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The first couple of weeks after our first newborn daughter was born (5 years ago), she was having trouble with gas. The most helpless & worst feeling as a parent is not being able to comfort your sweet baby.
I did research to find a natural homeopathic cure. I read about Gripe water, a traditional folk remedy that is centuries-old. Gripe water is amazing for soothing little tummies that are upset because of painful gas, reflux, digestion issues and it also helps hiccups, teething, colic, etc. You can purchase Gripe water from most pharmacies and online, but it can be pricey for a small bottle, and most contain preservatives, sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup, and dyes. Not ingredients you want your newborn ingesting.
So I looked into making our own comparing recipes and tips then consulted her doctor to see if the herbs were okay to give to her. Also, it’s surprisingly easy to make. We found it to be a lifesaver, it has been our go-to cure for our babies. Gripe water calms them and their tummies almost instantly, it helps them to stop crying or go back to sleep.
Gripe water isn’t just for fussy babies it works wonders for toddlers, kids, and adults with hiccups, or suffering from painful gas or other tummy troubles.
*Safety Note: The information provided in this post is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be medical advice I am not a doctor and I make no medical claims or promises. Please check with your baby’s pediatrician if you have any concerns about your baby’s health or if your baby cries excessively and before you give anything to your baby to ingest be sure it’s something that is safe for your baby. Although medicinal herbs have fewer side effects than chemical medicine, it should still be taken safely as herbs are still medicine.
~ Here’s a list of the herbal ingredients and why they help ~
- Chamomile: This calming flower reduces inflammation, helps with indigestion, rashes, anxiety, and insomnia
- Dill Weed: Used to treat indigestion, soothes tummy troubles. There are some properties in dill that are thought to relax muscles.
- Fennel: Helps to prevent or reduce gas, indigestion, aids in digestion, and is commonly used to treat babies with colic. Also has properties that may increase mommy’s milk supply, so drink up mom!
- Ginger: Soothes tummy troubles, gas, diarrhea, indigestion, colic., nausea, and inflammation.
- Peppermint: Helps inflammation, aids in digestion, nausea, vomiting. upset tummy, diarrhea, headache, muscle pain, rash, nerve pain, toothache, joint conditions, itchiness, and gas.
~ Recipe ~
1 cup boiling water
1 bag chamomile tea (or 1 tsp loose herb)
1 bag ginger tea (or 1 tsp ground or fresh shredded ginger)
1 tsp dill weed
1 tsp fennel (seed or ground)
1 bag peppermint tea (or 1 tsp loose herb) *(optional)
1 tsp natural sweetener – coconut palm sugar, raw cane sugar, agave nectar, or 100% pomegranate juice *(optional)
*Note:
- No honey until baby is over a year old. Also, avoid using artificial sweeteners like erythritol, stevia or xylitol.
- If you find the gripe water is too strong, your baby doesn’t like it and you don’t want to use sweetener, you can dilute with extra water.
~ Directions ~
- For the loose herbs (dill, fennel & ginger), I cut open the tea bags, added the loose herbs and re-stapled them, or you can use a loose tea strainer.
- Combine herbs with boiling water and let steep 20 minutes, or until almost strong in flavor.
- Remove herbs. If you choose to sweeten add now.
- Pour mixture into an airtight glass jar and freeze the rest (If you don’t have a mason canning jar, you can reuse an old jelly jar or another small jar)
- Let Cool then refrigerate before serving
Label jar & keep refrigerated. Stays fresh for a week, you can also freeze in ice cube trays.
~ How to serve to baby directly ~
● 0-3 months: 1/2 tsp. (2.5 mL)
● 3-6 months: 1 tsp. (5 mL)
● 6-12 months: 2 tsp. (10 mL)
- In a medicine dropper
- Sip off a spoon
- Add to baby’s bottle
*Note: Do not exceed 6 doses in 24 hours.
~ Breastfeeding moms: How to serve to a baby through breastmilk ~
To simply administer to a breastfeeding baby, the mother can drink it. The benefits are passed along through the breastmilk!
1. Freeze in ice cube trays – one cube = one ounce – Add 1 cube to tea or blend in a smoothie
2. Dilute it with water drink it directly
*Note: Breastfeeding/pumping moms, while peppermint is great for soothing tummies, there is evidence that it (and other mints) may prevent lactation if ingested (I’ve never had trouble). Fennel helps increase breastmilk, maybe using both balances it out.
Creative Home Life
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Ingredients
- 1 Cup Boiling Water
- 1 Bag Chamomile tea (or 1 tsp loose herb)
- 1 Bag
Ginger tea (or 1 tsp ground or fresh shredded ginger)
- 1 Tsp Dill weed
- 1 Tsp Fennel (seed or ground)
- 1 Bag Peppermint tea (or 1 tsp loose herb) *(optional)
- 1 Tsp Natural sweetener - coconut palm sugar, raw cane sugar, agave nectar, or 100% pomegranate juice *(optional) 1. No honey until baby is over a year old. Also, avoid using artificial sweeteners like erythritol, stevia or xylitol..... 2. If you find the gripe water is too strong, your baby doesn’t like it and you don't want to use sweetener, you can dilute with extra water.
Instructions
For the loose herbs (dill, fennel & ginger), I cut open the tea bags, added the loose herbs and re-stapled them, or you can use a loose tea strainer.
Combine herbs with boiling water and let steep 20 minutes, or until almost strong in flavor.
Remove herbs.
If you choose to sweeten add now.
Pour mixture into an airtight glass jar and freeze the rest (If you don’t have a mason canning jar, you can reuse an old jelly jar or other small jar)
Let Cool then refrigerate before serving
Label jar & keep refrigerated. Stays fresh for a week, you can also freeze in ice cube trays.
Notes
~ How to serve to baby directly ~
● 0-3 months: 1/2 tsp. (2.5 mL)
● 3-6 months: 1 tsp. (5 mL)
● 6-12 months: 2 tsp. (10 mL)
1. In a medicine dropper
2. Sip off a spoon
3. Add to baby's bottle
*Note: Do not exceed 6 doses in 24 hours.
~ Breastfeeding moms: How to serve to a baby through breastmilk ~
To simply administer to a breastfeeding baby, the mother can drink it. The benefits are passed along through the breastmilk!
1. Freeze in ice cube trays - one cube = one ounce – Add 1 cube to tea or blend in a smoothie
2. Dilute it with water drink it directly
*Note: Breastfeeding/pumping moms, while peppermint is great for soothing tummies, there is evidence that it (and other mints) may prevent lactation if ingested (I've never had trouble). Fennel helps increase breastmilk, maybe using both balances it out.
Keyword Gripe Water
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XOXO, Cameo
