Tips for Newborn Gas Relief
Baby’s tend to be gassy. In fact, an infant passes gas roughly 13-21 times a day. Your newborn baby doesn’t have the ability to hold it in as adults do, so they show it in their faces and in their actions. There are many things that can cause gas. One of the main issues being that newborns have an immature digestive system. Their stomach and bowels have never had to process food before. As a baby grows, their digestive tract will mature and be able to process everything with fewer side effects. Another reason is that babies do more to swallow air which leads to gas pockets. When they cry and eat and suck (on hands, fingers or pacifiers), they gulp air - all of which causes gas. You may notice baby straining and grunting to pass gas.
Here is what you can do to help your baby with gas!
When feeding, position the baby so their stomach is lower than their head (which helps gas bubbles rise to the top making them easier to burp out).
Burp baby frequently when feeding.
If bottle feeding, check for air in the nipple or change the type of nipple used.
You can talk to your baby’s pediatrician about changing the formula if there are other signs that the baby may be sensitive to the formula or if the baby is frequently unhappy.
Infant massage techniques, tummy time or a bath may also help relieve gas.
One more trick: try bicycle legs and/or pushing the legs into a knee chest position (while lying down or holding baby upright in a squatting position) to help release baby’s gas.
If your baby has other signs of food sensitivity, is very fussy most of the time, has a fever, or other digestive issues (excessive spitting up, vomiting, blood in stool, absence of poop), make sure to contact the baby's doctor immediately. If the baby is only upset while passing gas and the above techniques help, it’s likely just normal infant gas and should get better with time.
