Having a gassy baby can really be quite stressful, particularly if your child cries, draws his legs back toward his stomach, or feels uncomfortable after feeding. Babies often develop gas in the early stages of development because they are just learning how to breathe, suckle, and swallow. They may also swallow air while feeding or crying.
There is, however, some good news since normal gas tends to resolve on its own with time. Here are some simple tips that will help you soothe your gassy baby.
Many parents go to the doctor with this common question—'Why is my baby so gassy?' In some cases, the baby swallows air during feeding, whether this is breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, especially when they eat fast, struggle to latch onto the breast or bottle, or become very hungry and start sucking really fast.
With bottle-fed babies, the amount of air ingested may vary from bottle to bottle, nipple shape, and flow. Too fast or too slow flow of the nipple could contribute to swallowing of extra air since either one could irritate the baby. Breastfeeding babies could have gas as well, so if your baby is gassy, there is no need to conclude that gas results from the feeding method used.
Crying also helps to increase the amount of swallowed air, and the more irritated a baby is, the more air he or she swallows. Some babies become fussier during evening time because of being tired.
Gassiness is a natural process for babies' bodies. Still, it is important not to attribute all the problems that your baby may have to gas alone.
Since babies cannot vocalize where their pain is coming from, parents need to notice patterns. Signs include:
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One of the first things you should consider when trying to figure out ways of helping out a gassy baby is their feeding. Make sure that your baby's head and neck are held in such a way that his head and neck stay high compared to his stomach.
Make sure you watch for hunger signs and do not let your baby get too hungry before feeding. This way your baby won't be too frantic during feeding and will not suck and swallow air. When feeding from a bottle, make sure that the nipple of the bottle stays full of milk all the time.
Burping allows the baby to expel the swallowed air before it travels further through the digestive system. You can stop the feed at any point if your baby is becoming fussy or showing signs of discomfort.
Hold your baby upright against your chest with the head supported, and then pat or rub his back. Or, you can place your baby in an upright position on your lap with head and neck supported and gently rub his back.
Placing your baby upright briefly after feeding him could provide some comfort. However, remember that when it is time for your baby to go to bed, it is important to always practice safe sleeping habits. This means that your baby should always be placed on his back for sleep on a firm and flat sleep surface.
When you are trying to learn how to release gas in infants, movement may be helpful when your baby is awake and supervised.
You may try putting your baby on his/her back and moving his/her legs like pedals of a bicycle. You can also try bringing the knees close to the stomach, one knee at a time, and then letting them go.
You can also try massaging the stomach gently in a circular motion. Do not do it if your baby does not feel comfortable.
Another way to help your baby get movement is by placing him/her on the tummy. Remember that it can only be done if your baby is awake and supervised.
Having a gassy baby at nighttime can make things tough, since everyone is tired. Gases might be more easily detected when your baby is overtired or when there are few distractions.
First, address all basics like feeding, burping, a diaper change, and comforting your baby. In case gas occurs, keep your baby upright and awake, and do some gentle back rubs or bicycle leg movements.
Do not attempt to put your baby down for sleep in any swing or inclined device to alleviate the gas problem.
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Infant gas drops are another option when everything else fails to give results. Simethicone is one of the substances present in such products; however, before administering any medicine or supplements to the child, you must consult a pediatrician.
It is important to note that even natural remedies, including those that are herb-based or gripe water, are not always appropriate for a baby. It is better to ask your pediatrician first.
However, some babies who have been given formula milk might prefer one type of formula to another; however, frequent changes without advice can confuse the baby and not solve the problem at hand.
The best formula for gassy babies is different from one baby to another; it is important that you give your baby the right formula according to his nutritional requirements and also based on any allergies he might be suffering from.
While most babies will experience only temporary gassiness, all cases of crying and abdominal problems are not necessarily related to gas formation. Please contact your child’s physician in case of persistent symptoms, especially when they are severe or associated with feeding, development, or behavior changes.
Please visit your doctor urgently in case of any of the following symptoms:
Managing normal gas doesn’t need a long list of cures. Begin with the right feeding technique. Ensure you feed before the baby gets very hungry, adopt a comfortable position, and look out for signs indicating that the baby is swallowing too much air.
Ensure the baby stops for burping, and hold the baby upright for some minutes after being fed while the baby is awake. If the baby still feels uncomfortable, you can try gentle leg cycling or tummy massages.
Yes. The baby swallows air when eating and crying; hence, burping could be very frequent. Some babies require burping many times, and others not much. If your baby eats fine and is in good health apart from that, burping often will not be alarming.
Yes. It can make a baby swallow excess air if he or she is very hungry or the nipple is fast. You need to observe feeding signs and use the right nipple flow. Consult your baby’s doctor for any feeding problems.
Not necessarily. The occurrence of gas does not imply that the formula used is not the best. Frequent switching of formulas can also complicate the situation. Consultation with your pediatrician can help you if your baby shows signs of gas accompanied by vomiting, poor feeding, poor weight gain, blood in the stool, or other worrying symptoms.
Tummy time offers gentle stimulation, which can be considered part of the awake-time program. The movement may assist some babies to pass gas through the digestive tract. Make sure always to ensure that your baby is awake and being monitored while having tummy time. Put your baby on his or her back during naps and sleep.
Look out for symptoms other than the presence of gas and crying. Other symptoms to look out for include poor feeding, constant vomiting, fever, bloody stools, dehydration, difficulty breathing, a firm or swollen stomach, and excessive sleeping.
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