Can gripe water and other medications help?
If your baby seems to have a severe case of wind, your health visitor or doctor may suggest medication such as Infacol, which is also sometimes used to treat colic. Infacol contains simethicone. This is an “anti-foaming agent” that works by allowing the gas to be released in larger bubbles rather than lots of smaller bubbles that can get trapped in the stomach. Gripe water is an old-fashioned remedy containing herbs (dill, fennel, ginger etc) and sodium bicarbonate. The herbs are said to warm the baby’s tummy and break down air bubbles while sodium bicarbonate neutralises acid. Gripe water used to contain alcohol. Some experts believe it was the sedative effect of this that made gripe water successful in helping to sooth babies troubled by wind. Alcohol is no longer an ingredient, but many parents still swear by gripe water so it may be worth a try. Most babies outgrow the need to be winded as they become able to move and find a comfortable position for themselves.
