Yes, gas-relief drops can be safe for newborns when you follow the label; avoid unregulated gripe waters and ask your pediatrician when unsure.
New parents want one thing at 2 a.m.: something that eases those long crying spells. “Colic drops” is the catch-all label people use for a few very different products. Some are regulated medicines with a long safety record in infants. Others are herbal blends that sit outside medicine rules and can vary a lot. This guide breaks down what each option is, how it’s used, the evidence behind it, and the safety basics for tiny babies.
What People Mean By “Colic Drops”
Three product groups ride under the same banner:
- Simethicone gas drops (often called infant gas drops). These are over-the-counter medicines that stay in the gut and help gas bubbles merge so they pass more easily.
- Herbal “gripe water” blends. Ingredients vary by brand and country. Labels may list dill seed, fennel, ginger, chamomile, sodium bicarbonate, or other botanicals.
- Probiotic drops (commonly Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938). These are dietary supplements intended to shift gut bacteria.
Quick Comparison: Options, Safety, And Evidence
The table below gives a broad, at-a-glance view. Details and nuance follow in later sections.
| Product Type | What It Does | Safety & Evidence Snapshot |
|---|---|---|
| Simethicone Gas Drops | Anti-foaming agent that helps combine gas bubbles in the gut. | Generally considered safe from birth when dosed per label; research shows limited symptom benefit for colic specifically. |
| Herbal Gripe Water | Botanical blend; formulas vary (often dill, fennel, ginger, etc.). | Not regulated as medicine in many regions; quality and ingredients vary; not recommended by several health sites due to limited proof and safety variability. |
| Probiotic Drops (L. reuteri) | Aims to shift gut microbiota toward a calmer pattern. | Evidence suggests benefit in breastfed infants; mixed or insufficient data in formula-fed babies; generally well tolerated. |
Are Gas Drops Safe For Newborns? Dos And Don’ts
Safety: Simethicone stays in the intestinal tract and isn’t absorbed into the bloodstream in meaningful amounts. That’s one reason it’s widely used in infants. Labels commonly allow use from the first weeks of life. The caveat: while many parents see shorter fussy spells with gas relief, controlled trials show little difference from placebo for classic colic. In short, it’s low risk when used as directed, but it’s not a magic switch.
How parents use it: Give the dose on the bottle, usually with feeds. Don’t stack products that contain the same ingredient. If the crying pattern doesn’t change after a few days, stop and try other comfort strategies rather than escalating doses.
When to get a medical check: Newborns younger than four weeks, babies with poor weight gain, fever, green or bloody stools, projectile vomiting, or a swollen belly need prompt evaluation. If you’re unsure whether what you’re seeing is ordinary colic, ask your pediatrician before continuing any remedy.
What About Herbal Gripe Water?
Gripe waters are sold as supplements in many countries, not as medicines. That means formulas and quality standards vary. Some blends include herbs; others add sodium bicarbonate. Labels may suggest use from about one month of age, but health-system pages caution against relying on these products for colic because consistent benefit hasn’t been shown and composition isn’t uniform. If a label lists alcohol or a long list of botanicals, skip it for a newborn.
Where Probiotic Drops Fit
Probiotic drops are different from gas drops. The most studied strain for crying time is Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938. Several trials and pooled analyses show shorter crying time in breastfed babies with colic; the same benefit hasn’t been clear in formula-fed infants. If you choose to try a probiotic, pick the exact strain used in studies and give it time (often two to three weeks) to judge effect. Stop if stools turn bloody, if a rash appears, or if fussiness worsens.
What Health Authorities Say
Two high-trust sources set the tone for day-to-day decisions:
- American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren) outlines practical soothing steps, the typical age range for peak crying, and when to see a clinician.
- NHS guidance on colic notes that anti-colic drops, herbal blends, and probiotics aren’t routinely recommended for colic because proof of benefit is limited.
Putting those together: gas drops can be used safely in tiny doses, but expectations should stay modest; herbal blends are best avoided in newborns; probiotics may help breastfed babies over a couple of weeks.
How To Tell Normal Colic From Something Else
Colic follows a fairly consistent pattern: crying peaks near six weeks, often in the late afternoon or evening, and fades by three to four months. Babies feed well, gain weight, and look otherwise healthy between spells. Red-flag symptoms suggest a different problem that needs medical care. If any red flag appears, pause all remedies and get a same-day assessment.
Red Flags That Need Urgent Care
- Fever in a baby under three months.
- Persistent vomiting, especially forceful or green.
- Blood in stool, a hard and distended belly, or poor feeding.
- Lethargy, weak cry, or trouble breathing.
