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.
Baby Gas Pains: How To Help Your Baby
Listening to an infant suffer through gas pains can be tough for just about anyone. But for the new parents who are already exhausted, stressed, and frustrated, it can be especially difficult. If your baby is suffering with gas pains, dont despair. There are plenty of things you can do to give your baby some relief.
Tummy Time And The Colic Carry
You may be able to relieve your babys gas by putting them on their stomachs. This can be done with tummy time or by doing the colic carrywhere baby is laid across your knees or laid on their tummy on your forearm.
The gentle pressure on their stomach while lying in these positions can help get their gas moving and provide relief.
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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.
Help Baby Screaming In Pain From Gas
Is your baby screaming in pain from gas? Trapped gas in the babys intestine can cause bloating and discomfort. Read on to learn causes, signs, and how to relieve gas pain in infants naturally.
As a new parent, if you didnt get to sleep through the night because of a gassy baby, then this post finds you well!!
While it is heartbreaking to see your baby screaming, grunting, and squirming in pain, you can find comfort in knowing that it is relatively normal in infants.
Did you know on average, newborn babies passes a gas 13-21 times a day?
Yes!! No kidding!
It is funny when you hear your little one pass that roaring fart bombs at days and nights, which is actually a good thing. The problem arises when they cant pass gas freely. When it gets trapped in their intestine, it results in bloating and discomfort.
This inability to pass gas calls for a very unhappy baby and an unhappy baby makes for one cranky parent.
Once upon a time, I was one sleepless and cranky parent. If you are one right now, I can understand what it feels like to deal with a baby screaming in pain from gas.
With lots of research, I have learned a lot about how to relieve gas pain in babies. If you are seeking some serious help, keep reading to find the right solution for your gassy newborn.
Disclosure:This post contains affiliate links. As an affiliate and Amazon associate, I earn commission on qualified purchase at no extra cost to you.
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How To Know If Your Baby Is Uncomfortable
First, you need to identify that the baby is indeed suffering from gas pains. All babies cry to a certain extent because it is their primary means of communication with those around them. But the cry associated with gas pains is different from a tired, hungry, or bored cry. A gas pain cry will be sharper and sound more frantic than others. You may also see the baby pulling up their legs in discomfort. With these two signs combined, you can be sure your baby is suffering from excessive gas.
Stay Upright To Make Farting Easier And Quicker
Interestingly, staying in the upright position may make it easier to fart when you need to.
Although many people find that lying down helps to ease abdominal discomfort, staying upright may help to make yourself break wind easier. For example, a report published in the journal Gut reported that the upright position helps ease symptoms of flatulence and propel gas from your gut easier. Being upright, rather than lying on your back, also helps to get relief from bloating and gut distention.8
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Is It Bad If I Fart A Lot
No, its not. Farting is a natural process of the digestive system and indicates that food is getting broken in the digestive tract. Dr. Norton Greenberger from Harvard Medical Schools says that the average person breaks wind between 13 and 21 times a day.17
You can read more about this subject in my article on why do I fart so much? causes and ways to reduce excessive gas.
What Are The Best Gas Drops For Infants
If you are still dealing with an unhappy baby, it is recommended that you see your pediatrician for gastropod testing. Some children are said to respond well to over-the-counter GI drops containing simethicone. Shu. Products containing this ingredient include Gerber, Mylicon, and Phazyme Gas Relief Drops.
Also Check: How To Deal With Reflux In Newborn
When Should I Call The Doctor For My Gassy Baby
Oftentimes, a gassy baby can be fixed with a little burping or tweak to their diet. However, if your babys gassiness is causing any of the following problems, go ahead and call your doctor.
- Your baby isnt gaining weight
- Your baby doesnt want to eat
- Your baby has a hard time pooping or seems constipated
How To Relieve Gas In Newborns Home Remedies Over The Counter
1. Gastrops, grumpy water and herbal teas Gastrops Gastrops is an over-the-counter product that can be used for children with excessive gas or colic. Gastrointestinal drops contain simethicone, which breaks down gas bubbles in your child’s stomach. Gastrointestinal drops are usually mixed with milk, baby food or a little water and given to the baby.
Recommended Reading: How Often Should A Formula Fed Newborn Eat
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.
What Can I Do To Help Alleviate Gas In My Breastfed Baby
Apply gentle pressure to your babys belly
Tummy Time: This position can put gentle pressure on your babys belly, helping to provide gas relief. Wait at least 30 minutes after a feeding to allow your little ones belly to settle before starting tummy time.7
Or try a more advanced move use both hands and a lot of guided support to lay your baby tummy down on a large beach or exercise ball and gently roll her on the ball in a circular motion.
