Newborn colic is a pediatric condition in which an infant cries and yells for long durations for no specific cause after ruling out the serious medical conditions like hernia or infection. No specific cause has yet been proposed for the newborn colic. It usually starts at the age of two weeks and remains till third or forth moth of life and then suddenly vanishes. If it continues to bother even after this period of life then one must consult a pediatrician.

Depending upon the various proposed causes of newborn colic certain remedies are developed by the people to treat the newborn colic. Common causes of newborn colic are trapped gas in the digestive tract, acidity , immature nervous system ,immature gastrointestinal system ,lactose intolerance and lack of bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus (gut flora).

Certain remedies carried out to correct the newborn colic are:

• Proper breast feeding, which includes proper delivery of hind milk (rich in fat content) which prevents the early emptying of digestive tract and thus colic.
• Breastfeeding in proper position (football hold position) in which the baby is held on one side from where to be fed and is held upright.
• Properly burping the baby after feeds.
• Giving probiotics both naturally in the form of breast milk and commercial preparations.
• Taking care of sleeping position of baby by making the baby sleep at the same inclination (30 degrees), on its back.

Lots of other measures are being taken to prevent newborn colic but gripe water is a global hit in this regard which is as effective as anything in treating the infantile colic. A vast variety of ingredients it contains, all of which are in some way or the other helpful in relieving colic like sodium bicarbonate decreases acidity, fennel helps indigestion etc. Sucrose in it provides sweet taste which also helps relieving the colic.

For the last 150 years Gripe water is the best remedy for the newborn colic. Most of the parents do not need anything else than gripe water for making their child‘s and own life happy.