Practical Ways To Soothe A Fussy Young Infant
Simple routines often help more than any bottle:
- Upright feeds and frequent burping so less air ends up in the stomach.
- Motion and contact: carrier walks, gentle rocking, or holding skin-to-skin.
- Sound: steady white noise (fan, extractor hood, app) can settle a worked-up baby.
- Pacifier, if your baby accepts it.
- Tummy-down cuddle time across your forearm or knees (always sleep on the back afterward).
If your baby is bottle-fed, a slow-flow teat can curb gulping. If breastfed, a short trial without common trigger foods in your diet can be tried one at a time; if nothing changes after two weeks, go back to normal.
Choosing And Using A Product Safely
Simethicone Gas Drops
Pick a single-ingredient simethicone product designed for infants. Check that the dropper is marked for small volumes. Give the dose on the label. Space doses with feeds so you can judge any change in gas or fussiness. Stop if there’s no clear improvement after a few days.
Probiotic Drops
Pick the exact strain listed in research (L. reuteri DSM 17938). Give daily for two to three weeks before judging results. Stop if stools turn bloody, a rash appears, or crying worsens.
Gripe Water
Skip blends with alcohol, sodium bicarbonate, or long ingredient lists. If you still want to try a simple formula later in infancy, wait until beyond the first month and check the bottle carefully. Many families choose to avoid it entirely during the newborn phase.
Safety Basics You Can Trust
- One remedy at a time: It’s the only way to see what helps and what doesn’t.
- Tiny bodies, tiny doses: Always stick to the infant label, not the children’s version.
- Ingredient check: Avoid duplicates across products (e.g., two formulas that both include simethicone).
- Allergy watch: New rash, swelling, or vomiting after a new product means stop and get advice.
- Storage: Keep droppers clean; don’t share between siblings; check expiry dates.
When A Feeding Change Makes Sense
Most fussy patterns aren’t about milk type. A small subset of babies do better after a formula switch or a short trial of dairy elimination in a breastfeeding parent. These changes should be targeted, not shotgun. If your baby has eczema, blood-streaked stools, or poor weight gain, a milk protein issue moves higher on the list and needs a clinician-guided plan rather than random switches.
Reality Check On Expectations
It’s natural to want one drop that ends the crying tomorrow. Colic isn’t usually one-cause, one-fix. Think of gas drops as a low-risk trial with modest upside. Treat gripe water with caution in the early weeks. Consider a strain-specific probiotic if you’re nursing and can give it a couple of weeks. Keep leaning on the simple comforts that settle most babies over time.
Troubleshooting: What To Try Next
Work down this list methodically. Give each step a few days so you can see what shifts.
- Use upright feeds and mid-feed burps for every bottle or breast.
- Add motion and white noise for the witching-hour stretch.
- Trial a single-ingredient simethicone product for three to five days.
- If breastfed, try one dietary change at a time for up to two weeks (e.g., dairy). If nothing changes, revert.
- Consider a two-to-three-week trial of L. reuteri probiotic (exact DSM 17938 strain) if breastfed.
- Revisit sleep cues: shorter awake windows often calm evening meltdowns.
Colic Myths And Facts
- Myth: Crying means something is seriously wrong. Fact: In a well-growing baby with normal exams, colic is common and peaks around six weeks.
- Myth: More drops fix bigger cries. Fact: Extra dosing doesn’t boost effect and can cause mistakes.
- Myth: Gripe water is natural, so it’s safe. Fact: “Natural” isn’t a safety guarantee; formulas and quality control vary.
Age Ranges, Dosing Themes, And Red Flags
Use this chart as a safety map rather than a dosing table. Always follow the bottle you hold in your hand.
| Age Or Situation | What’s Reasonable | What To Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| 0–4 Weeks | Basic soothing; careful trial of simethicone only if your pediatrician agrees. | Herbal blends; anything with alcohol or sodium bicarbonate; stacking multiple products. |
| 1–3 Months | Keep soothing routines; measured trial of simethicone; consider DSM 17938 probiotic in breastfed infants. | Switching formulas repeatedly without a clinical reason. |
| Any Age With Red Flags | Stop all remedies and get same-day medical care. | Masking warning signs with drops or herbal blends. |
Bottom Line Parents Can Rely On
For tiny babies, safety sits above everything else. A single-ingredient gas product can be tried and is low risk when you follow the label. Herbal blends aren’t uniform and aren’t a good match for the newborn phase. A strain-specific probiotic has some backing in breastfed infants, given time. Keep the simple comforts running, watch for red flags, and loop in your pediatrician when you’re unsure.