It’s every new parent’s nightmare – your baby keeps crying inconsolably because of gas, and you have no idea what to do about it.
Gas in babies may be caused by anything from food intolerance to underlying health issues, but there are several things parents can do at home to minimize the discomfort and allow the baby to feel more comfortable and relaxed. Find out how to make your baby’s gas go away in this comprehensive guide!
Why is my baby getting so gassy?
A baby’s digestive system is still developing, which is why they are more susceptible to stomach discomfort. Babies usually feel gassy between the ages of 4 to 6 months old.
It’s not easy for a baby to communicate when they’re feeling uncomfortable. The most common symptom is fussiness or crying.
Sometimes their little tummies might be swollen too. If your child has been spitting up after feedings, it could be that they have reflux or GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease).
Breastfed babies can also get gassy if the mom’s diet doesn’t include enough vegetables, fruits, and fiber-rich foods like whole grains and legumes.
Formula-fed babies might become gassy because their digestive systems mature slower than those of breastfed infants. Formula-fed infants may need time for bacteria in the intestines to grow.
What are the signs and symptoms of gas in infants?
The symptoms of gas in infants can vary from mild to severe. Sometimes gas will only cause a little bit of discomfort in the form of fussiness or crying.
Other times, it can be so severe that your infant may have trouble breathing. The most common sign that your baby has gas are the following:
1) Fussiness or crying
2) Abdominal distention or bloating
3) Excessive belching
4) Passing excessive amounts of foul-smelling stools (meconium).
5) Gas bubbles coming out through the mouth while burping. 6) Straining when passing stools.
6) Abdominal pain caused by gas and constipation.
7) Sudden changes in their normal sleep pattern or routine, including loss of appetite and not wanting to nurse or drink milk
8) Vomiting that may contain mucus.
9) Respiratory distress.
10) Difficulty swallowing liquids due to air bubbles in the throat.
The treatment for gas pains depends on how old your child is and how bad they are.
If they’re newborns, you may want to burp them after every feeding until they pass their meconium stool which usually happens within the first week of life.
Older babies might get some relief with gripe water or Mylicon drops before bedtime. Please consult a doctor before administering any medicines to your babies.
How to relieve a gassy infant?
There are a few tried and tested measures that have been helpful in relieving a gassy infant or even avoid situations in the first place.
Burping your baby – Doing this correctly can help relieve the discomfort that often comes with an overabundance of gas in their belly. It’s important to know that not all babies need to be burped after every feeding, but if your child is fussy or has some other symptoms, such as spitting up or arching their back when they cry, then you may want to burp them more often, even between feeds.
Feeding before they reach meltdown – If your child often has episodes of gas, it might be a good idea to try feeding them before they meltdown. As infants, they might swallow air while crying, which makes them gassy, so anticipate hunger before the meltdown.
If they are hungry, the gas will be released during the food digestion process. In addition, you should also check with their pediatrician to make sure there isn’t an underlying problem like lactose intolerance or cow’s milk protein intolerance that needs treatment as well.
Encourage tummy time to relieve infant gas – Infants spend most of their day in an upright position. This can cause them to swallow more air than necessary. When a baby eats or drinks anything other than breast milk or formula, he swallows a lot of air along with it. Tummy time will help your infant to release gas by allowing him to breathe deeply and move his intestines as needed.
Right position while feeding to avoid a gassy baby – To reduce the chances of your little one being gassy, try to keep them in a more upright position while feeding. This will help them stay away from swallowing as much air. One way to do this is by sitting in a chair and placing the baby on your lap.
Bicycle exercises to relieve infant gas – Bicycle exercises can be a quick and easy way to help release gas. There are many variations, but the basic idea is to make the baby lie on their back with their knees bent and push one knee up towards their chest while pulling down on the other leg. Repeat this motion for about two to three minutes.
Is breastfeeding making my baby gassy?
Research has shown that what mom eats can cause gassiness in babies who are breastfeeding, but there’s not much solid evidence to back up that finding.
Before you radically alter your eating habits, try fixing a few other parts of the breastfeeding equation, including latching on more effectively, burping the baby twice during feedings, and switching to a different nipple or bottle if you are pumping.
If your breastfed baby has gassiness, cut any food that appears to cause it and keep a log to determine any potential food sensitivities. Some foods that can be attributed to gassiness include
- Vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower
- Dairy products and eggs.
- Dishes that are excessively spicy, garlicky, or have lots of onions.
Gassiness can be caused by many different things. In the majority of cases, it’s harmless, but in some cases, it could signal a more serious condition. The good news is that most of the time there are simple remedies that can help reduce gas or eliminate it altogether.
But if your infant has been turning red, crying for an extended amount of time, and with no sign of improvement, it may be something serious, and your baby needs to be examined by a pediatrician.
You may find many pediatrician’s in Mumbai, but if you live near Lower Parel, Prabha Devi, Dadar, or Worli and are searching for the best pediatrician in Mumbai close to these areas, you can easily access our office for proper advice about your baby’s health condition from the best doctors available. To book an appointment with us, click on the link below.
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