Treating Newborn Colic with Gripe Water

The Mayo Clinic defines colic as crying in a newborn that lasts more than three hours a day, at least three days per week. Colic among infants isn't anything new and is quite common. Unfortunately, colic causes discomfort for a baby. This often leaves parents feeling helpless.

When your newborn baby continues to cry day after day, it also takes a toll on you. My second daughter was born crying day and night for the first two and a half months of her life. I remember feeling exhausted and extremely stressed out. I also had a two year old at the time and felt like I wasn't able to give her the attention she deserved because I was always trying to get the baby to stop crying.

There are many different treatments for colic, although there is no cure. Colic usually goes away after the first few months of a newborn's life, but can last up to the baby's first birthday. Your pediatrician can give you some excellent suggestions on how to hold your baby to relieve some of the discomfort, and how to make sure your baby is getting the least amount of air through his or her bottle. These will help. Another treatment that has been quite effective is the use of gripe water.

There are a few different brands of gripe water on the market, but you should stick with an herbal gripe water. This is because herbal gripe water products do not have side effects, making them the safest choice for your baby. They are not made with alcohol like some other forms of gripe water. Make sure you read the packaging label carefully before you choose a gripe water for your baby. You will also want to make sure the gripe water is approved by the FDA (not all gripe water is).

Read the instructions on the particular gripe water you purchased. Shake the bottle up and then fill the dropper with the designated amount of gripe water. Shoot the gripe water in your baby's mouth. Try to place it in the baby's cheek so that the baby doesn't spit it back out. If your baby doesn't like the taste of the gripe water, you can mix it with an ounce of water or diluted juice. Then let your baby drink it straight from a bottle.

Repeat the use of the gripe water as instructed in the directions. Some gripe water products are safe to use multiple times throughout the day. The gripe water is fast-acting, so you can expect to see results in as little as five minutes.

Warning:
Do not store the gripe water in the refrigerator. It should be kept at room temperature.

Sources:

"Colic," Mayo Clinic.

"Best Remedy for Colic Newborns," Gripe Water Guide.

"Gripe Water," Colic-Baby-Bootcamp.com