Understanding and managing baby gas can help bring relief to both you and your little one. Here's a quick guide to help you navigate this common issue:
Babies will cry for many reasons. Look for these additional cues to identify gas pains
When babies are crying because of tummy pain, you will likely also see:
Kicking, pulling up legs, or scrunching knees while unhappy
Clenched fists
Squirming after feeding and "curling in"(rather than arching their back, which is from infant reflux pain).
Red face
Here's what to do
It can feel helpless when trying to soothe a gassy baby with the usual go-to's of rocking, bouncing, and singing, but they're still struggling. Instead of holding them, try to offer gentle and targeted movements that encourage the gas to move along the digestive tract, such as:
Gentle massages on your baby's tummy in a clockwise direction
Baby "bicycle ride." Gently lay them down and "pedal" their legs up and down.
Tummy time, as the gentle pressure from moving on the floor can sometimes help
How to prevent gassiness
Baby gas is often par for the course, but proper feeding techniques can help reduce gas in your baby's tummy.
Ensure a proper latch for breastfed babies to prevent swallowing air during nursing.
If bottle-feeding, use slow-flow nipples and keep the bottle tilted to minimize air intake.
If using powder formula, let it sit for a few minutes before serving, as air bubbles can be in the mixture immediately after mixing and shaking it.
No matter how you feed your baby, don't forget to burp your baby gently after each feeding, allowing any trapped air to escape.
If your baby is persistently struggling with gas pains or these tactics don't seem to help your baby pass gas, talk to your pediatrician to rule out other causes of tummy troubles, such as constipation or infant reflux.