Gas is a common occurrence during the first year of a baby’s life; it’s often the result of an infant’s immature digestive system. A baby may also swallow excess air while drinking from a bottle or breastfeeding. It is important to burp a baby adequately during and after feeding to reduce the risk of the air resting in the stomach. The symptoms of baby gas include fussiness, grimacing, body tension and flatulence. There are a number of ways to help the baby work out the gas, including some over-the-counter treatments.
Avoid Gas Triggers
A breastfeeding infant may have an intolerance or sensitivity to certain foods in the mother’s diet. Foods like dairy, onion, garlic and other intensely-flavored foods can cause a baby to have an upset stomach and gas. The mother can keep a food diary to track what she eats and what the baby’s reaction is afterwards. Consult a physician before switching baby formulas, but if an infant has chronic gas, talk to a doctor if you suspect the formula ingredients to be the cause.
Massage
Caregivers can massage a baby’s stomach to help force out the air. A clockwise motion that is neither light nor firm is best. Depending on the baby, she may prefer to rest on her stomach while her back is rubbed or tapped.
Leg Motions
Gently raising the baby’s knee to the chest and back down can help force the excess air out of the stomach. Repeating this motion with both legs at one time or alternating one leg with the other may be helpful.
Staying Upright
DrGreene.com suggests parents keep a gassy baby upright to help the gas pass. Rocking or using an infant swing may help soothe the infant as well. The more she cries, the more air she may swallow, which will only exacerbate the problem.
Comfort
A baby may find a warm blanket or swaddling to be soothing when she is affected by painful gas. If the gas is accompanied by spit up, DrGreene.com recommends keeping the baby’s head elevated, including while sleeping.
Simethicone
Simethicone is a foaming agent that adheres to gas bubbles in the stomach, which is thought to make them easier to pass through burping, says the Mayo Clinic. This treatment has not been shown to be helpful in relieving intestinal gas. Other over-the-counter anti-gas treatments may be useful, but a doctor should be consulted first as these remedies have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
About this Author
Sarah Irene holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology. Having written stacks of research articles dating back to 2000 and consulted in a number of settings, she is able to be a resource for a vast range of topics. She has been a psychology instructor since 2006 and has had her work published by LIVESTRONG Health and ParentDish.
