What Can I Do To Help Alleviate Gas In My Breastfed Baby
Apply gentle pressure to your babys belly
Tummy Time: This position can put gentle pressure on your babys belly, helping to provide gas relief. Wait at least 30 minutes after a feeding to allow your little ones belly to settle before starting tummy time.7
Or try a more advanced move use both hands and a lot of guided support to lay your baby tummy down on a large beach or exercise ball and gently roll her on the ball in a circular motion.
Forearm Hold: Also called the football hold, magic hold, and the colic carry. Try carrying your baby face down with her body resting on your forearm, the front of her diaper area in your hand and her chin cradled in your elbow.9 Make sure to tilt babys head to the side to avoid blocking their nose or mouth. Carrying your little one in this face-down position will place the same gentle pressure on their belly that is achieved during tummy time.
Burp your baby during and after a feeding
Take a break between sides or even during a feed to get a burp or two out.8
You may choose to burp your baby while they are in a seated position, with their head supported by the cradle of your hand.17You can also burp your baby in the typical position: upright and over your shoulder.8
Try infant massage on your babys tummy for gas relief
Read more: Baby massage benefits and techniques
Bicycle your babys legs
Read more: How Do I help My Breastfed Baby with Diarrhea and Constipation?
Do gas drops like simethicone work?
Wait it out!
Lets Chat!
Little Remedies To The Rescue
Gas pain can be triggered by things like colic, so products like Little Remedies Gripe Water or Little Remedies Gas Relief Drops are quick and easy solutions. Gripe Water, a mixture of water and various herbs, is considered to be an effective homeopathic remedy for quickly eliminating babys pain and discomfort. Gas Relief Drops can even be mixed with formula or water, so they offer a quick solution for gassy babies.
Natural Remedies To Easy Baby Gas Pains
Posted by allnaturalmothering
Ah! The screaming pain, arching back, scrunched up legs, excessive burping and passing gastheres nothing worse than seeing your baby in pain due to trapped gas.
Baby gas pains are common in infants, and I know that if youve got a fussy baby, you just want to help them feel better .
Today were going to talk about a number of home remedies for gas including: gas drops, how to burp effectively, choosing the right bottle, bicycling babys legs, baby massage, and more.
Figuring out whats causing your babys gas is half the battle, but no matter the root cause, these natural ways to easy baby gas pains will help.
If youre here, Im guessing youve got a baby thats screaming in pain from gasso lets figure out how to get rid of baby gas, fast!
Don’t Miss: What Makes Gas In Your Stomach
Foods That Make Breastfed Babies Gassy
If youre breastfeeding, certain gas-inducing foods that you eat may also make your baby gassy. Some foods that can make breastfed babies gassy include:
- Foods rich in fiber, particularly any food that contains bran
- Fruits such as apricots, peaches, prunes, pears, and plums
- Citrus fruits
- Green vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, artichokes, asparagus, and cabbage
- Starchy vegetables such as potatoes and cauliflower
- Other starchy foods such as corn and pasta
- Dairy products
Choosing The Right Bottle
If your baby is bottle fed, you might want to switch to a bottle thats designed to help with gassiness and prevent colic. Most of these options aim to reduce the amount of air that your baby can swallow during a feeding. Many try to mimic breastfeeding as best as possible.
Whenever youre choosing a bottle, its best to find an option made from natural materials such as glass and silicone. I recognize that its not always possible, especially if an anti-gas bottle is a priority, but reducing your babys exposure to potential toxins is always important to be aware of.
Some popular options include:
You May Like: What Can I Eat When My Stomach Hurts
There Are Many Reasons Why Babies Get Gassy
They could be feeding in an awkward position, eating too fast, eating too much, ingesting too much lactose , swallowing air from a baby bottle, or they could have a slight intolerance to proteins found in breast milk. Remember, your babys digestive system is still developing too. Her intestines are still forming the micro flora she needs to effectively digest foods, even after shes born.
Other things that can cause gas include normal baby stuff like crying, sucking on a pacifier or simply getting the hiccups. Anything that causes baby to swallow excess air can trigger gas.
When you know what to look for, its not hard to tell if shes in discomfort due to gas. Babies will do involuntary things like grunt or strain. Sometimes they cry out or clench up their bodies. If your baby is happy one minute and crying the next for no apparent reason it could be gas pain.
Other tricks mamas use to figure out if baby has gas is listening to her tummy you can actually hear her stomach gurgling! Or feel her tummy to see if its bloated, distended and hard.
If your detective skills lead your to believe your baby is having a bout with painful gas, here are 5 tricks that should help her feel better:
How Do You Know If Your Baby Has Gas Pains
Its best to start simple when trying to determine if your baby has gas pains. First, try to identify patterns and body language that can help clue you in to the cause of your babys fussiness. What may seem like gas may actually be hunger, and vice versa. Crying while passing gas or soon after is a pretty surefire sign theyre having gas pains. If theyre breaking wind or burping excessively, theres clearly an overabundance of gas. Ditto if they arch their back and look like theyre straining, and/or have a swollen-looking belly long after their last feeding.
