The lactation consultants in our area have been recommending gripe water to
several of my patients for gas and "abdominal pain". Like a lot of herbal
remedies, it is not a standard mixture. Most of the brands containing bicarb
with variable combinations of herbal oils. We usually recommend the ones that
have an expiration date which implies some sort of manufactoring standards.
The only thing that I would worry about is over-use of this product in an
infant that may be becoming dehydrated due to poor intake for whatever reason
or increased output due to vomitng and diarrhea. As a resident I remember
discussing cases of hypernatremic dehydration in infants who were treated with
bicarb as a folk remedy-baking soda sprinkled on pacifiers.
Several of our mom's swear by it.

Mary Murphy MD