Published by Actually Sleeping · Reviewed by Dr. Samantha Abrahamson, PharmD · Review policy · Updated 2026-11-10

Does gripe water help a baby sleep?

There is no good evidence that it does. Gripe water is usually sold as a dietary supplement, not a tested medicine, so ingredients and quality vary. A study of 335 mothers found babies given gripe water were no less likely to have colic. Fussy evening crying usually peaks around 6 weeks and eases by 3 to 4 months. Ask your pediatrician before using it.

A note on scope: Dr. Sam is a Doctor of Pharmacy and a licensed pharmacist, not a physician. This page explains in general terms how a medicine, supplement or remedy relates to sleep; it does not replace your child’s pediatrician. Check with your child’s pediatrician before giving your child any medicine, supplement or remedy, and follow the product label.

The short answer

Gripe water is a traditional remedy for gas, colic and fussiness. Ingredients vary from product to product, so “gripe water” does not describe one thing. What the products share is a lack of evidence that they help a baby sleep or cry less.

Fussy evenings are hard, and it is natural to look for something in a bottle. Actually Sleeping works with families from the newborn weeks. Because the practice is led by a pharmacist, remedy questions are taken seriously and medical ones go to your pediatrician, while the plan focuses on sleep foundations that never restrict feeds.

What the evidence and the regulators say

Study evidence. A cross-sectional study of 335 mothers of babies 1 to 6 months old found that about 64% had given gripe water. Colic was actually more common in the babies who received it, as was constipation. The authors concluded that gripe water does not prevent excessive crying from colic. A study like this shows an association, not cause and effect, but it gives no support for a benefit.
Regulation. Many gripe water products are labeled as dietary supplements. NIH notes that the federal rules for supplements are less strict than those for medicines, that many supplements have not been tested in children, and that “natural” does not necessarily mean safe.
Quality problems have happened. In 2007 the FDA warned parents about a gripe water product after lab testing found Cryptosporidium, a parasite, and the product was linked to illness in a 6-week-old baby.

Why gripe water seems to work

Colic follows a predictable curve. The AAP describes fussing that typically peaks around 6 weeks and drops off by 3 to 4 months. Anything started at the peak will appear to work as the curve comes down. That is not the same as better sleep.

What to ask the pediatrician

“Is this crying normal colic, or could there be a medical cause?” The AAP advises checking with your pediatrician before trying remedies.
“Is my baby feeding and gaining well?”
“If I am breastfeeding, is it worth trying to remove a food from my diet? If formula feeding, should we consider a different formula?”
“Is anything my baby takes, including supplements, safe at this age?”

What actually helps a fussy baby

The AAP’s colic tips are practical and drug-free: walking with your baby in a carrier, rocking, white noise, a pacifier, a tummy-down hold across your knees with a back rub while your baby is awake, and avoiding overfeeding. Take turns with another adult; even an hour or two away helps you stay steady. If your baby falls asleep while held, place them in the crib on their back. If you feel overwhelmed and no one can take over, it is okay to lay your baby on their back in the crib and step out for a few minutes. Never shake a baby.

When the crying eases and the sleep does not

Many families find that colic fades but the nights stay broken. During the hard weeks the baby learned to fall asleep being held, rocked or fed, which was exactly right at the time. Once the crying passes, that way of falling asleep is what keeps the baby waking. A remedy does not change it. A plan built for that baby does.

At Actually Sleeping, Dr. Sam writes that plan for your baby’s age, feeds and temperament, starting with foundations from the newborn weeks and never dropping night feeds; feeding decisions stay with your pediatrician. You get bootcamp-style coaching before the first night and daily 1:1 check-ins, and the 14-day guarantee clock starts at the baby’s 10-week birthday. Parents of young babies describe it in the newborn video reviews.

Book the free consultation to talk through your baby’s sleep before the habit sets.

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Frequently asked

Is gripe water safe for newborns?

Ask your pediatrician before giving it. Products are commonly sold as dietary supplements with looser rules than medicines, ingredients vary, and in 2007 the FDA warned about a contaminated gripe water product linked to a 6-week-old baby’s illness.

Does gripe water help with gas at night?

There is no good evidence that it does. A study of 335 mothers found colic and constipation were more common, not less, in babies given gripe water. Burping, avoiding overfeeding and a tummy-down hold while awake are reasonable first steps.

When does colic stop?

The AAP says fussing typically peaks around 6 weeks and drops off by 3 to 4 months, although colicky crying can last until about 6 months. Ask your pediatrician to rule out a medical cause if crying is intense.

Can I give gripe water every night before bed?

Not without your pediatrician’s advice. Routine nightly use has no shown benefit for sleep. Night sleep improves when the way a baby falls asleep changes, which is what a sleep plan from Actually Sleeping is built to do, with feeds left to your pediatrician.