Hi, everyone. Am somewhat concerned (but not surprised) that the
issue of herbal tea has been brought up again. In general, I am
opposed to giving a baby tea for all the traditional reasons
based on establishing lactation. I am also opposed just from the
very little I have learned about herbal medicine. Fennel is a
diuretic, and giving this to a newborn may be harmful. I seem to
remember reading something about a *middle-aged man* having an
allergic reaction to chamomille tea, but will have to look it up.

Colic has been a hotly-debated issue in medicine for years.
Pediatric Clinics of North America had a comprehensive review
article fairly recently. People seem to line up mostly along the
gut-line (basically, whether it is a digestive problem or not,
and if not, then what?). IMO, whatever colic really is, giving
herbal tea will not be the answer. Chamomille, a big favorite in
Israel along with fennel, has significant sedative properties.
This may quiet the baby for a few hours to give the mom a
respite, but in the long run solves nothing. It's scary to think
that the mom may find feeding the baby tea instead of food will
keep the baby quieter, thus "satisfied". I don't encourage women
along these lines at all - and respect for cultural beliefs has
nothing to do with it. I read a book about an isolated Welsh
village in the 1700s where the midwife spread cow dung on the
newborn navel, and everyone accepted as God's will that 80% of
newborns died of neonatal tetanus....sometimes cultural beliefs
are not healthy.
Sorry this post is chaotic - just getting over the flu. Judy
Knopf in Beer Sheva, Israel