Flatulence in Newborn
Flatulence in Newborn
Why is my baby so gassy?
If your baby is gassy, you’ll notice that he passes a lot of gas and seems to feel better afterward. Gas troubles often start right away or when babies are just a couple of weeks old.
Fortunately, most infants outgrow them by the time they’re 4 to 6 months old, though for some, baby gas can last longer.
Infants are usually gassy because they have immature digestive systems and swallow air during feedings. Some babies may have sensitivities that could be affected by a breastfeeding mom's diet or a certain type of formula.
- 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.
If your baby's tummy troubles seem to be a problem, here's what to do for a gassy baby:
- Burp your baby twice. A lot of newborn discomfort is caused by swallowing air during feedings. In addition to burping after feeding , try giving your baby a gentle back pat mid-feed to get rid of swallowed air before it travels to baby’s bowels. One sign your baby needs a mid-meal burp: He turns away from the breast or bottle fussily after just a few minutes of feeding, which is more likely linked to gas than feeling full. If you're bottle-feeding, you can try burping every 2 to 3 ounces and if you're breastfeeding every five to 10 minutes (though that might be tricky).
- Control the air. Whether his meals come from breast or bottle, try feeding your baby in a more upright position to cut back on the air he swallows. If you’re breastfeeding, be sure your baby is properly latched . For bottle-fed babies, test anti-gas nipples and bottles, which can change the flow of milk and reduce the amount of air your baby swallows. Be sure that the nipple is always completely full with milk, so your baby doesn’t chase formula with air. And try to avoid shaking the bottle too much, which can add extra bubbles to the milk. You can also try a concentrated liquid or ready-to-feed formula instead of powder.
- Feed your baby before meltdowns. Crying, of course, is unpredictable — especially in really little babies. But the more your baby cries, the more air he swallows (and the more gas he has). So as much as possible, learn the early hunger cues in infantsto nip hunger in the bud.
- Try the colic carry. Lay your baby tummy-down across your knees, or hold him under his belly with your forearm, and gently massage his back. The pressure on his tummy can help relieve the pressure from gas (plus touch can be a powerful tool in calming fussiness).
- Offer infant gas drops. Though they don't work for every baby, infant gas drops are generally considered safe for babies. Check the label and opt for formulations with as few preservatives as possible. And be sure talk to your baby's doctor before proceeding.
- Do baby bicycles. Lay your baby on his back and gently cycle his legs in a bicycling motion toward his tummy to manually help push out trapped air. Or gently push baby’s knees up to his tummy and hold for 10 seconds, then release and straighten baby’s legs. Repeat several times.
- Encourage tummy time. Tummy time is good for strengthening the muscles. your baby needs to lift his head and, eventually, to crawl and walk. But the gentle pressure on baby’s tummy can also help relieve gas. Because some babies spit up if they’re put on their tummies soon after eating, wait at least 20 to 30 minutes (or when gas starts) before doing tummy time. Always supervise your baby during tummy time. And never put your baby to bed on his stomach, since tummy-sleeping puts babies at increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Give your baby a rub-down. Massage can sometimes help your baby pass gas. Start with your baby’s tummy, then give a gentle rub all over — shoulders, back, legs. It might help him relax enough to pass gas.
- Check your diet if you’re breastfeeding. If you’re breastfeeding, talk to your pediatrician about whether you should try cutting out foods that could potentially cause gas in your baby. Some that may cause baby gas include dairy products, caffeine, onions and cabbage.
- Test new formulas. Some formulas are marketed to reduce gassiness in babies. Check with your doctor about whether it’s worth giving a new formula a go.
- Talk to your doctor about chamomile tea. Ask your pediatrician first, but doctors sometimes suggest giving your baby cool or warm (not hot) chamomile tea through a dropper or mixing it in his milk if you're bottle feeding , as it may be somewhat effective at relieving gas pain and colic symptoms (though how well it works is still up for debate).
- Try baby gripe water. Usually a blend of sodium bicarbonate and herbs (often fennel and ginger, among others), Baby gripe water may help relieve gas and soothe fussy babies — although the verdict is out on whether it works. But never offer your little one gripe water without talking to your pediatrician first (and asking for recommended brands).
