When To Call A Doctor
More often than not, a gassy baby is not a major cause for concern. Though fussiness and irritability are to be expected, it will rarely lead to severe pain.
As long as youre able to alleviate the symptoms of gassiness through burping, massaging, or new feeding positions, theres no reason to worry. In some cases, gassiness might indicate a milk allergy or lactose intolerance.
However, if your infants crying and discomfort seem prolonged, make an appointment to see your doctor. Theyll likely perform a complete physical exam to rule out any serious abdominal issues. If your gassy baby is suffering from severe symptoms like vomiting or bloody stools, seek medical attention immediately.
Watch For Allergies And Reactions To Something You Ate
In certain cases, if your little one is allergic or reacting to something you ate, removing that item from your diet may be the only way to solve this problem if you want to continue breastfeeding.
Indicators of allergies in babies can vary in intensity and are personal, but theyll go beyond just gassiness. Typically food allergies will appear within a few hours of consuming the allergen. The most common symptoms are:
What To Watch Your Baby For While You’re Breastfeeding
While most babies drink 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 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, with dairy and soy being the most common culprits. Some moms find that cutting out 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. Other factors can contribute to gas. 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 ruling out other causes and then monitor for a pattern before you eliminate any foods.
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What Should I Know About Gas In Breastfed Babies
- Know that most babies have gas
- Understand the many causes and symptoms of gas in breastfed babies
- Learn tips and tricks to help prevent and relieve gas in your baby
One of the most common concerns parents have is their babyâs gas. While gas is usually not harmful, the pressure that gas bubbles create may cause pain when it becomes trapped in your babyâs stomach or intestines.1
Gas is particularly common during the first 3 months of life when your little oneâs digestive tract is still maturing.2 You may even notice itâs worse at night.3 Most of the time, gas is from swallowing too much air, but there may be other reasons your little one is gassy.
Read on to learn how to help your baby with gas.
Common causes of gas discomfort in breastfed babies:
- An incorrect latch while nursing leads your baby to swallow too much air3
- Excessive crying fills your babyâs belly with air1
- Strong let-down or oversupply, causing baby to gulp quickly and swallow air3
- Immature digestive tract is still learning to process breastmilk, gas, and stool effectively2
- Sensitivity or allergy to a food in momâs diet1, 3, 4
- Introduction to a bottle or to formula. Baby may swallow air while drinking from a bottle or may need to get used to formulaâs ingredients.3, 7
Common symptoms of gas in breastfed babies:
Signs That Baby Isn’t Latching Properly
If you feel nipple pain while nursing, something’s not right. This means your baby is likely chewing on your nipple instead of gumming the areola. The fix: Unlatch , and try again.
Ditto if you hear clicking noises, which indicate your baby’s not latched on properly and is likely only sucking the nipple. Again, unlatch and start over.
Sometimes your baby may be so eager to suck that she grabs onto any part of the breast and continues to suck even if no milk is forthcoming. The result: a painful bruise on your oh-so-tender boob and a very hungry baby. Unlatch and redirect that misguided little mouth to the nipple and areola.
If she’s fussing, chewing, rooting and gaping, turning red, or making clicking sounds, chances are your baby’s getting a mouthful of boob and air instead of milk. Unlatch babys grip and begin the lip tickling anew to get baby to latch on with the nipple and the areola in the mouth.
In the beginning, it might take quite a few tries to latch properly. Keep at it. Your baby will be happier in the long run if those efforts bring a mouthful of milk rather than a mouthful of air.
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How Many Calories Do You Need When You’re Breastfeeding
Your body generally burns around 300 to 500 extra calories a day while you’re breastfeeding depending on whether you’re nursing exclusively or not. If you are, it’s typically up to 450 to 500.
So while you don’t need to be hyper-vigilant about counting calories and consuming more, definitely keep your extra nutritional needs while nursing in mind. If you stayed within your doctor’s recommended weight gain during pregnancy, you shouldn’t have to take in any more or less than that, but check with your practitioner if you’re not sure.
How To Help Relieve Gas In Babies
This article was co-authored by Laura Marusinec, MD. Dr. Marusinec is a board certified Pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, where she is on the Clinical Practice Council. She received her M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1995 and completed her residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Pediatrics in 1998. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and the Society for Pediatric Urgent Care.There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 123,069 times.
Gas pain is a very common in babies and it can cause your babyand youdiscomfort.XResearch source Gas is often caused by swallowing air when crying or feeding or from the digestion process.XResearch source Even though gas can cause pain for your baby, it is generally harmless. By promoting the release of gas and preventing it, you can help relieve your babys gas.
