Infant Gas Relief: Simethicone Drops and Gripe Water
Gas is normal in newborns — their digestive systems are new and they swallow air while feeding and crying. Most of the fussing settles with feeding technique and time. When you do want a product, there are really only two categories, and it helps to know what each does before 2 a.m.
Simethicone drops: what they actually do
Simethicone is a defoaming agent. It merges small gas bubbles in the stomach and intestine into larger ones that are easier to burp or pass. It is not absorbed into the bloodstream at all, which is why it is usually the first product pediatricians are comfortable with in newborns.
Because it is not absorbed, it also cannot help with pain from any other cause — studies find it works no better than placebo for colic overall. If it helps your baby, it helps quickly; if two or three doses change nothing, gas probably was not the problem.
Typical labeling is 20 mg per 0.3 mL dose, up to four times a day after meals and at bedtime. Follow the carton and your pediatrician's direction, use the dropper that comes in the box, and choose dye-free if you would rather avoid coloring.
Gripe water and probiotics
Gripe water is a herbal supplement, most often fennel and ginger, sometimes with sodium bicarbonate. It is a dietary supplement, not an FDA-approved drug, so formulas vary between brands. Choose one that is alcohol-free and sucrose-free, and check with your pediatrician before using it in a newborn.
Probiotic drops containing Lactobacillus reuteri have the most supportive evidence of anything in this aisle for colic — modest, mainly in breastfed infants, and they take days to weeks rather than minutes.
Technique first — it usually matters more than any product
Burp partway through the feed as well as at the end, and keep the baby upright for 15–20 minutes afterward.
Make sure the latch is deep, or with a bottle that the nipple stays full of milk and the flow rate is slow enough that your baby is not gulping. An anti-colic vented bottle helps some babies noticeably.
Bicycle legs, tummy time while awake and supervised, and a gentle clockwise belly massage all move trapped gas.
When to stop trying products and call
Call your pediatrician for a fever in an infant under three months (100.4°F / 38°C or higher), forceful or green vomiting, blood in the stool, refusing feeds, poor weight gain, a swollen hard belly, or inconsolable crying that is new and unlike the usual fussing.
Reflux, a milk protein allergy and tongue tie all get mistaken for gas, and none of them respond to gas drops.
What we stock
- Foster & Thrive Infants' Gas Relief Simethicone 20 mg Drops, Non-Staining — 1 oz — $5.94. Same active ingredient as the national brand at a lower price; dye-free.
- Mylicon Infants' Gas Relief Dye Free Drops — 1 oz — $9.25. The best-known brand; dye-free formula in the larger bottle.
- Mylicon Infants' Gas Relief Original Drops — 0.5 oz — $5.08. Smaller bottle to try first.
- Little Tummy's Gas Relief Drops, Natural Berry Flavor — 1 oz — $6.57. Berry flavor for babies who resist the unflavored drops.
Frequently asked questions
How do infant gas drops work?
Simethicone is a defoaming agent that merges small gas bubbles in the stomach and intestines into larger bubbles the baby can burp or pass more easily. It is not absorbed into the bloodstream, which is why it is generally considered safe in newborns — but it also means it cannot relieve discomfort caused by anything other than trapped gas.
What is the difference between gas drops and gripe water?
Gas drops contain simethicone, an FDA-regulated over-the-counter drug that acts physically on gas bubbles. Gripe water is a herbal dietary supplement, usually fennel and ginger, that is not FDA-approved and varies by brand. If you use gripe water, choose an alcohol-free, sucrose-free formula and check with your pediatrician first, especially for a newborn.
How often can I give my baby gas drops?
Labeling is typically 20 mg (0.3 mL) after meals and at bedtime, up to four doses in 24 hours. Always follow the carton for your specific product, use the dropper supplied with it, and confirm dosing with your pediatrician for a newborn or a premature infant.
Do gas drops help with colic?
Clinical trials have generally found simethicone works no better than placebo for colic as a whole, because most colic is not caused by trapped gas. It is still worth a short trial since it is not absorbed and is very low risk — but if two or three doses make no difference, gas is probably not the cause. Probiotic drops containing Lactobacillus reuteri have better evidence for colic, particularly in breastfed babies.
When should I call the doctor about my baby's gas?
Call your pediatrician for a fever of 100.4°F or higher in a baby under three months, forceful or green vomiting, blood in the stool, refusal to feed, poor weight gain, a hard swollen belly, or crying that is inconsolable and different from the usual fussing. Reflux, milk protein allergy and tongue tie are often mistaken for gas and need different treatment.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your pharmacist or provider about your situation.