- Consider probiotics. Probiotics are bacteria that support your GI system and are naturally found in fermented foods like kimchi and yogurt as well as in supplements and formulas marketed for tummy troubles in babies. Research in people with bowel conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (I.B.S) has found that probiotics may help reduce gassiness, likely by supporting gut health — although more studies are being done to prove they work for gassy babies. In the meantime, while probiotics are generally considered safe, be sure to talk to your doctor before giving your infant any probiotic product.
- If your baby is breastfeeding, burp her when she finishes each breast. If she is bottle feeding, burp her after every 2-3 ounce (59- 89 mililiters). Bottle-feed babies should be burped more frequently.
- Keep your baby in an outright position while she bottlefeeds to help reduce the amount of air she swallows.
- Try different burping positions until you find one which is best for your baby.
- Remember that your baby may not need to burp. Plus, many baby need to burp less often as they grow old.
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- Keep a bib or dry cloth handy to protect your clothing if your baby splits up.
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| Burping Cloth |
- Gently rub or pat your baby's back when you are burping her.
- Hold your baby upright so that her chin rest on your shoulders. Support her bottom with one arm. Gently rub her back with your free hand.
- Set your baby on your lap and support her head and chest with one hand, lean her slightly forward and gently rub or pat her back with your other hand.
- Lay your baby on his stomach across your lap with one knee slightly higher than the other. Use one hand to support his head and neck., making sure that his head is higher then the chest. Gently rub or pat his back with your other hand.
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| Sleeping on Sides |
Causes of Gassy Pain in Babies
Gassy pain can be caused by various problems; some of the causes of gassy pain in babies include
- When harmless bacteria breaks down in digestive sugar in the large intestine, it can cause gas formation and abdominal pain.
- Babies swallow air during feeding and crying, a common cause of gassy pain. Drinking too much milk too fast can also be one of the major reasons for gas. Anything that takes too much air can result into a gassy baby.
- In some, consumption of excessive milk can also disrupt digestive system of kids. Consuming anything other than mother’s milk can also be a cause of gassy babies.
- It is also found that some breast fed babies may also produce gas when mothers start consuming gassy vegetables in excess such as cauliflower, beans, onions, cabbage,
- Brussels, sprouts and broccoli etc. If you observe that you are having any of these foods then it is better to stop having such kind of food as mentioned above.
- When mothers consume something that they are not able to tolerate well or certain medications taken by mothers can cause gassy pain in babies.
- Too much fruit juice can also be one of the major causes of stomach pain, bloating and diarrhea in kids.
- Oral thrush can also be one of the causes for gassy pain in babies.
Best Formula for Gassy Babies
There are certain ways that can help prevent gas in babies and are known to be the best formula to manage this condition.
- Use a leisurely pace while feeding the baby to allow both the mother and child to relax. This can help to reduce the intake of air along food. Providing a secure, relaxed and avoiding hurried environment while breastfeeding is the best formula for gassy babies.
- Another important and also one of the best formula for gassy babies is to manage the flow of milk. Slow down the spray of milk while breastfeeding and continue the milk intake steadily to allow babies to manage the flow of milk effectively.
- In bottle-fed babies, it is important to check the opening of nipple in order to make sure that the spray of milk to is slowed down so that the flow can be managed. Bottle-fed babies may usually swallow lots of milk so it is important to keep a check on the habits of feeding.
Another best formula for gassy babies is to pat your baby at regular intervals during feeding and after feeding. This promotes burping and helps to release gas in babies. One of the ways to do it is by gently pressing on back of the baby in clockwise motion while you lay baby on her back. You can also hold baby securely a position known as colic hold or gas hold.
Most of the babies start burping during the feeding or after the feeding in order to release the gas. Burping helps in slowing down the consumption of baby food or breastfeed. Some babies have occasional feed and can show their discomfort, while some babies start getting frustrated and also starts swallowing more air. Trapped air can cause immediate discomfort, make a baby feel full before finishing the feeding or pass into the intestines, causing flatulence. There are some of the good positions for helping your baby to burp. You can use some of the easy ways to help your baby burp and relieve stomach pain.
- Support your baby right over the burp cloth on the shoulders and then patting her back firmly.
- You can also make the baby sit upright on your lap with your hand under the chin, in order to support for head and chest. You can also forward her slightly while rubbing on the back and then patting.
- If these simple tips do not work you can look for some herbal remedies for gassy pain.
Home Remedies for Gassy Pain in Babies
Babies are born with immature digestive system and require more time to get mature. It takes time to treat gas problems in babies since it takes time for babies to develop a good digestive system. Some babies get a lot of digestive problems and can feel really irritated due to gas pains. Doctors may prescribe certain medications to reduce gassy pain in babies and improve their digestion.
