Gripe Water vs Simethicone Gas Drops

As a parent of a newborn, finding out what makes your baby cry can be one of the toughest tasks you face. Sometimes we are feeding them, changing their diaper, and keeping them distracted, and yet they still keep crying. In fact, there are few issues more distressing for parents than when they can’t calm their baby.

Bloating can often be a leading reason for a baby’s fussiness. A lot of parents seek non-prescription medicines to ease their baby’s uneasiness. But it can be hard to know which medicines are going to be helpful, as well as being safe for your newborn.

Today, we’re going to cover the most common questions parents have regarding gas discomfort in newborns and babies, as well as the distinctions between gas drops and gripe water as a means of treating the discomfort.

Gripe Water vs Simethicone Gas Drops

What is gripe water?

Gripe water is a fluid solution that includes herbs, like dill seed oil. According to some people, Gripe Water is believed to heat and calm a baby’s tummy and decrease colic symptoms.
Various brands of Gripe Water include various components. A few may still include sugar and alcohol, though the majority of them are sugar-free and alcohol-free now.
Gripe water also normally includes sodium bicarbonate, which is thought to ease colic symptoms by helping to counterbalance stomach acid. Excessive levels of sodium bicarbonate, though, can result in alkalosis, a state that can reduce the acidity in a person’s blood, causing severe adverse reactions.

What are gas drops?

Gas drops contain simethicone. This agent dissipates bigger gas bubbles into smaller ones more comfortable for the baby to strain through.
Nurses might give the drops straight to the baby or mix them with formula or expressed breast milk.
The American Academy of Pediatrics indicates that gas drops are considered to be safe for newborns and that adverse reactions are uncommon.
When a baby is also getting thyroid hormone medications, though, you probably shouldn’t give him or her gas drops since simethicone may interfere with these kinds of medicines. Physicians may prescribe thyroid hormone medicines for conditions like congenital hypothyroidism, in which the thyroid gland is underdeveloped.

Those taking care of a baby struggling with colic will probably be eager to explore whatever may ease the baby’s aches and pains.
A number of parenting forum users have suggested both gripe water and gas drops as a remedy to colic. But in fact, it is not scientifically verified that these remedies work. Therefore, it will be up to the healthcare provider to determine if they would like to try one of the two remedies to determine which one would best benefit the child.
Consider that if a baby’s signs are more likely to be from flatulence, then gas drops would be potentially more effective. Similarly, with a baby who tends to feel more like a general unwellness, Gripe Water is perhaps a more suitable remedy. But there is no assurance that either solution is going to actually make a significant difference.
Caregivers need to keep in mind that there is at all times the chance that their baby will have an adverse reaction to a new medicine.
Gripe Water items could contain a lot of various components. Pay attention to examine the tag of the Gripe Water to find out what it includes. Do avoid any products that include any alcohol.
Moreover, a number of Gripe Water’s ingredients are yet to be tried on infants. Always check with a physician to confirm that the contents are suitable for a baby before you use them.
A new formula that hasn’t been previously tried may also trigger an allergic response. Caregivers should be acquainted with the indications that may suggest an allergic response in a baby. If a caregiver has the impression that an allergic response is happening, they should discontinue the use of the medicine at once and consult a doctor.

Indications of an allergic response could include the following

• A skin itch
• Trouble in breathing
• Swelling of the face, neck, or tongue
• Breaking out

Caregivers have to take care to provide the appropriate dose, keep gripe water and gas drops in as prescribed, as well as double-check to ensure that they are still within the use-by date. Doing so will also help minimize the probability that the medicine will trigger a problem in the baby.

Simethicone:
This is the main component used in infant gas drops. This is an antifoaming substance used to aid in decreasing gas accumulation in the stomach and intestines, which can result in flatulence and uncomfortable feeling.

How does simethicone work

Contrary to gripe water, which is commonly a combination of herbs and baking soda, gas drops normally have the drug simethicone, introduced in 1952, which assists in resolving smaller bubbles of gas into bigger ones that can be more readily released. It is described by Health Canada as “antiflatulent” (it has a promising ring to it as a gas medicine).
Gas drops for babies nevertheless have their fans, in fact, digging into online discussions among parents, reveals more than a handful of those who claim that gas drops work in their opinion, maybe due in part to the potency of the simethicone (available under the trademark Ovol), or because babies like the flavor.
As far as the medical community goes, simethicone gastropods are considered safe for infants, but there is little hard evidence to show that they work on a consistent basis.
As a rule of thumb, however, you should consult your child’s doctor before giving him or her any medication. Although simethicone is considered relatively harmless, there is a possibility of an allergic reaction, and some research has shown that it can cause loose stools – although that may not be the end of the world when weighed against the possible sedative effects.

