Gripe Water for Babies

Most of us have probably consumed gripe water when we were still very little babies.

For centuries, mothers have relied on gripe water as a remedy to ease the pain and discomfort faced by their babies especially during teething. Thanks to the discovery by William Woodward during the mid of the 19th century, babies now and then are able to rely on gripe water for babies whenever there is pain and discomfort

Traditionally, gripe water for babies contains alcohol, sodium bicarbonate, dill, fennel, ginger, sugar and water. The formula currently used differs from the traditional variant. Alcohol is no longer found in commercial gripe water.

Instead of sugar, fructose is now used as a substitute. Though the formula of gripe water for babies might vary depending on the manufacturer, the active ingredients dill and sodium bicarbonate remain the same up until now. Gripe water is considered an alternative to modern medications.

The most common usage of gripe water for babies is as we know, to ease discomfort during teething and vomiting. However, gripe water is also used for baby colic, a condition whereby a perfectly healthy baby cries for no obvious reasons over a long period of time.

The sweet taste of gripe water for babies could certainly lift up a baby’s mood. Besides colic, mothers also rely on gripe water to counteract stomach aches and gastrointestinal discomfort.

A similar condition, which is acid indigestion, can also be treated. The active sodium bicarbonate would neutralize the acidic conditions in the upset stomach. Though gripe water is normally used for babies, some adults with similar stomach conditions might also opt for gripe water as a remedy.

After all, alternative medications are natural and would result in little or no side effects, unlike the modern medications.

Before using gripe water on babies, the entire bottle must be shaken well to homogenize the mixture. The denser contents would tend to sink and sediment at the bottom of the bottle when left untouched.

Most of the gripe waters for babies we find in the market are natural, without the addition of artificial colouring, flavours and preservatives. As such, it is highly recommended that the entire bottle is disposed 6 weeks at most, after the opening of the bottle.

The recommended dosage for babies aged 2 week to 1 month is half a teaspoon. Infants of age 1 to 6 months should take a dose of 1 teaspoon full. The baby or infant should be fed using either a dropper or taken in a milk bottle.

Gripe water for babies can be taken up to 6 times within the same day. For children aged 6 months and above, a dose of 2 teaspoon is recommended, whereas for adults, 2 tablespoon of gripe water should be taken each time.

Once again, the best benefit of gripe water for babies is the fact that it is made of nothing but natural ingredients.

Of course, mothers would always want the best for their babies. At such a tender age, babies should not be exposed to drugs which would produce known or unknown side effects.

But with gripe water for babies, mothers don't have to worry about the problem of side effects.

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