DIY Natural Gripe Water for Colic in Babies

Learn to make natural gripe water for colic in babies at home! Natural gripe water has always been one of my favorite go-to mama tricks for when my babies have upset stomachs, and its surprisingly easy to make cheaper at home with no worries of high fructose corn syrup.

DIY Natural Homemade Gripe Water Recipe for Colic and Upset Stomachs in Babies

With three breast-fed babies who all had acid-reflux, gripe water has saved my sanity on many a day and long, long, long night. I went off dairy, onions, broccoli – you name it, and they would still get reflux. But once given the gripe water, I found that it would almost instantly soothe my babies' upset stomachs, even in the middle of the night, and help them to stop crying or go back to sleep. It should be called a mama's miracle instead!

But, once I started really reading labels, I found my go-to gripe water's second ingredient, after water, was high fructose corn syrup. It's not exactly something I want to be pumping down my newborn baby's stomach, so I started reading about which herbs help to soothe colicky babies and upset tummies. Here's what I found:

DIY Natural Homemade Gripe Water to Soothe Upset Stomach and Colic in Babies

Safety Note: As with anything you would give your baby to ingest, please check with your pediatrician first to be sure it's something that is safe for your baby. I am not a doctor and I make no promises or medical claims. Herbal medicine has less side effects than chemical medicine, but it is still medicine and should be taken safely.

Fennel Seeds

Fennel is a perennial herb found in the Mediterranean that is commonly used as medicine to treat colic in babies. Though it hasn't been proven with scientific research, the anecdotal evidence says that it helps to relax the colon to release trapped gas and decrease respiratory track secretions (source: WebMD). According to my new fav book, Natural Healing Wisdom and Know-How (where to buy), Fennel also helps to decrease obesity, water retention, urinary tract problems, indigestion, and colic and it even has hormonal properties that can increase a mother's milk supply.

Ginger

Ginger, like peppermint, is more commonly used to treat indigestion because it contains chemicals that relieve nausea and inflammation (Source WebMD). Other uses include motion sickness, gas and diarrhea. I also use it in my homemade cough medicine and find it works very well.


Dill Weed

Dill is also used to treat water retention, obesity, and indigestion. Fun fact – Native Americans chewed on dill seeds to curb their appetites during long church services! (Also found in my new fav book). There are some chemicals in dill that are thought to relax muscles and increase urine like a water pill (source WebMD).

Chamomile

Chamomile is one of those herbs that can help with a multitude of ailments – from rashes to ulcers and menstrual pain, it also helps with indigestion, anxiety and insomnia – all of which are perfect for tiny people and their tummies.

This recipe is very flexible – other herbs/teas that would work well include catnip and peppermint. The two most important ingredients are fennel and ginger.

Homemade Gripe Water Tea for Colic in Babies

It's helpful to have a small loose-leaf tea strainer for the fennel seeds.

How to Make the Tea/Gripe Water

With Tea Bags

Essentially, natural gripe water is just herbal tea and there are two ways I thought of to make it. The super easy way and the super duper easy way. The first one is just to buy (I like Traditional Medicinals herbal teas) ginger, fennel, chamomile), and/or peppermint teas. Put them all in a mug, pour hot water over it and steep for at least five minutes. Then add 1 teaspoon of organic, raw sugar or stevia. Let it cool and refrigerate to store.

With Loose Herbs & Tea Bags

Fresh would be best, I suppose, but I'm a little too lazy and occupied with three under four to do that. So, I opted for loose, dried herbs and bags of tea (when I couldn't find loose dry herbs) that I bought at the grocery store. I found Dill Weed), Ginger and Fennel in the spice aisle, but it's easier to find organic on Amazon. Then, I used bags of Lemon Ginger Tea (and drank it a lot during pregnancy when I was nauseous) and Chammomile tea.


Just like in the picture below:

  • I put the tea bags in the mug and the loose herbs in the tea strainer tea strainer and poured about 1 cup of hot water over all of it.
  • Steep for about 10 minutes or just until it starts to get more strong (and also potent, which is good).
  • If you find your's is too strong and your baby doesn't like it (cue really cute, squished up nose), then just add some water to dilute it.
  • Then, LET IT COOL! It's common sense, but ya know, we all forsake common sense in moments of exhaustion with a screaming baby. So, if you need it fast, maybe throw an ice cube in it.
  • Add sweetener – You may find your baby will take it without sugar, but mine sure doesn't like it. He does just fine when I add 1 tsp. of organic, raw cane sugar or coconut palm sugar.
  • DOSAGE – 1 teaspoon.
  • Refrigerate – to store and up to two weeks. HELPFUL TIP – I never use more than one cup of it in two weeks, so next time I make it I'll put some in ice cube trays and freeze it. Then, thaw it under hot water when I need it.
How to make your own gripe water for upset stomach and colic in babies at home

You Could Also Use…

Essential oils in this natural gripe water! They work wonderfully to soothe upset stomachs in babies, help babies calm and fall asleep, and so much more! I've used them with a lot of success on my kids.

  • Dilute 5-10 drops Fennel, German Chamomile, Melissa, Dill or Marjoram in 1 tbsp. of carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil, sweet almond oil, or even grape seed oil and put in a roll on bottle and roll it on the belly. Massage in a clock-wise motion.
  • Or do it by hand by diluting 1-2 drops of essential oils in 1 tsp. carrier oil of choice, and massage a small amount gently on stomach and back
  • Can also diffuse lavender oil in an aromatherapy diffuser while the baby is sleeping to get the therapeutic benefits, or dilute and rub on the bottoms of the baby's feet 2-4 times a day

Click here to buy the purest and most effective therapeutic grade oils I've ever used! Read my post on how to use essential oils for babies here!

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Homemade Natural Gripe Water for Colic in Babies

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A natural gripe water for babies to ease upset stomach and colic. Could help a person of any age, though!

Ingredients

Scale

Instructions

  1. Pour hot water over all ingredients and steep for about 10 minutes, or until it starts to get strong. If you want to make more, add 2 or 3 cups of water and steep for 20 to 30 minutes.
  2. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks (label your jar)
  3. DOSAGE – 1 teaspoon or 5 ml as needed, no more than 2-3 times a day

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8 Comments

  1. Iā€™ve made this for my 2 year old today and she took it no problem! I see you have the dosage as 1tsp (5ml) but is that once a day? Or if needed can it be given more than that? Thanks for the recipe and advice.

    1. Hi Nicole! So that is 1 tbsp. per use. Honestly it’s just herbal tea, so you can give a whole cup of it to a 2 year old. I wouldn’t do that for a newborn or baby under 12 months or so, but for a 2 year old you can do more. Maybe do it in small amounts and see how your child responds.

  2. Thank you for this wonderful article. My baby has suffered from colic and gas issues for weeks and it wasn’t until I started drinking chamomile tea along with catnip tea that I noticed improvements. I used to think it was just my milk that baby was allergic to, but later discovered that she has a bit of lactose intolerance. Dill tea is great for babies with lactose issues, since it has a particular enzyme in it that helps them break down various types of proteins. Thanks again for such a great article for us moms.

    1. Hi Angie! I’m so sorry your baby has suffered from colic – that’s very hard when they’re so little! Glad you found some solutions through drinking chamomile, catnip and dill tea.

    1. Hi Stephanie! I did when mine were that little, but I’m not a doctor so I don’t want to offer advice either way. But it was helpful for my babies when they were itty bitty.

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