How To Soothe Baby Stomach Ache

Oil Massage For Stomach Pain In Babies

Massage for babies is a must-do in every house-hold. Usually, we do oil massage before bath. An oil massage can also relive pain in babys tummy.

• Use a natural oil like mustard, sesame, olive oil.
• Heat it to lukewarm temperature.
• Take oil in your palm and spread it all over your your hands.
• Gently massage babys stomach in circular motion.
• This will relieve gas pains.

You can also mix equal quantities of coconut oil and water and mix very well till it starts forming foam and then use it for massage.

Treating Symptoms Of Your Child’s Stomachache

• Have the child lie down and rest.
• Don’t give the child fluids for about 2 hours after the last vomiting episode. Then give the child clear fluids such as water or flat soda. Start with just a sip at a time.
• Keep a container nearby in case the child vomits.
• If the child vomits more than once, watch for signs of dehydration, such as decreased urination or dry diapers, dry lips, and crying without tears.
• If you think the child could be constipated, put them on the toilet. Passing a stool may ease the pain.
• Sit the child in warm water to help release a stool if you think the child is constipated.

Burping To Relieve Stomach Pain In Babies

Burping is a must after every feed. When a baby sucks on breast or bottle nipple to feed, she also swallows some amount of air, which can make baby feel uncomfortable and full which means she will not feed enough. It can also cause stomach pains. Burping is the process to gently dislodge the excess air and bring it up, so baby can feel comfortable and have more milk comfortably.

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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:

Gas Prevention Methods For Babies

Bring on the Burps. Feeding time can come with a lot of crying, gulping, guzzling, and sucklingin other words, a lot of air, which eventually manifests itself in the form of a burp or gas. “And while relief from a burp might be more immediate, air that turns into gas has a longer journey through the intestinal tract first,” Dr. Shu says. Try being a little extra vigilant about burping your baby during and after a feeding to see if you can keep some of the gas at bay.

Settle Down. Bottle-fed babies can ingest a lot of bubbles. To combat this, tilt the bottle at an angle that fills the entire nipple with milk. “Otherwise your baby will suck in air,” Dr. Shu says. “More swallowed air means potentially more gas.” If you use powdered formula, let the bottle settle first before giving it to your baby. There’s lots of shaking going on and the bottle is often piled high with bubbles on top of the actual formula. Also consider using ready-made formula for gassy babies, as well as specially vented bottles that may reduce the amount of bubbles.

Adjust the Angle. “When feeding your baby, make sure her head is higher than her stomach,” Dr. Shu advises. You want to hold your baby in a position that allows the liquid to slowly sink to the bottom while the bubbles rise to the top. If you keep the bubbles closer to the surface, the naturaland easiestmeans of exit is a burp. Trapped bubbles will likely pass in the form of gas.

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Consider Consulting With An Ibclc

If you are breastfeeding, see an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant , to confirm that you baby has a good latch, and a complete seal. An experienced lactation consultant can go over breastfeeding latch, positions, and even assist in gut healing and food sensitivities

New parents can check with their insurance to see what their benefits include for lactation support. Some IBCLCs are in-network with some insurance companies, while others like are not in-network but do provide superbill receipt that can be filed for reimbursement.

For complex lactation issues there are IBCLCs that have advanced training.Look into www.IBCLCmasterclass.com for a list of skilled IBCLCs.

When To Rush The Baby To The Doctor

Home remedies can do wonders for most, but it always safe to know when to consult the doctor. Constipation should be addressed if it continues for more than three days. If the child is vomiting, has a fever, or is generally feeling worn out most of the time, it is better to consult the doctor. Other than this, I would say you trust your instincts. After all, a mother knows best!

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Burping In Between Feedings

Take breaks frequently for burping during feedings it will help eliminate the amount of air your baby takes in if your baby is nursing, burp whenever she takes her mouth off your nipple or whenever she switches breast. If she is bottle-fed, do burp at least every three to five minutes during feeding, maybe after every two to four ounces.

Trying A Warm Bath Or Warm Towel

A warm bath is an excellent idea because even a bit of warmth can relax the troubled stomach and help move their bowels and be at ease again. Warm towels arent a bad idea either remember not to make them too hot make sure to always keep your baby comfortable by using soft diapers and lush waistbands.

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Little Remedies To The Rescue

If your magic hands arent soothing her, you can try products like Little Remedies® Gripe Water or Little Remedies® Gas Relief Drops. If you think your baby is gassy because she was crying a lot, try Gripe Water, a mixture of water and various herbs. Its perfect for colicky babies because its a gentle herbal supplement, which eases stomach discomfort. Gas Relief Drops soothe unhappy tummies and can even be mixed with formula or water. The simethicone helps breaks up bubbles and gives gas that extra little push to work its way out.

How To Help When A Newborn Has A Stomach Ache

First, contact your pediatrician, tell him: how the kid behaves, his appetite and stool-all this will help the doctor to correctly identify the cause of stomachache in the newborn and prescribe the treatment.

And we, in the meantime, will try to learn some tips from experienced moms which can help you and your baby in solving this problem:

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When To See A Doctor

Here are certain situations that can indicate a serious health ailment and warrant prompt medical attention :

You need to be swift in your reaction. And this can happen if you are observant of the signs and symptoms of a stomachache that your baby displays.

Try A Warm Bath Or Towel

A bit of warmth can ease your baby’s upset stomach. “A warm towel isn’t a bad idea, or a warm bath can sometimes help Baby relax and move their bowels as well,” Dr. Alt says. “Just make sure they aren’t too hot!” Also, keep your baby comfy by avoiding tight diapers and waistbands, Dr. Loizides suggests.

