What To Watch Your Baby For While You’re Breastfeeding
While most babies slurp up breast milk no matter the flavor, a few have picky palates right from the start detecting and rejecting even the smallest hint of garlic or strong spices. Youll quickly tell which category fits your baby and be able to modify your diet accordingly.
Its not common and hasnt been backed up yet by science, but some moms find certain foods cause gassiness and discomfort in their babies.
Foods to avoid while breastfeeding gassy babies include cabbage, broccoli, onions, cauliflower, beans and/or Brussels sprouts. These may unsettle your little ones tummy, even in some cases causing colicky symptoms.
Some moms find that cutting out dairy and caffeine can also help reduce babys discomfort. Keep in mind that these reactions are uncommon, so dont assume that your baby will be sensitive to what you eat. Its most likely just newborn business as usual.
It takes between two and six hours from the time you eat a certain food until it affects the taste and aroma of your breast milk. So if your baby is gassy, spits up more, rejects the breast or is fussy a few hours after you eat a specific food, try eliminating it for a few days to gauge the response.
Some Causes Of Gas In Babies
- Many young babies have a certain amount of gas and seem to strain as it is passed or as a bowel movement occurs simply because of the immaturity of their digestive system. This doesnt always indicate a problem. Most babies bodies manage gas more easily with growth, maturity, and greater activity. As long as your baby is not overly bothered by the gas or has no other symptoms of food sensitivity or other problems, then tincture of time is likely the best solution.
- Too much milk too fast, so that baby gulps and chokes and takes in too much air along with the milk. See forceful let-down.
- Anything that causes baby to take in too much air may result in a gassy baby :
- Crying Babies swallow air when they are crying, so crying is more likely to be the cause of gas, rather than the result of gas. Respond to babys feeding cues promptly.
- Bottlefeeding Babies usually swallow more air when drinking from a bottle. When using bottles, use the slowest-flow nipples so baby doesnt get overwhelmed with the milk flow. To reduce air swallowing, keep baby at about a 45 degree angle , make sure baby has a good seal on the base of the nipple, and keep the bottle tilted so the neck & nipple are filled with milk. There are also varieties of bottles that aim to reduce air swallowing. Dont let baby suck on an empty bottle. Burp baby more often if he seems to be swallowing too much air.
Excessive Crying Can Lead To More Gas
Sometimes babys cry, apparently for no reason. When your baby cries, he inevitably swallows a large amount of air simultaneously, therefore becoming more gassy.
My advice: You know your baby. When I told a pediatric gastroenterologist about my babys extreme gas and how she screamed because of it, he said, How do you know its not the crying thats causing the gas?
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Making Changes To Your Baby’s Diet
1. Breastfed infants
You may have already received advice to eliminate certain foods from your diet. This rarely makes a difference, because contrary to popular belief, what a mother eats is not often the cause of her baby’s distress.
RECOMMENDATION
- See our article on lactose overload for tips to reduce gastric symptoms related to frequent feeding patterns.
- Exclude the many other, more common reasons, for gastric discomfort, irritability and wakeful behavior before going down the path of dietary restrictions.
- If you suspect a food or milk allergy or intolerance seek professional advice from a doctor or dietician who specializes in this field.
2. Formula fed infants
Changing formula rarely helps, particularly if there are no significant gastric symptoms, such as diarrhea. Prolonged use of an inappropriate nfant formula may negatively affect your baby’s development.
RECOMMENDATION
If you suspect a food or milk protein allergy or intolerancesee your doctor for advice on suitable formula.
3. When your baby is on solids
How To Prepare For Your Pediatrician Appointment
Some degree of infant gas is to be expectedin fact, a happy, gassy baby is perfectly normal. But if youve implemented the tips above and are worried, or if you think your little one is in pain, call your pediatrician for an appointment.
Follow these tips below before you meet with the pediatrician. Also, when you book the appointment, ask your pediatrician if there is anything additional or specific you should do in preparation for the visit.
