Is gripe water baby-friendly?

It has been hypothesized that the alcohol content of gripe water provides a soothing effect.[3] In some of the other commercial gripe waters, the alcohol content has been as high as 9% making even adults to get addicted.[3,6] Though previously gripe water had alcohol in its composition, this is no longer a common constituent. A net search revealed that most brands of gripe water in Indian market are alcohol free but contain sodium bicarbonate, varying combinations of herbs or dill oil [Table 1]. Sodium bicarbonate in gripe water has no role as hyperacidity is not a cause for colic. Moreover, if given continuously and in large doses, it may cause alkalosis and milk alkali syndrome. One cannot presume that all herbal preparations are safe and free from side effects. The other possibility of the soothing effect of gripe water could be due to its sweet taste. The high sugar content of gripe water can harm the erupting teeth.[7] Pseudomonas aeruginosa septic shock secondary to “gripe water” ingestion has been reported in a nine-month-old girl. [8] In 2007, FDA confirmed the presence of cryptosporidium after investigating the illness of a six-week-old infant in Minnesota who consumed Baby’s Bliss Gripe Water, apple flavor and advised consumers to throw away bottles of the product