Can you give gas drops and gripe water together?

Gas Relief Drops can be used securely in combination with Gripe Water items. The two products combined can be particularly beneficial for babies who have cried continuously. Gas Relief Drops assist the baby in kicking up all the upset air in the tummy caused by crying. Gripe Water also aids in burping and uses the active components of ginger and fennel to help ease the baby’s belly discomfort. The two combined ease flatulence and ensure prolonged comfort by calming the baby’s belly.

Organic gas drops for infants

Mommy’s Bliss has truly grown to be a well-known brand in the all-natural infant product category. They have a proven reputation for offering natural options for anything ranging from early morning nausea to gas and colic. Thus, it’s not surprising that Mommy’s Bliss gas drops earn our selection for the overall best all-natural gas drops made for infants. Within Mommy’s Bliss, you’ll discover neat components; these are made with a blend of simethicone and vegan components such as ginger root. Plus, they include no alcohol, making them completely safe to be taken from birth.

Why do babies get flatulence?
Bloating usually occurs in babies between four and 12 weeks of age, while the digestive system is still developing. Babies get gas when they take in too much air, which can happen for several reasons.

• Drinking too fast or too slow: Whether your baby is bottle-fed or breastfed, he or she may swallow air, causing gas and pain.
• Formula: The method of shaking bottles when preparing formula creates air bubbles that can end up in your little one’s tummy.
• Crying: Your baby could breathe in excess air if he or she cries for an extended period of time.
• Flatulent foods: if you are breastfeeding, your eating habits may cause your baby to have gas, or it could be an intolerance to something in the bottle-feed.

How do gas drops work?
The main active ingredient in gas drops is called simethicone. It is an antiflatulent that breaks down tiny gas bubbles into bigger bubbles. This makes it easier for babies to pass gas and should relieve all discomfort

How fast does simethicone work
Generally, over-the-counter gas drops contain simethicone, a medication that relieves the distressing signs and symptoms associated with excessive gas in the stomach and intestines. Simethicone is usually a safe medication for infants. It may cause loose stools, although this is uncommon. The recommended dose for simethicone is 20 milligrams, taken up to a maximum of four times a day. This is a safe daily intake. Once your baby feels more comfortable with the gas drops, you can continue taking them. Simethicone usually starts working within 30 minutes.

How long does simethicone last
There is no time limit on the package insert; however, if your child has frequent symptoms, we recommend that you consult your child’s pediatrician. You should not administer more than 12 doses per day.

Can newborns take gas drops?
Infant gas drops include simethicone, a drug that resolves gas bubbles as well as the main component in successful anti-gas medicines for grown-ups. The research on its efficacy varies. Still, simethicone gas drops for babies are pretty safe, and a number of parents claim they are quite effective.
Interested in testing gas drops for infants to get your baby relief from flatulence? Consult with your pediatrician, to begin with about the kind of drops and the frequency with which you have to give them. And make certain to stick to the dosage directions on the bottle. The majority will suggest allowing you to give your baby the drops up to 12 times a day, or with every feeding. And a few parents might find it beneficial to give their baby the drops just ahead of feedings to keep bloating under control, though consult your physician in order to determine this for sure.
Be sure to read the package label and avoid drops with sodium benzoate or benzoic acid, which may be bad for babies if given in high quantities.
Also, if a friend or relative brought a gas medication from a different country or one not allowed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), avoid feeding it to your baby until you get permission from your pediatrician. It might include alcohol, sugar, or other possibly dangerous contents that may not be specifically mentioned on the label.

Can newborns take gas relief drops?
Gas drops are medical treatment. Its key agent is simethicone, a substance that breaks up gas bubbles in the stomach. This makes it possible for the gases to be released more readily. Some examples of available gas drops for babies are Little Tummy’s Gas Relief Drops, Phazyme, and Mylicon. The drops might be added to water, formula, or breast milk and then given to the baby.
Gas drops are normally thought to be safe for use in infants, except when a baby is given thyroid hormone medication. Thyroid medicines may have negative side effects with gas drops.