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Home Remedies To Treat Gas In Babies And Toddlers
Infants to adults, we have all suffered from gastric concerns.
Babies suffering from gas problems is a major concern since their digestive system is under-developed. They inhale a lot of air while breast/bottle feeding, due to excessive crying and also during teething.
This post gives you a detailed information about causes of gas problems and home remedies to treat gas in babies/toddlers.
Gassy Baby Signs And Symptoms
All babies, of course, pass a little gas. But look for these signs and symptoms of baby gas that’s more than just the usual:
- Your baby cries and is fussy for an hour or so a day. This can be a sign of a normal amount of newborn gassiness that comes with having a tiny, underdeveloped digestive system. But you should still check in with your pediatrician if it happens every day and doesn’t seem to be getting better.
- Your baby seems unhappy most of the time. This can indicate that you have an especially gassy baby who needs a bit more help. Gas that causes significant upset often indicates a problem beyond normal newborn gassiness.
- Your baby isn’t eating or sleeping well. Trouble with sleeping or eating can have a whole range of causes, but infant gas may be one of them, especially if there are other signs. Talk to your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
- Your baby gets red in the face when he cries and seems like he might be in pain.
- Your baby squirms as though he’s uncomfortable and pulls his legs up to his chest, especially during bouts of fussiness.
Infant gas has several possible causes:
- Swallowing air when feeding or crying, which is very common and normal among new babies
- An underdeveloped digestive system, which allows food to pass through too quickly so it doesnt break down completely
- Hypersensitivities to certain types of formula or foods in Moms diet, or possibly food allergies
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When To Speak With A Doctor
While most baby gas cases are fairly harmless, there are times when you should seek professional help.
If your baby exhibits excessive crying, has long crying bouts three or more times per day, or just recently began crying after reaching their first month, contact your pediatrician.
Also call the doctor or seek medical help if your little one isnt eating, peeing, or having regular bowel movements.
What Should I Know About An Allergy Or Intolerance In My Breastfed Baby
- Learn the difference between an allergy and a food intolerance or sensitivity
- Know the signs and symptoms of food allergy or intolerance in breastfed infants
- Learn which foods are the most common allergens or culprits in food intolerances
- How to manage your food intake to help alleviate your babys symptoms
Breastmilk is incredible it offers a complete form of nutrition for infants, and offers a range of benefits for health, growth, immunity, and development.1 The nutrients in your breastmilk come directly from whats circulating in your blood, meaning that the nutrients and compounds you absorb from the food you eat are then passed along to your baby.
While being truly allergic or reacting to something in moms milk is rare in babies, a small percentage of mothers do notice a difference in their babies symptoms or behavior after eating certain foods.
Whats the difference between an allergy and an intolerance or sensitivity?
Sometimes these terms are used interchangeably, but an allergy and an intolerance/sensitivity are very different. According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology , an allergy is when the immune system reacts to a food, whereas an intolerance happens during digestion.2 Allergies generally have more severe symptoms, often causing skin reactions or difficulty breathing. Food intolerances occur when we have difficulty digesting a food, which often result in gastro-intestinal symptoms.
Which foods might cause an allergic reaction?
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When Should I Worry About Baby Gas
Talk to a pediatrician, especially if the gas happens a lot or is severe. Babies bodies are learning how to digest food, so they tend to get more gas than adults. Sometimes a virus causes stomach problems, such as gas, vomiting, and diarrhea. In older infants who eat solids, new foods may cause gas.
How Do You Comfort A Gassy Baby
Your baby is fussy, and youve pegged gas as the culprit. Now what?
Although many moms may reach for the best baby gas drops, thats not the only option. There are many ways to naturally comfort a gassy baby. Some of these methods bring quick relief while others are intended to bring long-lasting relief by tackling the cause of gas.
You can provide comfort by:
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How To Manage Baby Gas
How to burp a babySolianiks doctor recommended baby probiotic drops each morning to help with Theodores tummy trouble, which has been attributed to gas. She also occasionally gives him Ovol .
