Newborn Gas and Colic: Gripe Water, Ghutti and What Is Safe (Video)

Transcript

Newborn Gas & Colic

Many parents hear the old advice, ‘a little ghutti will settle his tight stomach.’ The truth is, newborn gas and colic are real, but the solution isn’t a bottle of gripe water. For babies under six months, the simplest rule is: only milk goes in the mouth.

Empty Baby Myth

A crying baby isn’t an empty baby. Don’t try to fill the gap with a spoon.

Normal Crying Patterns

Newborns start with short bursts of cries, then around six to eight weeks the amount can rise to two hours or more each day, especially in the evening. It’s not a disease, just a developmental phase. By the time they’re three to four months old the crying usually tapers off. When the crying meets the classic ‘colic’ pattern, more than three hours a day, three days a week, it’s worth noting, but still not a medical emergency.

Milk-Only Rule

Before six months a baby’s gut and kidneys are designed for one thing: milk, whether it’s breast-fed or formula. Anything else is outside what their tiny bodies can handle. If a baby needs something beyond milk, that’s a conversation for a doctor. Over-the-counter simeticone drops are generally harmless but haven’t shown clear benefit, and lactase drops only help the few babies with a temporary lactose issue.

Womb-Like Soothing

There are five simple things that often calm a crying newborn by recreating the feeling of the womb. First, a snug, cotton swaddle that keeps the arms gentle but lets the hips move. Second, holding the baby on their side or tummy along your forearm, with the head cradled in your palm. Third, a steady shushing sound. Fourth, gentle rhythmic rocking or walking. And fifth, giving something safe to suck, like a clean pacifier, each for about two minutes before moving on.

Evening Routine

Colic tends to strike in the early evening, so a little planning can make a big difference. Try feeding the baby around 4:30 p.m. in a quiet room, then give a full five-minute wind-down with gentle rocking or swaddling. Dim the lights, cook dinner a bit earlier, and rotate caregiving duties in thirty-minute shifts so you’re not alone when the evening peaks.

Grandma’s Tips

Grandmothers knew a lot about soothing. A warm hand or a cloth on the baby’s belly, holding them tummy-down across your knees, gentle rocking, singing, and a snug cotton wrap are all still used in hospitals today. A small pot of warmed ajwain seeds can be placed near the belly for warmth and scent, but keep it away from the face.

Feeding Tweaks

For breastfeeding moms, some notice a calmer baby when they cut back on their own tea and coffee for a couple of weeks, but random diet cuts can leave the mother under-nourished. More important is checking the latch, a good latch reduces swallowed air. Keep the baby upright during feeds and for fifteen minutes afterwards. For formula-fed infants, make sure the nipple flow isn’t too fast or too slow, and keep the bottle full to avoid extra air intake.

Red-Flag Signs

Colic is a diagnosis for a well baby. If any of these signs appear, it’s time to see a doctor right away: a fever of 38 °C or higher in a baby under three months, rapid or grunting breathing, chest sinking under the ribs, blue or grey lips, extreme drowsiness, a weak high-pitched cry, or vomiting that’s green, projectile, or after every feed.

What Not to Give

For babies under six months, the rule stays the same: only milk. No gripe water, no ghutti, no honey, no plain water or sugar water, no herbal or homeopathic drops, and certainly no camphor, menthol, eucalyptus, Vicks, or mustard-oil mixtures near the baby. Anything else should be discussed with a pediatrician.

Parent Self-Care

While the baby is going through the colic phase, parents need to look after themselves too. Try sleeping in shifts so you both get some rest, eat balanced meals, and accept help with chores. Mention how you’re feeling at the six-week pediatric check; low mood after birth is common and treatable, and it can get worse when the baby cries for three hours each night.

Take Care

For more details, read the full article on thecareonline.com, and remember this isn’t medical advice, talk to your doctor for any concerns.