Forearm Hold: Also called the football hold, magic hold, and the colic carry. Try carrying your baby face down with her body resting on your forearm, the front of her diaper area in your hand and her chin cradled in your elbow.9 Make sure to tilt babys head to the side to avoid blocking their nose or mouth. Carrying your little one in this face-down position will place the same gentle pressure on their belly that is achieved during tummy time.
Burp your baby during and after a feeding
Take a break between sides or even during a feed to get a burp or two out.8
You may choose to burp your baby while they are in a seated position, with their head supported by the cradle of your hand.17You can also burp your baby in the typical position: upright and over your shoulder.8
Try infant massage on your babys tummy for gas relief
Read more: Baby massage benefits and techniques
Bicycle your babys legs
Read more: How Do I help My Breastfed Baby with Diarrhea and Constipation?
Do gas drops like simethicone work?
Wait it out!
Lets Chat!
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When Should You Worry
Most of the time, infant gas is normal and treatable. But in rare cases, it can be the first sign of a more serious digestive problem, says Jenna Faircloth, PharmD, of Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center in Ohio. Contact the doctor right away if your baby:
- Does not poop, has bloody stools, or vomits.
- Is very fussy. If you cant get them to calm down, a doctor needs to check for a problem.
- Has a fever. If they have a rectal temperature of 100.4 F or higher, a doctor needs to rule out infection. If they are under 3 months of age, take them to the doctor right away.
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.
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Gas Drop Gripe Water And Herbal Teas
Gas drops
Gas drops are an over the counter product that can be used on babies with excessive gas or colic. Gas drops contain simethicone which works to break up gas bubbles in your babys stomach. Usually, gas drops are mixed in with breastmilk, formula, or a bit of water and given to baby.
Most research does not support any significant improvement when gas drops are used, but anecdotally many mothers swear by it.
Gripe water and herbal teas
On the other hand, gripe water is considered a more natural option. Gripe water is a supplement made with water and natural herbs known to aid in digestion such as fennel, ginger, and dill seed oil.
There isnt a ton of research supporting its effectiveness, but a few small studies do seem to support the effectiveness of fennel seed extract and mixed herbal teas .
Again, anecdotally, many mamas see a positive effect on their babys gassiness with the use of gripe water.
A note about these remedies
When it comes to these products, I think its important to note that recommendations for babies under 4-6 months old is for a diet of exclusively breastmilk or formula.
Administering gas drops, gripe water, or an herbal tea may do more harm than good on such an immature digestive system thats designed to digest only breastmilk .
For these reasons, many experts, including Kelly Mom, recommend avoiding these remedies.
Does Formula Cause Gas
Yes, Infant formula can also cause gas in babies. At the same time, in preparing recipes, excessive mixing causes air bubbles to form, increasing the risk of gas in babies. To avoid this, after mixing the formula with water, let it settle before feeding the baby. You can also try the pre-mix formula.
Sometimes, babies are sensitive to ingredients in the formula. A research study published in 2011 suggested that feeding babies an easily digested low-lactose formula may ease gas and colic in babies.
If you suspect the baby is gassy because of formula, talk to your pediatrician before switching the formula.
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Why Do My Farts Smell
Farts smell because of bacteria that break down foods containing sulfur. Dr. Greenberger says that the most common culprits are leafy green vegetables, beans, or dairy products. These foods tend to produce gas that smells of rotten eggs. Certain fiber-rich foods also produce methane when bacteria break them down. However, most of the gas when you fart doesnt smell.17
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 98,272 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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Relieve Baby Gas Fast Home Remedies
Many newborns, particularly between the ages of 1-4 months, suffer from gas. The taking in of air while feeding, allergies to food given, and/or improper burping practices may all cause the baby to be gassy and irritable.
Following these simple methods can help relieve the babys gas:
- A warm bath and compress work as the best natural remedy for colicky babies and offers respite from gas. Soak a towel in warm water, squeeze it, and gently rub the babys tummy with it. Warm water will soothe the cramps and make the baby feel better.
- Gently massaging touch can be calming and relaxing, but even more importantly, the pressure on your babys tummy can help encourage gas bubbles to come out. You can also try the colic hold to help relieve pressure in a gassy baby. To do this hold, you can hold your baby across your lap so that his tummy lays on your legs.
- Simply putting the baby in the tummy first position for about 2 minutes can also help relieve the gases due to the pressure on the tummy. Be mindful that the nose and mouth are free, and breathing is not hampered.