Theres very little evidence that those things help, but theres also no evidence that they hurt, says Pound. If parents feel they are making a difference, thats great.
Gently massaging the tummy can also help baby work out the gas. You can learn some useful techniques , such as massaging the abdomen in a clockwise motion to ease digestive discomfort, or just do what seems to feel good for your baby, says Pound. Pulling their legs in and out in a bicycling motion sometimes helps as well, but again, its not a magic cure.
Being vigilant about burping after feeds can help to prevent gas pains from developing in the first place. If your gassy baby drifts off to sleep while nursing or taking a bottle, consider waking them to burp. With any luck, theyll go right back to dreamland when youre done. There are different burping positions parents can try, including holding baby with their chest against your shoulder laying them chest-down on your lap or sitting them on your knees, with one hand supporting their neck and head while you pat her back firmly.
Andrea Cheung has mastered the art of burping her five-month-old son, Gilbert. Im pretty sure that has helped him a lot with gas, says Cheung. He had some trouble when he was younger, but not now, because hes burping so well.
Why Is My Baby More Gassy At Night
Gas accumulation is a function of gut motility and positioning. As our body rests, our digestion slows. Gut slowing results in more gas buildupOrr WC. Gastrointestinal Functioning During Sleep: A New Horizon in Sleep Medicine . Sleep Med Rev. 2001 5:91-101. . During the night, you and I have the luxury of moving our bodies when we feel this discomfort. Our body movement releases any trapped gas bubbles, allowing us to burp or fart to relieve the painful pressure.
Babies cant freely move while they sleep. At night, we tightly swaddle our babies and lie them on their backs to sleep. This technique is important for infant soothing and decreasing the risk of SIDS, but limits the movement of tummy bubblesTASK FORCE ON SUDDEN INFANT DEATH, S. Y. N. D. R. O. M. E. SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2016 Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment. Pediatrics. 2016 138. . Tummy gas builds during quiet rest until the pain wakes your baby up.
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Does Massage Help With Baby Gas
Infant massage is another way to help your baby move tummy bubbles. Massage also supports bonding and sensory stimulation between an infant and parentZeevenhooven J, Browne PD, LHoir MP, de Weerth C, Benninga, MA. Infant Colic: Mechanisms and Management. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 15:479-496. .
Choose a time of day to perform infant massage, typically first thing in the morning or as part of the nighttime routine. Baby-safe lotions or oils can decrease friction during a massage, but are not needed. Move your hand across your babys tummy in a clockwise motion to push bubbles forward. You can also move your babys legs like theyre riding a bike to encourage gas release.
Infant massage should be pleasant and soothing. Watch your baby for any signs of increased distress, and stop if your baby seems uncomfortable.
Less Common Causes Of Bloody Stool
Bloody baby stool might also have less common causes. For example, streptococcus bacteria could get around the anus, resulting in inflammation and bloody poop. Your baby might also suffer from colitis , Crohns disease, or necrotizing enterocolitis.
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Best Overall: Dr Brown’s Original Baby Bottle Newborn Feeding Set
According to hundreds of parents, these bottles are just what the doctor orderedDr. Brown that is. The bottles have a special patented vent system that mimics breastfeeding, as they suck the air out of the milk or formula to help eliminate colic, gas, and spit up. This newborn feeding set comes with three 8-ounce bottles, two 4-ounce bottles, two nipples, storage caps, and cleaning brushes.
While theres some extra cleaning involved with these bottles, most parents say it’s worth it for the excellent gas relief they provide. Many tout their effectiveness in eliminating reflux as well.
Bicycle Baby’s Legs To Remove Gas
Another external technique to try is baby leg exercises. “Maneuvers you can do to help them pass gas include bending the legs and bringing knees to tummy, and bicycling the baby’s legs,” says Kim Alt, M.D., a pediatrician at Rockford Pediatrics in Rockford, Michigan.
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