Signs that your baby has flatulence
Since you can’t communicate, it’s difficult for you to know when your baby has gas.
A crying or restless baby who clenches his fists probably has gas. Another common sign is when your baby pulls his legs up toward his stomach. If he burps or poops and then calms down, you can be sure gas is the culprit.
If your little one has a dry diaper and a full belly, has passed gas, or is burping but continues to be fidgety, there could be a more serious problem and you should see a doctor.

There are no hard and fast rules on how to prevent a bloated belly, but here are some general tips that might help.

• Hold your baby properly: make sure your baby is not lying flat when you feed him. Lift his head slightly. This aids digestion and makes gas go away.
• Feeding: Check that the nipple of the bottle is not letting too much or too little milk through. If you are breastfeeding, try changing to a different position to see if this reduces gas.
• Check diet: For moms who are breastfeeding, try to find out what foods cause gas by eliminating possible offenders from your diet. If your baby is bottle-fed, talk to your doctor about trying an alternative formula if you think it may be the cause.
  Create a relaxing atmosphere: by using a pacifier, gently massaging your baby’s tummy, or creating gentle rocking and swaying motions.
  Get your baby to burp regularly: Remember to let your baby burp both during and after feedings. Positions that help prevent burping include over your shoulder, lying face down over your lap, or sitting on your lap.

More research is needed to understand why colic occurs and what treatments can help reduce the symptoms of this condition.
In addition to gas drops and gripe water, there are other home remedies that can help:

• White noise or uterine sounds
  Some people find that noises that imitate the sounds babies hear in the womb can help calm babies who are crying because of colic. Sounds from household appliances, such as vacuum cleaners and hair dryers, can have a similar effect.
• Carrying, rocking, or walking
  Some young babies are fussy due to the discomfort and pain that colic brings like being held and swung in a rhythmic way.
  Some parents suggest that taking a car ride or a walk with the infant in the stroller may be helpful due to the smooth swinging movements. Putting the infant in a sling while going for a walk can offer comfort due to the movement and skin-to-skin contact.
• Try to refrain from specific foods when breastfeeding
  Certain foods transfer into breast milk and may result in a more restless, bloated baby. But those who are breastfeeding need to refrain from indiscriminately removing foods from their diet.
  Search for patterns instead and attempt to figure out if the baby gets restless after consuming specific foods.

Here are a few foods that are sometimes, though not always, guilty culprits

• Dairy foods
• Cabbage
• Onions
• Caffeine

The reason some people choose to ignore these foods during breastfeeding is to help decrease colic symptoms in the baby.

• Change to a different bottle if you are feeding formula.
  Changing the nipple of the bottle can be helpful.
  Some nipples are specially made to decrease colic by letting milk out only when the baby is sucking. Such bottles may decrease the amount of air the baby swallows while feeding, and therefore the amount of gas that forms in the tummy.
  But it can be a smart practice to try out different types of nipples.
  If overfeeding or swallowing air is adding to colic symptoms, a slower-flowing nipple is likely to be helpful. Although, a slow-flowing nipple may be frustrating for the baby if he or she is not receiving sufficient milk.
  You can purchase some anti-colic bottles online.
• Modify the feeding position
  Keeping your baby upright while and after feeding might also help limit feeding and help avoid reflux.
  Having smaller, more frequent meals might also promote digestion and ease symptoms related to colic.
• Try using a pacifier
  While some babies may find a pacifier comforting, some may refuse it.

That’s it! You’ve finally broken the magical spell over Gripe Water and Gas Drops! As it turns out, this is all really just good old-fashioned science! You can now include these remedies in your parenting toolkit to help you treat your baby AND discover what’s really troubling your baby!
In conclusion, make sure you consult your physician whenever you are giving anything to your baby. And also be sure to tell your pediatrician everything you’ve gotten to understand about your baby by watching how he or she responded to one thing or another.
Also, keep in mind that your baby is constantly learning and changing. It is not going to have bloating/reflux/colic forever. Therefore, if Gripe Water or gas drops have become a permanent component of your routine, attempt a weaning approach, as it is likely that the root cause of the issue may resolve on its own as your baby becomes more mature.