Gripe water is an over-the-counter liquid supplement marketed to relieve colic, gas, hiccups, and general fussiness in infants. It typically contains a mix of water, herbal extracts (most commonly fennel and ginger), and sometimes sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) or sugar. Despite its long history and widespread use, gripe water is not approved by the FDA as a safe or effective treatment for any condition, and the evidence behind it is thin.
What’s Actually in It
Gripe water formulas vary widely between brands because there’s no standardized recipe. Most versions include some combination of fennel seed extract, ginger root extract, and water. Some add chamomile, lemon balm, or dill. Older formulations, and some products still sold internationally, contain sodium bicarbonate or sugar. The original gripe water, popular in the UK starting in the 1800s, contained alcohol. That ingredient was eventually phased out, and gripe water was banned in the United States in 1982 before returning in alcohol-free versions. Today, most brands sold in the U.S. market themselves as alcohol-free and sugar-free, though formulations still differ enough that reading labels carefully matters.
How It’s Supposed to Work
The theory behind gripe water centers on its herbal ingredients. Fennel and ginger have a long folk history as digestive aids, thought to relax the smooth muscles in the intestines and reduce gas buildup. Sodium bicarbonate, when present, is meant to neutralize stomach acid. In the era when gripe water contained alcohol, the sedative effect of the alcohol likely explained much of why babies seemed calmer after a dose.
None of these mechanisms have been well studied in infants. One small clinical trial of 81 babies in Iran compared fennel essence to gripe water syrup for colic. Both groups showed reduced crying time by the third and seventh day, but there was no placebo group, so it’s impossible to know whether the improvement was due to the treatment or simply the natural course of colic resolving on its own. Colic typically peaks around six weeks and improves significantly by three to four months regardless of intervention.
Why the FDA Hasn’t Approved It
Gripe water sits in a regulatory gray zone. Most brands sell it as a dietary supplement, which means it doesn’t need FDA approval before hitting store shelves. But when companies make claims that their product treats or prevents specific conditions like colic or gas, the FDA considers that a drug claim. As recently as April 2025, the FDA issued a warning letter to a gripe water manufacturer, stating that their product qualified as an “unapproved new drug” because of the health claims on its website. The agency noted the product was “not generally recognized as safe and effective” for its advertised uses.
This matters because, as a supplement, gripe water isn’t held to the same manufacturing or testing standards as medications. Quality control varies. There have been multiple recalls over the years: one after a six-week-old in Minnesota was infected with cryptosporidium (a waterborne parasite) from a contaminated batch, another for an undissolved ingredient that posed a choking hazard, and another after a brand contaminated with harmful bacteria caused septic shock in a nine-month-old.
Potential Risks for Infants
The most basic concern is that giving anything other than breast milk or formula to a baby under six months old introduces risk. It can expose an immature digestive system to allergens, bacteria, or ingredients that irritate the gut lining.
Beyond contamination risks, specific ingredients carry their own concerns. Sodium bicarbonate, if given repeatedly or in large amounts, can disrupt the body’s acid-base balance and lead to a condition called alkalosis. Sugar-containing formulas can damage emerging teeth. And because gripe water ingredients aren’t standardized, allergic reactions to any of the herbal components are possible, especially in very young babies whose immune systems are still developing.
How Parents Typically Use It
Most brands recommend waiting until a baby is at least two weeks old. Typical dosing guidelines suggest around 2.5 ml up to three times daily for babies under one month, and 5 ml up to three times daily for babies between one and six months. These doses are usually given right after a feeding, when gas discomfort tends to be worst. Parents typically use a medicine dropper placed against the inside of the baby’s cheek, dispensing slowly so the baby can swallow in small amounts.
That said, these are manufacturer recommendations, not medical guidelines. Because gripe water lacks FDA oversight, dosing instructions are set by the companies selling it, not by clinical research establishing what amount is safe or effective for a given age and weight.
Alternatives That Have More Evidence
If your baby is dealing with gas or colic symptoms, a few approaches have stronger support. Simethicone drops (sold under brand names like Mylicon) work by breaking up gas bubbles in the stomach and are generally considered safe, though evidence for their effectiveness is also modest. Gentle belly massage, bicycling your baby’s legs, and holding them upright after feedings can help move gas through the digestive tract. Probiotics containing the strain Lactobacillus reuteri have shown some promise in reducing crying time in breastfed colicky infants in several clinical trials.
For many parents, the hardest truth about colic is that no remedy works reliably. Colic affects roughly one in five babies, peaks in intensity around six weeks of age, and resolves on its own in the vast majority of cases by three to four months. The appeal of gripe water is understandable when you’re sleep-deprived and your baby won’t stop crying, but the lack of proven benefit combined with real (if uncommon) safety concerns is worth weighing before reaching for it.