← All supplements
Limited evidenceGut health

Gripe Water

A traditional fennel, ginger and bicarbonate infant preparation for colic. Widely used and mostly benign, but the controlled evidence for colic is thin and inconsistent.

Where to buy

View on iHerb

Ships to 180+ countries · welcome discount for new customers

Referral link — this site may earn a commission on purchases.

What the science says

  • Reducing infant crying and colic Limited evidence

    An overview of systematic reviews of complementary therapies for infantile colic found the trial base small, at high risk of bias, and inconsistent; gripe water specifically was not supported by good-quality randomised evidence. Fennel-containing preparations show some benefit in individual small trials, but reviewers rated confidence as low.

  • What actually has evidence in breastfed infants Moderate evidence

    A systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions for colic in breastfed infants found the best-supported option is the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, which reduced crying time across several randomised trials. Gripe water did not reach that level of support.

  • Very common use, poorly characterised products Limited evidence

    A cross-sectional study of infants aged 1-6 months found gripe water use was widespread and often started in the first weeks of life, frequently without a doctor's advice. Composition varies enormously between brands, which is part of why the evidence is hard to pool.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseTypical label dose is 2.5-5 mL after feeds, up to several times daily, varying by brand and infant age. No dose has been validated in a controlled trial.
SafetyAvoid formulations containing alcohol, sucrose, sodium bicarbonate in significant amounts, or imported unregulated products, which have been linked to contamination and to hypernatraemia or aspiration. Sugar-containing versions can affect feeding. Give nothing but breast milk or formula to infants under one month without medical advice, and see a doctor if crying is accompanied by fever, vomiting, poor weight gain or blood in the stool.

How to take it

TimingAfter feeds, as the label directs.
With food?After a feed, not instead of one.
Worth knowingRead the ingredient list for alcohol, sucrose and sodium bicarbonate, and buy only from a regulated market — imported products have been linked to contamination and hypernatraemia.

Frequently asked questions

Does gripe water work for colic?

Gripe water has limited evidence for colic: reviews found no good-quality randomised evidence supporting it, and the trial base for complementary colic remedies is small, biased and inconsistent. Fennel-containing preparations show some benefit only in individual small trials.

What works better than gripe water for colic?

For colic in breastfed infants, the best-supported option is the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, which reduced crying time across several randomised trials (moderate evidence). Gripe water did not reach that level of support.

Is gripe water safe for newborns?

Give infants under one month nothing but breast milk or formula without medical advice, and avoid gripe water containing alcohol, sucrose or significant sodium bicarbonate. Imported unregulated products have been linked to contamination, hypernatraemia and aspiration.

How much gripe water can I give my baby?

Typical gripe water labels suggest 2.5–5 mL after feeds, up to several times daily depending on brand and age, but no dose has been validated in a controlled trial. See a doctor if crying comes with fever, vomiting, poor weight gain or blood in the stool.

Scientific references

Related in Gut health

Herbal medicines: what the evidence says (335)