Can You Give Gripe Water and Gas Drops Together?

It is 9 pm, your baby is pulling their knees up and fussing, and you have a bottle of gas drops in one hand and gripe water in the other. Can you use both? Here is a plain answer, what the two products actually are, and how parents commonly handle a gassy evening.

Can you give gripe water and gas drops together?

Many parents give simethicone gas drops and gripe water on the same day, and pediatric sources generally do not list a direct interaction between them, since they contain different ingredients. Still, check with your baby's pediatrician first, especially for a newborn under two months, and follow each label for age and dose.

Simethicone is not absorbed into the bloodstream, which is why it is so widely used in infants. Gripe water is a different kind of product, and formulas vary a lot by brand. Read the full ingredient list on the gripe water, and skip any that contain added sugar, alcohol, or ingredients you do not recognize.

What is the difference between gripe water and gas drops?

Gas drops contain simethicone, an anti-foaming agent that is not absorbed into the bloodstream and helps small gas bubbles join together so they are easier to pass. Gripe water is a liquid herbal blend, often with ginger or fennel, that parents have traditionally used for fussy tummies. One is a single-ingredient medicine, the other is a supplement.

In the United States, gripe water is sold as a dietary supplement rather than a drug, so the FDA does not review it the way it reviews medicines. That makes label reading more important: look for a full ingredient list, an age range, and clear dosing directions. For a deeper comparison, see our guide to gripe water versus baby tea for colic.

How far apart should you give them?

There is no official gap that applies to every baby. Many parents give one product, wait 15 to 30 minutes, and then decide whether the second is needed, which also shows what is actually helping. Never exceed the label dose of either product, and ask your pediatrician for a plan that fits your baby's age and weight.

Most simethicone drop labels list a small dose after feedings and at bedtime, with a daily maximum, and gripe water labels usually start at a minimum age that varies by brand. Because those numbers differ by product, the label on your bottle is the source to follow. Our article on when you can give a baby gripe water covers age and timing in more detail.

Do gripe water and gas drops actually work?

The evidence is limited for both. Clinical trials have generally found simethicone no more effective than placebo for infant colic, and gripe water has little high-quality research behind it. Some babies seem calmer with them, which is why parents keep asking, but they are best seen as comfort measures alongside feeding and burping changes.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Mayo Clinic both describe colic and gas as common and usually outgrown by around 3 to 4 months, and both note that proven remedies are few. The NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health likewise says research on herbal remedies for colic is limited. If a product seems to help your baby and your pediatrician agrees it is appropriate, that is a reasonable choice, just not a guarantee.

What else can help a gassy, fussy baby?

Burping mid-feed, keeping the baby upright for 15 to 20 minutes after eating, paced bottle feeding, gentle bicycle legs, a soft tummy massage and supervised tummy time while awake all help many gassy babies. Some families also offer gentle herbal baby tea once their pediatrician agrees.

Many parents rely on Babies' Magic Tea, an organic herbal blend traditionally valued for gently supporting infant digestion, and Baby Catnip Tea for fussy evenings. Ask your pediatrician about timing and amount, and see our notes on natural colic relief remedies parents trust and how to soothe a colicky baby at night. More on our baby colic relief page and in the Secrets of Tea wellness guide.

When to see a professional

Call your pediatrician right away for a fever of 100.4°F or higher in a baby under 3 months, green or bloody vomit, blood in the stool, a hard swollen belly, refusing feeds, poor weight gain, or crying that cannot be soothed for hours. Gas that seems severe can also be a sign of milk protein sensitivity or reflux.

If you are wondering whether it is gas or something else, our guide on colic versus milk allergy can help you know what to ask at the visit. Trust your instincts: if something feels off, a call to the pediatrician is always appropriate.

This article is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice. Secrets of Tea products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.