It is normal for babies to be gassy. However excessive intestinal gas can cause gas pain and make the baby miserable. Babies tend to swallow a lot of gas in circumstances such as when they :
- are feeding from the breast or bottle
- sucking a pacifier
- crying
Other causes of baby gas include :
- ingesting a particular protein in formula or breast milk that the baby cannot tolerate
- drinking juice . It is advised that babies do not drink anything other than breast milk or formula. They can have some water after they are 6 months
- eating certain vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower
- not drinking enough water. Once your baby is 6 months old, he can drink water. Water does not eliminate gas but helps constipation get better. Constipation is often associated with gas pain.
How would i know that my baby is gassy
These signs may indicate that your child is gassy.
- burping
- being fussy
- crying
- farting
- has a hard tummy
- is bloated
As the baby’s digestive tract matures, gas will become less of a problem.
How to ease gas pain in babies
These tips will help you ease gas pain in your baby .
- try to keep your babies head higher than her stomach when breastfeeding or bottle feeding him
- burp your baby as often as possible during feeding and after feeding
- feed the baby in smaller portion more frequently
- hold the baby bottle at a 30 to 40 degree angle while feeding so that air rises to the bottom of the bottle
- find a baby bottle that won’t make the baby gulp to prevent swallowing more air
- the hole in the nipple shouldn’t be too small or too large. A small hole makes the baby frustrated and a large nipple causes the liquid to flow too fast
- avoid prolonged sucking on pacifiers or empty bottles
- feed your baby before she is starving to avoid frantic feeding
- massage the baby’s tummy gently to help expel gas and make the tummy feel better
- make sure baby is latching well during breastfeeding
- eliminate foods that causes gas from the baby’s diet
- put the baby on her back, hold her feet up and gently hold her feet in a bicycling motion several times a day
- gas relief drops may help with discomfort. You can try simethicone gas drops
When to call the doctor
If you are treating your baby several times a day for 3 consecutive days, you have to see your doctor. You should also call your doctor right away if gas pain is accompanied by symptoms such as
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