.MARCI-Kids.com</a>
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I'm pretty sure Baby Bliss doesn't contain bicarb <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">.
My family has been using gripe water for generations!! When my mum came to visit me in Texas after I had Morgan, I specifically requested three bottles of the stuff.<br>
It's great, all natural and works wonders. Takes the hiccoughs RIGHT away, settles tummies and teethers, and when they are fussy, grabs their attention long enough for them to get a good grip on the binkie and calm themselves.
It's great, all natural and works wonders. Takes the hiccoughs RIGHT away, settles tummies and teethers, and when they are fussy, grabs their attention long enough for them to get a good grip on the binkie and calm themselves.
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5,293 Posts
when we first started using the babies bliss my mum read an article about the sodium bicarbonate too and told me that the one we were using did contain that, it is called several things and i cant remember which ingredient in the babies bliss was the disguised s.b. - but, this type does not contain the s.b. and we have been using it very sucessfully for gas and i would totally recommend it<br><br><a href="http://www.colicease.com" target="_blank">www.colicease.com</a>
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I just did a quick search and it looks like Baby's Bliss does contain bicarb.
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