When your newborn is upset and fussy, it's difficult to know what will make him feel better. Several companies produce gripe water, an oral, liquid, homeopathic medicine that you can give your child to treat unexplained crying. The ingredients in gripe water are compiled to treat a combination of factors that could cause irritability, ranging from stomach upset to stress and teething pain. If your newborn cries excessively, it's best to consult your doctor to rule out the possibility of injury or illness.
Colic
Colic is an unexplained bout of crying sometimes experienced by newborn babies in the first few months of life, according to the Medical News Today. If your baby has frequent crying episodes and you cannot console her, she may be suffering from colic. Babyslumber.com states that gripe water can be effective in treating colic in newborns. Gripe water is made from a combination of herbal remedies that soothe the entire intestinal tract and relax anxiousness, providing relief for many babies with colic.
Stomach Cramps
Babies suffering from stomach cramps often have trouble sleeping. Colic Calm, a company that makes and sells homeopathic gripe water, includes fennel in their formula to relieve stomach cramps. The company claims that fennel has natural pain-relieving properties that help soothe upset stomachs. Colic Calm gripe water also contains aloe and ginger, two herbs that the company suggests work to relieve stomach cramps.
Gas
Tiny babies often have trouble passing gas, which results in stomach upset. The Colic Calm company adds vegetable charcoal to their gripe water, since the American Medical Association states that charcoal absorbs gas and reduces flatulence. Colic Calm claims that the caraway and lemon balm found in the company's gripe water also contribute to a reduction in intestinal gas.
Teething
Many formulations of gripe water contain chamomile. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, chamomile can help soothe irritable infants who are in the process of teething. Babies who are soothed by rocking and have green bowel movements respond best to chamomile.
Heartburn
An infant suffering from heartburn can appear extremely upset. The makers of Colic-Ease gripe water add cardamom seed oil to their formula. Colic-Ease reports that cardamom oil relaxes the stomach and promotes natural digestion, helping to relieve heartburn. The oils taken from cardamom seeds have an antispasmodic effect on the entire digestive tract, which relieves heartburn.
Hiccups
Little Remedies, the maker of Little Tummys gripe water, claims that the fennel and ginger in their formula help reduce infant hiccups. Babies with frequent hiccups tend to develop trapped gas due to the excess air intake.
