Catnip and Fennel Drops for Infants: What Age, Is It Safe?

Short answer: catnip and fennel drops are a traditional herbal preparation parents reach for when a baby is gassy and fussy, but the evidence that any herbal product works for colic is weak, and Poison Control advises against herbal supplements for infants unless your baby's doctor says yes. Breast milk or formula only is the standard until at least four to six months.

By the Secrets of Tea team. Last updated October 4, 2026.

What are catnip and fennel drops for infants?

They are a liquid herbal product, usually a glycerite or a very dilute water based extract, made from catnip (Nepeta cataria) and fennel seed (Foeniculum vulgare). Both plants have a long history in traditional infant care as carminatives, the old word for herbs traditionally used for trapped wind. The drops are given with a small dropper, by mouth or mixed into a bottle.

Fennel is the better studied plant. Catnip, despite the name, is not stimulating to people. In herbal tradition it is a gentle, calming herb, which is why it shows up in evening blends.

At what age can a baby have catnip or fennel?

There is no single age that fits every baby. The guidance Poison Control passes on from the American Academy of Pediatrics is that children be fed only breast milk or formula until at least four to six months. A young baby's stomach is small, and anything that takes the place of a feed also takes the place of calories and fluid.

Many drops are marketed to newborns anyway. Whether one is right for your baby, at their age and weight, is a question for your baby's doctor, not a label or a forum thread. The same age question comes up with chamomile, which we cover in our guide to whether chamomile tea is safe for newborns.

Do catnip and fennel drops actually work?

The honest answer is that nobody can promise it. A review of 15 randomized trials of complementary products for infant colic, covering 944 babies, found that some small studies saw less crying with fennel extract or with teas that contained fennel, chamomile and lemon balm. The reviewers also found that every trial had major limits, such as few babies and results based on parent reports, and concluded that the evidence does not support any of these products as effective for colic. You can read the summary in a systematic review summary and in Contemporary Pediatrics.

Is it safe? What Poison Control says

Poison Control's guidance on herbal supplements for infants says botanical products are given to about 9 percent of US babies, and lists real risks: contamination with heavy metals or bacteria, allergic reactions (chamomile can cross react in babies sensitive to the chrysanthemum plant family), and very few safety studies in infants. Its advice is to ask your baby's healthcare provider before giving any supplement or tea, and to tell them about everything the baby takes. If you are breastfeeding, include what you take too.

Other cautions we would add:

• Fennel can cause a reaction in babies sensitive to plants in the carrot and celery family.
• Read every ingredient. Star anise is sometimes confused with fennel in imported products and has been linked to serious reactions in babies.
• Skip anything with alcohol or added sugar.
• Do not guess a dose. Drops, glycerites and brewed tea have very different strengths, so follow the product directions and confirm them with your baby's doctor.

What is in fennel and chamomile tea for babies?

A brewed tea is simpler to read than a drop. You steep a known amount of whole herb in a known amount of water, so you can see exactly what is in it. Babies Magic Tea is a caffeine free, USDA Organic blend of three herbs: chamomile, fennel and cumin. It has no catnip. It comes in stringless baby bags, so there is no string near a baby.

It is a tea, not a medicine. It is traditionally used as part of a calmer evening routine, and these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.

How is Babies Magic Tea prepared?

The label directions, word for word: boil water; stringless baby bag in for 2 minutes, remove; cool; into the bottle 50/50 with formula or breast milk. It is always served in a bottle. Ask your baby's doctor before you start.

Why does gas feel worse at night?

Many parents notice fussiness building in the late afternoon and evening. Evenings are often the time of day when a tired baby has less ability to settle, and the house gets quieter, so you notice it more. The practical steps are free: paced bottle feeding to cut swallowed air, burping partway through a feed and not only at the end, bicycle legs and gentle tummy time while your baby is awake, and a dim, quiet, predictable wind down. If constipation is part of the picture, see our guide to gentle relief for baby constipation.

Weighing drops against tea against gripe water? Our comparison of gripe water versus baby tea lays out the tradeoffs, and our guide to catnip tea for babies goes deeper on that single herb.

When should you call your baby's doctor?

Call your baby's doctor, rather than reaching for drops, if your baby is under three months and crying inconsolably for the first time, has a fever, vomits forcefully or vomits anything green, has blood in the stool, refuses feeds, is not gaining weight, or seems limp or hard to wake. Crying that starts suddenly or comes with any of these needs an exam. Colic is a diagnosis of exclusion, so the first step is ruling other causes out.

Frequently asked questions

Are catnip and fennel drops safe for a newborn?

Poison Control advises against herbal supplements for infants unless your baby's doctor approves, and the AAP guidance it quotes is breast milk or formula only until at least four to six months.

How many drops should I give?

We do not publish a number. Strength differs a lot between products, so follow the product directions and confirm them with your baby's doctor.

Is fennel tea better than drops?

A tea lets you see the herbs and the amount of water. Neither is proven for colic, and neither replaces your baby's doctor.

Does Babies Magic Tea contain catnip?

No. It contains USDA Organic chamomile, fennel and cumin, with no catnip.

How do I prepare Babies Magic Tea?

Boil water; stringless baby bag in for 2 minutes, remove; cool; into the bottle 50/50 with formula or breast milk.

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Secrets of Tea products are not intended to diagnose any condition or promise a specific result. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Ask your baby's doctor before starting any new supplement.