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Can You Switch Formulas
Any formula change for your infant should start with a conversation with your pediatrician, as they can guide you to the best choice. That said, unless your baby requires a special type of formula, switching to a different type or brand is generally no issue.
If you cant locate the exact brand or type that your baby normally drinks, your pediatrician can suggest a good alternative. In general, its fine to change brands, though its usually best to stick with the same type of formula . This means if your baby was doing well on concentrated cows milk-based formula, you might look for this same form under a different label.
What Is A Proper Breastfeeding Latch
It’s a myth that babies are born knowing how to latch on and breastfeed correctly. The proper latch often takes time, trial and error, and yes, sore nipples.
The ideal latch encompasses both the nipple and the surrounding areola, the pinkish-brown flat circle that became darker during pregnancy. Ever wonder why areolas darken during pregnancy? Mother Nature wisely designed them to serve as visual cues for your newborn so she’ll close her mouth on the areola and not on the nipple alone.
Though breast milk comes out of the numerous tiny openings in the nipple, your baby’s gums need to compress the areola and the milk sinuses located underneath it to actually start the flow. If not, your milk won’t let down and new milk won’t be produced.
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Do Special Infant Formulas Help With Gas
Since gas is made as a normal byproduct of digestion, its impossible to eliminate all gas from being formed. However, there are infant formulas marketed for gassy, fussy babies. These formulas typically are formulated with more digestible proteins or alternative carbohydrate sources.
There is scant evidence to suggest hydrolyzed formula or reduced-lactose formula may decrease gassiness in formula-fed infantsDaelemans S, Peeters L, Hauser B, Vandenplas Y. Recent Advances in Understanding and Managing Infantile Colic. F1000Res. 2018 7. . Most doctors recommend an infant formula be tried for two weeks before making a switch, unless the baby is having a significant worsening of symptoms. Check with your pediatrician to see what they recommend.
Q: Is Babys Gas Caused By Food
The breakdown of food by our digestive system causes gas and this is normal! Some foods, like beans and lentils, may cause more gas. However, if youve got a suspicion that your babys gas pains are not due to air intake or normal digestion and certain foods are making gas worse, then please speak to your pediatrician about potential sensitivities or allergies. Only try eliminating certain food groups with advice and support from your pediatrician.
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Be Mindful Of Feeding Times
Try to feed your baby before you start hearing her hungry cries. This can help her eat at a leisurely pace and not gulp down her breast milk or formula too quickly. If youre a breastfeeding mama and your milk lets down quickly, you may want to unlatch baby for a moment and then re-latch. That can help her manage your milk flow more easily.
Do you have tried and true tricks you use to soothe your gassy baby? Let us know in the comments section on the page.
Can Gas Keep The Baby Up At Night
Absolutely! Gas pains at night can bring anything from moderate discomfort to severe pain. For some babies, you may hear all sorts of noises indicating they have gas but they remain asleep! However, for babies experiencing discomfort, it will be hard to fall asleep and stay asleep. If it comes on at night then its also highly likely to wake them up. The good news is that when the gas has been passed, the discomfort also passes.
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What To Eat When Youre Breastfeeding
The basic fat-protein-carb combo of human milk isnt directly dependent on what foods and drinks you put into your body. Even women who arent well-fed can feed their babies well since the body will tap into its own nutrient stores to fuel milk production.
Just because you can make milk on a less-than-adequate diet doesnt mean you should. The goal when youre nursing should never be to deplete your bodys store of nutrients. Thats too risky for your short- and long-term health, and it will short-change you on much-needed energy as well as potentially interfere with your milk supply.
Eating well when youre nursing means getting a variety of nutritious foods. And since a varied diet changes the taste and smell of your milk, it will expose your baby to many different flavors too .
Heres what to aim to consume each day to ensure youre getting what you need:
- Protein-filled foods. Aim for a minimum of three servings daily, which can include eggs, yogurt, nut butter, cheese, meat, lentils, beans, tofu, etc.
- Whole grains. You’ll want three or more servings of fiber-filled complex carbohydrates like oatmeal, brown rice and barley per day to keep you energized.
- Vegetables and fruits. Load up on four to five servings daily, especially those leafy green and yellow veggies.
- High-fat foods. You should aim to eat as much as you did during pregnancy. Avocados, low-mercury fish, nuts and seeds contain good-for-you fats and belong in your diet.