Hungry babies, on the other hand, dont always cry for food. Early cues your baby is hungry may include bringing their hands to their face, puckering their mouth and looking for a nipple , or making sucking sounds and motions. They may also put their fingers or fist in their mouth, flex their hands and limbs, clench their fists over their tummy, or breathe faster.
Once you know what your baby is communicating, its easier to take the right plan of action. After all, you wouldnt want to overfeed a gassy baby, just as you wouldnt want to deny a hungry baby.
Finally, if you think you can rule out gassiness, hunger, or even an errant environmental discomfort, such as a bunched up piece of clothing, try taking note of the time the fussiness occurs. Oftentimes, babies simply have a fussy time of day . Once youre aware of this, it should become easier to prepare for and manage it.
Read Also: How To Stop Stomach Cramps On Your Period
Remedies And Treatments For Stomach Pain And Gas
Most stomach pain and gas will go away on its own, but there are steps you can take to ease discomfort and prevent future gas pain. Gas-related stomach pain remedies include:
Pass Gas
The only way to get rid of gas is to pass it. Donât hold it in. If youâre worried about odor, try reducing foods that contain sulfur-producing compounds such as broccoli, cabbage, and beer.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Many gas-relieving products are marketed, but scientific evidence of their effectiveness is limited. Many people claim to experience relief, so they may be worth trying. The most common medications that claim to relieve immediate symptoms are activated charcoal and simethicone .
Herbal Remedies
Peppermint and peppermint oil have the best record as digestive aids, but there are many other foods that may help. In one study, Chinese herbal formulae outperformed placebos in soothing IBS symptoms. Commonly included ingredients are:
- Wearing ill-fitting dentures
Enzymes Before Eating Certain Foods
Taking enzymes before you eat can help you better digest your meal. Most enzymes are only available for those with a medical condition that prevents them from producing their own. However, two widely available enzymes for problematic foods are:
- Lactase supplements can help those who are lactose intolerant.
- Alpha-galactosidase supplements can help people digest legumes.
Signs Of A Gassy Baby
If you suspect that your fussy baby is genuinely uncomfortable, and they keep squirming and pulling up their legs, they might have some gas that refuses to pass. The best way to confirm your suspicions is to try some gas-relieving techniques. “If your baby seems much better after passing gas, then that’s a telltale sign that the problem was gas,” says Jennifer Shu, M.D., an Atlanta-based pediatrician and coauthor of Food Fights: Winning The Nutritional Challenges of Parenthood Armed with Insight, Humor, and A Bottle of Ketchup. This applies to gassy breastfed babies and gassy bottle-fed babies.
Don’t Miss: Can You Take Allegra On An Empty Stomach
Spitting Up Reflux And Vomiting
Most babies spit up after each feeding or while burping. Reflux is the medical term for spit up. We do not worry about spit up unless the volume is so great that babies fail to gain adequate weight, babies are having problems breathing , or unless spit up causes pain.
To reduce spit up keep the baby upright and minimize vigorous play with the baby for about 30 minutes after feeding. More frequent burping may also be helpful or necessary. When laying the baby down to sleep, have the head of the bed elevated. Elevate the head of the bed by placing something under two legs of the bed or under the mattress. Never put something on top of the mattress to elevate your newborns head, as this increases the risk for SIDS.
Babies may have forceful projectile vomiting on occasion. If your baby does this frequently or repeatedly, you should inform one of our doctors or nurse practitioners.
Should I Try Gripe Water And/or Infant Gas Drops
Infant gas drops can help with infant gas and are generally considered safe for use. Simethicone, the key ingredient in gas drops, is considered safe for daily use by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Meanwhile, Mayo Clinic recommends checking the ingredients and avoiding anything with sodium benzoate or benzoic acid.
As for the ever-popular gripe water, a herbal mix that can contain different ingredients based on the brand, you can use it, but it does carry risk. The AAP advises that parents who choose to use this product should avoid versions made with sugar or alcohol and look for products that were manufactured in the United States.
Also Check: What Helps Stomach Pain Go Away
Other Tips For Managing Gas
If massage doesnt seem to be working for your little one or youre looking for some additional comfort measures, there are plenty of things you can try to help manage and prevent gas:
- Bicycle your childs legs in the air while they lie on their back. This may help move gas through the system and encourage a poop if your little one is constipated.
- Gently twist babys legs and hips from side to side, which may help move things along the digestive track.
- Spend some extra time burping your baby during feeds to help air escape early in the digestive process.
- If youre bottle-feeding, check the nipple flow. If the flow is too fast, your child may be gulping air when they drink.
- Change bottle brands. Though no one brand is perfect for eliminating gas, there may be one that works better at reducing gas for your baby.
- Switch to a ready-made version of your babys powdered formula. Though if you dont note any change, you can go back to the powdered version.
Some caregivers report that over-the-counter medications like gripe water or gas drops help their babies with gas. Make sure to check with your childs doctor before going this route.
How To Help Your Baby With Gas Pain
From a pediatric RN perspective, we are going to tell you everything you need to know about helping your child deal with gas pains and belly discomfort.
