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Home Knowledge Center Wellness Library Colic: Harmful Treatments

Colic: Harmful Treatments

Overview

Using unapproved or unproven substances or methods to treat colic could harm your baby.

Treatments that could be dangerous include:

  • Medicines, such as antispasmodics or sleep aids. These and other medicines can have serious and even deadly side effects in infants. If your doctor prescribes them to treat other symptoms your baby is having, be sure to follow the instructions carefully.
  • Placing a hot-water bottle or heating pad on your baby's stomach. Babies burn easily, so do not use heated items such as these.
  • Quieting a baby with alcohol. It's even dangerous to give your baby a pacifier dipped in brandy or other types of alcohol.
  • Gripe water. Different kinds of ingredients are used in blends labeled as gripe water. Alcohol is a main ingredient in some of them. Gripe water is an herbal home remedy that is not considered safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Some companies sell gripe water in the United States as a dietary supplement, instead of as a medicine, to avoid FDA regulation.

Other things to avoid include:

  • Stopping breastfeeding. Sometimes people believe that they may not be producing enough milk for their baby or that their baby is allergic to the milk. But this is rarely the case, and weaning a colicky baby to formula can make the colic worse.
  • Feeding foods (such as baby cereal and solids) earlier than recommended.
  • Switching to a soy-based formula when milk allergy symptoms are not present.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.

To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org.

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