Gripe Water for Babies: Is It Safe and Does It Really Work?

Gripe water is an over-the-counter liquid, usually made from water, herbal extracts such as dill or fennel, and sometimes sodium bicarbonate and sugar, that is sold to ease wind, hiccups and colic in babies. Most modern alcohol-free versions are unlikely to harm a healthy baby when used occasionally and exactly as the label says. The catch is that there is no good-quality evidence that gripe water actually reduces colic or crying.

This guide explains what is in gripe water, what the research shows, which ingredients to avoid, how to use it more safely if you decide to try it, and the gentler approaches that tend to work better for a fussy baby.

What is gripe water?

Gripe water has been around for well over a century and was first sold in England. Early recipes contained alcohol and sugar, which may explain why babies seemed calmer after a dose. Today’s products are very different, and most of those sold in Singapore pharmacies such as Guardian and Watsons are labelled alcohol-free.

Ingredients vary by brand, but you will commonly see:

Dill seed oil or fennel, traditionally used for wind
Ginger, chamomile or lemon balm in some herbal formulas
Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), an antacid
Sugar, sucrose or other sweeteners for taste
Preservatives and flavourings

Gripe water is not the same as simethicone drops, which are a separate anti-wind product, or probiotic drops. If someone at the pharmacy offers you “colic drops”, ask which one it is, because the evidence and ingredients differ.

Does gripe water work?

Honestly, the evidence is thin. There are no good-quality studies showing that gripe water reduces colic, wind or crying time more than a placebo. Much of its reputation comes from word of mouth, and from the fact that colic gets better by itself at around three to four months, whatever you try. The UK’s NHS colic guidance notes there is little evidence that colic remedies like this help.

Some parents feel it helps, and that is real to them. Possible reasons include the sweet taste, which can calm a baby briefly, the sucking and swallowing involved, and the simple passage of time. None of that means gripe water is treating the cause of the crying.

Our baby colic guide covers the rule of threes and the soothing techniques that tend to help most. If you are reaching for gripe water, it is worth reading that first.

Is gripe water safe?

For most healthy babies, an occasional dose of a reputable, alcohol-free product used as directed is unlikely to cause harm. But “natural” does not automatically mean safe for a tiny baby, and there are real reasons for caution.

Ingredients worth avoiding

Alcohol. Older or imported formulas may still contain it. Babies should not be given alcohol in any amount.
Sodium bicarbonate. Colic is not caused by too much stomach acid, so an antacid has no clear role. Regular or large amounts can upset your baby’s acid balance, and it may mask symptoms of reflux that a doctor should look at.
Sugar. Regular sugary doses are not good for gums and emerging teeth, and can encourage a sweet tooth.
Charcoal, herbal mixtures without a clear ingredient list, or unlabelled products. If you cannot tell what is in it, do not give it.

Other risks

Any liquid other than milk can fill a small tummy and replace feeds, which matters for young babies who need every millilitre. A baby can also have an allergic reaction to a herbal ingredient. Look out for a new rash, swelling of the lips or face, vomiting or breathing difficulty after a dose.

Buy only from a pharmacy or reputable retailer in Singapore. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) regularly warns that health products bought from overseas or unverified online sellers can contain undeclared or harmful ingredients. That applies to baby remedies as much as anything else.

If you decide to try it: how to use it more safely

Talk to your paediatrician, polyclinic doctor or pharmacist first, especially for a young baby. If they are happy for you to try it:

Choose an alcohol-free product with a clear, short ingredient list. Sugar-free is better.
Check the minimum age on the label and stick to it.
Use the syringe or measuring spoon provided and follow the label dose exactly. Do not top up because the last dose “did not work”.
Give it slowly into the side of the cheek with your baby upright, never while lying flat.
Do not mix it into a bottle of milk, so you know how much your baby actually had and their feed is not diluted.
Try it on a few occasions only. If there is no clear benefit, stop.
Store it as directed and throw it away after the period stated once opened.

Gentler ways to settle wind and fussiness

These approaches have more going for them than gripe water, and cost nothing.

Feeding technique

A good latch or paced bottle feeding reduces swallowed air. For bottle-fed babies, a slower-flow teat and holding the bottle more horizontally can help. Burp your baby during and after feeds, over your shoulder or sitting upright on your lap. Our guide to how much milk a newborn needs can help you check you are not overfeeding, which can cause discomfort.

Holding and movement

Hold your baby upright against your chest, walk, sway or rock gently. The “tiger in the tree” hold, tummy-down along your forearm, comforts many babies while you are awake and supervising. A warm bath, gentle clockwise tummy massage and bicycling their legs are other options to try.

Calm surroundings

Dim the lights, cut the noise and try white noise or shushing. Swaddling, done safely, helps some young babies. Overstimulation from visitors, phones and TV in a small HDB living room often adds to evening fussing.

Traditional remedies

Many Singapore families use traditional wind remedies, such as Malay minyak telon or medicated oils rubbed on the tummy, or herbal powders passed down by grandparents. These come from a caring place. Be cautious with anything swallowed, avoid strong menthol or camphor oils on young babies’ skin or near their nose, and check with your doctor before using herbal products, as their ingredients and strength are often not well controlled.

Gripe water vs other colic remedies

Remedy	What it is	Evidence for colic
Gripe water	Herbal extracts, often with sodium bicarbonate and sugar	No good-quality evidence of benefit
Simethicone drops	Anti-foaming agent for wind	Studies have not shown it works better than placebo
Probiotic drops	Specific bacterial strains	Some evidence in breastfed babies; ask your doctor
Soothing techniques	Holding, motion, white noise, swaddling	Low risk and often helpful, though no single method suits every baby

When to see a doctor

See your GP, polyclinic or paediatrician if your baby cries for long stretches most days, is feeding poorly, is not gaining weight, has frequent forceful vomiting or seems in pain during feeds. Our guide to reflux, spit-up and hiccups explains what is normal and what is not.

Call 995 or go to the Children’s Emergency at KKH or NUH if your baby:

Is under three months with a temperature of 38°C or higher (see our baby fever guide)
Has a weak, high-pitched or moaning cry, or is floppy, unusually drowsy or hard to wake
Has green vomit, blood in their stools, or a swollen, hard tummy
Has breathing difficulty, turns blue or grey, or has a seizure
Develops swelling of the face or lips, or a widespread rash after taking a remedy

The bottom line

Gripe water is widely sold and usually harmless when it is alcohol-free and used occasionally as directed, but there is no solid evidence that it eases colic or wind. Skip products with alcohol or unclear ingredients, avoid it in young, premature or unwell babies, and check with your doctor or pharmacist first. Feeding technique, burping, holding and a calm environment are more likely to help, and colic itself usually fades by three to four months.

At what age can a baby have gripe water?

It depends on the product, so check the label. Many doctors suggest avoiding it in the first month, and in premature or unwell babies. Ask your paediatrician or pharmacist before giving it to a young baby.

Is gripe water safe for newborns?

Newborns should generally have only breast milk or formula. Gripe water is not recommended for newborns unless a doctor advises it, partly because any extra liquid can replace milk feeds in a very small tummy.

Can I give gripe water every day?

Daily use is not recommended. If your baby seems to need something every day for crying or wind, that is a sign to see a doctor and look at feeding and soothing, rather than relying on a remedy.

Does gripe water help with hiccups?

There is no good evidence that it does. Baby hiccups are very common, rarely bother the baby, and usually stop by themselves. Offering a feed or holding your baby upright is enough.