However, many people also find using home remedies for gassy pain in babies useful. Some of these home remedies include
Warm Compress
A popular way to protect your baby from gastric pain is by using warm compress. For warm compress, you need to take a pan of hot water with towel. Squeeze the excess water and then keep the towel on baby’s abdomen. This procedure can be applied again when the towel cools down and repeat at least 2-3 times during the day or night whenever your child starts crying due to stomach pain.
Asafetida
Asafetida powder is a useful gas reliever and a wonderful home remedy for gassy pain in babies. It can be applied around the baby’s navel anti clockwise. You can dissolve a pinch of powder in 2 tbsp. of warm water in order to prepare a mixture. It can also be given to babies orally but it is always preferred to be applied around stomach area to obtain relief from gassy pain.
Mustard Oil
Massage using mustard oil is another home remedy for relieving gassy pain in babies. It can help in lubricating the abdominal muscles and stimulating digestive system. You can apply it around the baby’s navel in anti-clockwise position and can keep it away from exposure for some time.
Aniseed
Another effective home remedy for relieving bloating and flatulence in babies is aniseed. It has cooling properties and can be given to babies around 2-3 times during day. You can prepare a mixture of 1 tbsp. of aniseeds with one lire of water till it reduces to half.
Mint Tea
Mint tea is also used commonly for relieving gas pains and is a popular home remedy. However one should be careful while applying peppermint oil and tea directly to babies. Mint tea can be given to mothers but the amount should be properly regularized.
Herbal Remedies
Herbal remedies have been used since ancient times, with great benefit in relieving gassy pain in babies, without causing any harm. However, depending on the age of the baby, it may be worth consulting an expert for the right type of herbal remedy, the correct ways of using it and right dosage.
Most home remedies work wonders for gassy pain in babies, however, seeking medical opinion, as appropriate is essential.
Conclusion
It is important to give more time to your baby in order to get used to new environment and food. Different methods suit different babies, so try the best formula for gassy babies and see what works best for your baby. Holding the baby on the shoulder and patting the back for burping surely helps in relieving gassy pains and improves milk digestion in addition to home remedies for gassy.
Can breastfeeding make baby gassy?
Some research has found that the foods in a mom's diet might make breastfed babies gassy, but the evidence is far from conclusive. Before you completely revamp what you're eating, see if there are other subtle ways you can help your baby swallow less air at mealtimes, including working on your latch, burping baby twice at each feeding and trying different nipples or bottles if you pump.
If your breastfed baby is still gassy, and you notice that every time you eat a certain food he seems gassier or fussier than usual, there’s no harm in cutting that food from your diet to see if it helps. Work with your doctor to nail down foods that might make breastfed babies gassy, including:
- Cruciferous veggies like cabbage, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower
- Dairy and eggs
- Meals that are very spicy, oniony or
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| Don't Feed Empty Bottle |
Ways to calm a gassy baby
- Feeding angle : Instead for lying baby flat for breast or bottle feeding keep her head higher than the stomach.
- Tummy massage : Softly stroke baby's belly clockwise (to follow the path of digestion) This can help the air moving in her tummy.
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| Natural Solution for Infant gas |
- Bicycle legs : Lay baby on her back and gently move her legs in a bicycle motion to help release any air trapped in her stomach.
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Managing gas instantly |
What infant gas drops are safe and effective?
Infant gas drops contain simethicone, which breaks up gas bubbles and is also the main ingredient in common anti-gas medications for adults. Research as to how effective they are is mixed. Still, simethicone gas drops for babies are very safe, and some parents find they’re very effective.
Want to try infant gas drops to help your gassy baby? First, talk to your pediatrician about what kind to look for and how often to give them. And follow the dosing instructions on the bottle. Most will say you can give your baby drops up to 12 times per day, or at each feeding. Some parents find it’s helpful to give babies gas drops right before each feed to pre-empt gas problems, but check with your doctor to be sure.
Read the label and be sure to avoid drops with sodium benzoate or benzoic acid, which can be harmful to babies in large quantities.
And if a friend or relative brings a gas treatment from another country or one that isn't approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), don't give it to your baby unless you get approval from your pediatrician. It could contain alcohol, sugar or other potentially harmful ingredients that aren't clearly listed on the packaging.
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