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Bacterial Or Viral Infection

Kids catch infections very easily, since their immune systems are still developing. A stomach infection can be either bacterial or viral, and can cause a stomach ache in either case. Even infections like the common cold, flu or pneumonia can cause tummy ache, along with a fever, cough and sore throat. While older children can blow their noses or spit mucus, in babies it can enter the stomach and cause irritation.

What Infant Gas Drops Are Safe And Effective

Infant gas drops contain simethicone, which breaks up gas bubbles and is also the main ingredient in common anti-gas medications for adults. Research as to how effective they are is mixed. Still, simethicone gas drops for babies are very safe, and some parents find theyre very effective.

Want to try infant gas drops to help your gassy baby? First, talk to your pediatrician about what kind to look for and how often to give them. And follow the dosing instructions on the bottle. Most will say you can give your baby drops up to 12 times per day, or at each feeding. Some parents find its helpful to give babies gas drops right before each feed to pre-empt gas problems, but check with your doctor to be sure.

Read the label and be sure to avoid drops with sodium benzoate or benzoic acid, which can be harmful to babies in large quantities.

And if a friend or relative brings a gas treatment from another country or one that isn’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration , don’t give it to your baby unless you get approval from your pediatrician. It could contain alcohol, sugar or other potentially harmful ingredients that aren’t clearly listed on the packaging.

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Repeat Attacks Of Stomach Pain

Some children suffer repeat attacks of stomach pain, which can be worrying for parents. Often, no health problem can be found.Children may feel stomach pain when they are worried about themselves or people around them. Think about whether there is anything that is upsetting your child at home, school or kindergarten, or with friends. See your local doctor for advice. A referral may be needed to a paediatrician .

Home Remedies To Relieve Stomach Pain In Babies

Stomach aches are common for babies and they can make an appearance out of the blue. Your baby is perfectly happy and suddenly starts fidgeting and crying. She may be unusually fussy and seems very uncomfortable. This could mean she is having stomach pain due any of the common reasons. Thankfully, it not usually anything serious and can be mostly relived by some common remedies.

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Does Your Baby Have Colic

All babies have periods of crying and fussing. Its considered colic when the crying goes on for more than three hours a day for more than three days a week. The crying is often accompanied by burping and other signs of gas, which may be because the baby is swallowing air when they cry.

When parents come to her about a crying baby who isnt easily consoled, Dr. Bonita asks questions and examines the baby to rule out health problems. If the baby is eating well and growing, has no vomiting or diarrhea, and follows a pattern of extended crying in the evening it is probably colic.

Colic typically starts when babies are about 3 weeks old, with extended periods of crying in the evening, between 6 p.m. and midnight. The long crying spells usually end when the baby is about 3 months old, though some babies continue to have crying spells until they are 6 months old.

Why Is My Baby So Gassy

Every person on the planet produces and expels gas. As food moves through the gastrointestinal tract, the small intestine absorbs the usable ingredients. Bacteria in the large intestine break down the leftovers, releasing hydrogen and carbon dioxide and producing bubbles of gas in the process. Burping allows some gas to escape from the stomach early on, and the rest travels from the colon to the rectum, where it’s ejected primarily via bowel movements or farts.

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But when gas doesn’t pass easily, it collects in the digestive tract and causes bloating and discomfort. Babies are especially prone to this. “Newborn digestive systems are immature, so they produce a lot of gas, and this is normal. Infants also take in a lot of air while feeding and crying, which produces more gas,” says Samira Armin, M.D., a pediatrician at Texas Children’s Pediatrics in Houston. Bottle-fed babies have it the worst, but breastfeeding doesn’t make a baby immune. Ultimately, a newborn baby may pass more gas than a grown man.

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Food Nuts Or Milk Allergies

Younger babies also get stomach pain. This is because of the food that the mother ate. Mothers diet also can be a reason for stomach pain in babies. This is called food intolerance. Foods that cause an allergic response in babies include cows milk, eggs, nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, and fish. Some kids are lactose intolerant which means their body cant digest milk easily. This creates loose stools and pain in stomach.

What Should You Do:

• If your baby has a stomach problem after eating a particular food then he has a food allergy.
• Talk to your paediatrician about this if you feel the child is fussy after a particular meal.
• If you are breastfeeding, watch for mothers diet and eliminate the product accordingly.

Gastroenteritis Or Food Poisoning

Young children put all kinds of things into their mouths, which makes them particularly prone to food poisoning or gastroenteritis. In such cases, the tummy pain is usually accompanied with diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. It could be because of putting random objects in the mouth, consuming unhygienic or spoiled food, or consumption of inedible substances.

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How To Ease Upset Stomach In Baby

1. Be Patient

Your baby thrives from your love, as she understands nothing less or nothing more than love. When babies cry, they expect you to fix their problem, as crying is the only way they can ask for your help. The easiest way of soothing your baby is by using patience. When you hold your baby, do it in a way that they feel your warmth and they can sense love and patience from you. When you do this, your baby will calm own.

2. Do Not over or under Bundle Your Baby

A too hot or too cold room can make your little one cranky. Under bundling or over bundling your baby might make your baby too cold or too warm and she can become cranky. Many parents can mistake this discomfort for a gassy baby. Besides gas, one of the biggest and most common things that can upset your baby is a room that is too cold or too hot.

3. Give Your Baby a Massage

A light massage can give a gassy baby relief. It can help move gas bubbles along. You can also help a baby be more relaxed and comfortable by placing her in a warm bath.

Watch the video below to learn how to massage your baby:

4. Burp Your Baby

fussy or gassy babies might be full of air that they swallowed during feeding sessions. Making her burp can help reduce air building up in her belly. Hold your baby upright against a shoulder and pat her back until she burps.

5. Apply Heat on Your Babys Tummy

place a heating pad or a bottle of hot water on your little childs tummy when she is lying or sitting down. This helps to relieve some pain.