Having a baby with colic is a difficult experience in an already trying phase of your baby’s life. There may come a point when you’re seeking any remedy for your baby’s fussiness and pain.
You’ll likely come across natural herbal supplements like gripe water and medicines such as gas drops. Both of these options boast anecdotal praise.
Can you use gas drops and gripe water together? The key ingredient in gas drops is simethicone, and gripe water’s main ingredients are sodium bicarbonate and herbal extracts. There is no evidence that using these together can cause reactions, but it’s best to consult your child’s pediatrician both for the individual and combined use of these products.
Keep reading to learn more about which colic relief may be best for your child. We’ll examine the safety or lack thereof of combining methods, and explore commonly asked questions.
Gas Drops vs. Gripe Water
Users on both sides rave about the efficacy and safety of their favorite gas relief methods, but there is vital information to be understood prior to making a decision — everything from the way they’re formulated to the evidence supporting their safety.
Gas Relief Drops for Babies
Gas drops are an FDA-regulated medicine. This means that gas drops are tested for safety and quality at a federal level.
The active ingredient in gas drops is simethicone, which relieves pressure and symptoms caused by excess gas. It does so by breaking up gas bubbles in the body. However, studies question the efficacy of gas relief drops.
Uses
Gas relief drops claim to relieve symptoms of pressure and discomfort from excess gas in infants.
When To Give Gas Drops
According to manufacturers, gas relief drops are safe for even the youngest of newborns.
You can administer gas drops when your child starts displaying symptoms of discomfort related to excess gas. This typically occurs after a feeding or lying down overnight.
It’s best to consult with a pediatrician about the right time to give your child gas drops.
Gas Drops Before or After a Feeding?
Gas drops can be given both before and after a feeding. Since gas drops claim to improve the natural process of gas expulsion, some parents choose to administer them beforehand so that the simethicone can work its magic during digestion.
Others choose to wait until after a feeding session in case the baby takes in excessive quantities of air while eating.
How Long Do Gas Drops Take to Work?
Gas relief drops are not scientifically backed. In fact, the research shows that gas drops may not be as effective in relieving gas as touted. Even the anecdotal evidence varies case by case.
However, manufacturers and parents claim that they begin to alleviate symptoms within 10 minutes. Most gas relief drops can be administered up to 12 times per day, but always check the label and consult a pediatrician for dosing instructions.
Gripe Water for Babies
Gripe water is considered a dietary herbal supplement, so it is not regulated by the FDA. This means it does not have to meet the same quality requirements.
The active ingredients in most gripe waters are herbal oils like dill weed and fennel alongside sodium bicarbonate. Manufacturers claim that it works similarly to gas drops, but there is no clinical evidence supporting this.
Uses
Gripe water claims to relieve the symptoms of excess gas, colic, and hiccups.
When To Give Gripe Water
According to manufacturers, gripe water is safe for children ages 1 month and up.
You can administer gripe water when a child displays symptoms of discomfort due to excess gas or continuous crying associated with colic or if the child has hiccups. This typically occurs after feeding and lying down overnight.
It’s best to consult with a pediatrician about the right time to give your child gripe water.
Gripe Water Before or After a Feeding?
There are no specific instructions on when to administer gripe water. It can be done both before and after a feeding. Most often it’s done after to address any excess gas taken in while eating.
However, it’s recommended to wait at least 30 minutes after eating to give a baby gripe water so that food can digest properly. Otherwise, the gripe water may mix poorly with other contents of the stomach and cause vomiting.
How Long Does Gripe Water Take to Work?
Gripe water, like gas relief drops, is not guaranteed to work. However, manufacturers and parents state that it takes 30 minutes or less to begin working.
Most gripe waters allow 3-6 doses to be given in a 24-hour period. Remember to always check the label and consult a pediatrician for dosing instructions.
Using Gas Drops and Gripe Water Together
First and foremost, it’s best to consult with your child’s pediatrician when using these substances individually and especially when they’re combined.
The largest concern with mixing products is the chance of a chemical reaction between ingredients or an allergic reaction in the child.
There is no evidence that mixing the key ingredients of gas drops (simethicone) and gripe water (sodium bicarbonate and herbal oils) causes any sort of reaction.
This means that this is safe until proven otherwise. However, both manufacturers and pediatricians seem to agree that mixing these two is likely to do more harm than good.
How To Tell if a Baby Has Colic or Gas
Approximately 20% of babies develop colic. A baby with colic is defined as one who cries 3 or more hours a day, 3 days out of the week, for 3 consecutive weeks and is otherwise a healthy infant.
It is marked by continuous inconsolable crying, reduced appetite, changes in sleep, and intense gas. Children who display similar symptoms but don’t follow the 3/3/3 pattern most likely have gas rather than colic.
Gas occurs in almost all infants in varying severities. It’s caused by an excess intake of air while eating or crying, hypersensitivity to certain foods or allergens, and an underdeveloped digestive system.
Gassy babies tend to show signs of discomfort like squirming, fussiness, trouble sleeping, not eating, and pulling their legs up to their chest. Gas tends to come and go in bouts as it flares up and then resolves itself regularly.
Related Questions:
When Does Colic Peak?
Colic typically starts between 2 and 3 weeks of age, peaks at around 6 weeks, and fades around 10-12 weeks.
There are variants in this timeline as some children may start displaying symptoms earlier, later, or for shorter periods than the typical 10-week span.
Is Colic Hereditary?
While the exact cause of colic is not known, experts do not believe it to be a result of genetics.
In fact, most of the plausible explanations are entirely environmental. Exposure to smoke, overstimulation, allergens, sensitivities, and indigestion are all possible causes.
In Summary
Gas relief drops are an over-the-counter medicine used to treat pressure and discomfort from gas. Gripe water is an over-the-counter dietary herbal supplement used to treat gas, colic, and even hiccups.
While these two have loads of anecdotal evidence, the studies evaluating their efficacy are not promising. Using them together is a decision that should be made between the parents and the pediatrician.
Charley is a mother of three with a passion for raising good humans. With her children in tow, she studies English and has made a career creating content about motherhood. In her free time, she enjoys traveling within the states to kayak, camp, and hike.