The number one excuse when it comes to why a baby is not sleeping or not napping is usually blamed on teething. And the second reason? Gas pain.
If youre anything like me, when my infant was screaming from gas pain, I ran straight to Target to the aisle with all the gas drops thinking that these would be my savior. Unfortunately, the gas drops didnt help. So, I asked Kate Morris, our sleep support specialist and resident pediatric RN, for help. She used to work at a pediatric ER at Childrens Mercy Hospital.
Kate has a wealth of knowledge and she also has a little one who was very gracious enough to let us practice some maneuvers on how to help your baby deal with gas. So heres Kate to teach you about how to help your little one work through gas pains.
Recommended Reading: How To Cut Stomach Fat In 2 Weeks
Gas Pain Exercises For Your Baby
From Kate:
Im going to show you a cool technique that you can use on your baby if you feel like theyre suffering. The first thing youre going to do is lay your baby down on a flat surface. Then, gently try massaging your babys tummy in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions.
This treatment will move air through their tummy. The other step that you can try is to gently bicycling their legs. You dont need to apply too much pressure, just move at your own speed.
And then the last thing that you can try is some knee hugs where youll just press their knees into their tummy. You can try one knee at a time and then moving to the other knee through all of those different positions.
Did that help give your child relief? I hope this was helpful for you. So you can test out these moves on your little one and let us know what works and what your favorite remedies are to try it at home as well.
I hope you guys enjoyed this video.
Looking for more sleep strategies and tips for your little one? You can join our Sleep Society membership with access to a large library of videos and support for your child as they grow.
See you next time!
Adjust The Feeding Position
While bottle-feeding or nursing your infant, adjust their feeding position to prevent a bloated baby belly. Keep their head higher than their stomach.
This position helps the milk move to the bottom of the stomach and the air to the top, which helps the baby burp. You can also use a nursing pillow to provide support and tip the nursing bottle slightly up so that there are no air bubbles in the nipple.
Don’t Miss: How Much Is Sculpsure For The Stomach
How To Get Rid Of Gas: 8 Natural Treatments
Flatulence and gas are normal bodily functions, and most healthy adults pass gas somewhere between 13 and 21 times each day. Flatulence is a healthy part of the digestive process, but it can cause discomfort and pain as gas builds up in the intestines. Expelling the gas normally relieves the pain however, if the pain persists or worsens, it may be a sign of a more serious condition and you should consult with your physician as soon as possible.
In addition to pain and flatulence, gas can cause bloating. Bloating is a temporary condition caused when air or gas becomes stuck in the abdomen. The result can be visible as the stomach, depending on the level of air and gas build up, can protrude significantly. In the vast majority of cases, gas pains and bloating are nothing to worry about, however, if you experience any of the following symptoms along with gas, seek medical attention as quickly as possible:
- Hives or a skin rash that develops quickly
- Tight throat or trouble breathing which may signal an allergic reaction
- Fever
- Persistent or recurrent nausea or vomiting
- Trouble concentrating
If youve recently changed your diet by adding high-fiber foods or cruciferous vegetables, you can expect some gas and gas pain. In addition, foods known as FODMAPs as well as foods you have a sensitivity to like lactose, can also cause gas pain. And, of course, if you overindulge in a high-fat or a spicy meal, you may experience more gas than normal.
When Should I Call The Doctor For My Gassy Baby
Oftentimes, a gassy baby can be fixed with a little burping or tweak to their diet. However, if your babys gassiness is causing any of the following problems, go ahead and call your doctor.
- Your baby isnt gaining weight
- Your baby doesnt want to eat
- Your baby has a hard time pooping or seems constipated
You May Like: How To Tighten Loose Skin On Stomach With Exercise
Baby Gas Pain With 9 Effective Remedies
Its rather stressful to hear your baby crying especially if you cannot understand what he/she needs. One common reason for such crying is baby gas pain. Dont worry, theres no need to call your pediatrician yet. There are many things you can do at home to alleviate your little darlings suffering.
What Can I Do To Help Prevent Gas In My Breastfed Baby
Check and adjust babys latch
If your little one is not latching deep enough, they may be swallowing more air. A painful latch or a clicking sound made while baby is feeding may indicate their latch needs adjusting,13, 14 Shallow latches are often remedied with a new breastfeeding position along with some minor latch corrections. If youre able, get in touch with a lactation consultant who can help with proper technique.
Note that if every position is painful even after corrections, call your babys health care provider to check for other causes, such as tongue-tie or flat / inverted nipples.
Have questions about your little ones latch? Chat live with our Happy Baby Experts for free breastfeeding support. Chat now!
Read more: Top Latching Tips
Help baby deal with your strong let-down
If you find your breastmilk sprays out forcefully during the first few minutes of a feeding, causing baby to cough, clamp down, or pop off the breast, you may have a strong let down or oversupply.25 Trying to drink milk so fast often causes baby to also take in quite a bit of air.
Here are some tips to help your little one handle your overactive let-down:
Learn more: How and When to Hand Express
Is babys gas caused by food?
Learn more: Is your baby reacting to something in your milk?
Recommended Reading: What To Wear To Flatten Your Stomach