Talk To Your Doctor About A Possible Formula Ingredient Intolerance
If youre formula feeding and baby seems gassy — even when you take other steps to reduce gas, or even try a gentle formula — baby may have an intolerance to a formula ingredient.
Food intolerances cause baby to develop GI symptoms, including gassiness, loose or abnormal stools, and abdominal pain, when baby eats foods that they are sensitive to.
Most commonly, if baby has a formula intolerance, its caused by cows milk in the formula. They could have an intolerance to lactose or to milk proteins.
If you think baby has a formula intolerance, talk to your doctor. Switching to an extensively hydrolyzed formula, like Nutramigen or Alimentum, may ease your little ones symptoms. These formulas contain milk proteins that are broken down into very small parts . They are also free of lactose.
But dont switch formulas until youve talked to your doctor about babys possible intolerance, and theyve given you the ok to switch.
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Burp Your Baby During And After Feeding
Burping is very important during and after each feeding to release gas from the babys stomach. My grandma used to say, burp baby three times at each feeding- one time when you switch your breast, two times after feeding.
I had a hard time getting one burp out of my baby, and three-times, burping was mission impossible for me until I tried hard. Trust me, burping three times made a huge difference.
There are 3 ways you can burp your baby.
- Seated Position: Support your babys head with the cradle of your hand and gently tap babys back until they burp.
- Upright Position: Just hold your baby upright until they burp
- Over your shoulder: Hold your baby on your shoulder in a way that your shoulder gently presses their stomach. This technique worked best for me.
Dont be impatient if the baby doesnt burp right away. It may take few minutes for gas bubbles to rise to the surface in your babys tummy.
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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!
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Use A Right Bottle If You Are Bottle Feeding
Use a bottle with a wide nipple base so the baby can latch on correctly to avoid swallowing excess air along with milk. An angled bottle with a venting system at the bottom of the bottle works best to release air bubbles from the bottle when the baby drinks milk from the bottle.
- Related reading: The 10 Best Bottle Warmer for Breast Milk
Know When To Call The Doctor
If these simple solutions for your babys upset stomach arent working, call the doctor. Colic, which is characterized by excessive inconsolable crying, might not really have a known cause, says Dr. Loizides, and some constipation might work itself out on its own. However, he says to watch out for concerning symptoms like pain during or after feeding, persistent food refusal, vomiting blood or green or yellow fluid, poor growth, breathing problems, or choking.
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Surefire Ways To Soothe A Gassy Baby
As a new mom, one of the things that surprised me about my babies was how gassy they were. My sweet, little cherubs would toot and grunt and pass gas a lot. At times, it was hard not to laugh. How can such a little baby make such a big noise! The truth is babies pass gas 13-21 times a day, so its totally normal.
Are Baby Gas Drops Safe
Yes, baby gas drops are considered safe for use by the general public. Their primary active ingredient is simethicone, which breaks up bothersome gas bubbles in the stomach.
A typical dose of baby gas drops is 20 milligrams, administered up to 4 times per day. These drops can be added to water, formula, or breast milk. As always, though, be sure to consult your doctor before giving them to a gassy newborn.
Its also important to check with your pharmacist if your child is currently taking any other types of medication. Certain drugs, including those used to treat thyroid conditions, may have a negative interaction with baby gas drops.
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How To Prevent And Ease Baby Gas: 6 Top Tips
While gas may be common, what happens if your baby seems to experience discomfort, pain, or fussiness? Luckily, there are things you can do to help alleviate your little ones tummy troubles.
Try these 6 expert tips to see if they are able to keep the toots at bay.
1. Check your diet
Often, what mom eats can make its way to baby and cause gas for their tiny tummies. Whats more, if a baby has an allergy or food sensitivity, the gas can sometimes be accompanied with diarrhea. If youre breastfeeding, here are some common examples of foods that may be causing your babys gas:
- Beans and lentils
- Aromatic vegetables like shallots, onions or garlic
A major culprit of baby gas is dairy, as cows milk allergy and protein/lactose sensitivities are becoming more and more common.
The best way to check if a food youre eating is giving your baby gas is to try whats called an elimination diet. For up to two weeks, remove a suspected food from your diet and see if your babys gas problems ease. If a food seems to be a culprit, try eating it only in moderation. Its always best to consult with your doctor to ensure youre getting a balanced diet while you eliminate and test certain foods.
2. Let the formula settle
- Tip: If youre in a rush, gently tapping the bottom of the bottle on the counter or table can help bubbles rise to the top more quickly.
3. Swap bottles for gassy babies
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