DISCLAIMER: This post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding you or your baby’s health. Please read my Medical Disclaimer for more info
DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may get a commission if you decide to purchase something through my links at no cost to you. Please read my Disclaimer for more info.
It can be challenging for both of you when your little one has gas. They’re often very uncomfortable and difficult to soothe but today we’re going to go through the best ways to relieve and prevent baby gas!
Possible Causes of Baby Gas Pain
- An incorrect latch leading to your baby swallowing too much air
- Excessive crying will fill your baby’s belly with air
- Constipation
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Common Symptoms of Baby Gas Pain
- Excessive burping
- Spitting up (typically normal but can sometimes be a sign of gas)
- Excessive gas
- Bloated or swollen abdomen
- Trouble sleeping
Now, what are some things you can try to help your baby!
Remedies for Baby Gas Relief
If your little one is gassy and in pain, here are some remedies you can try to help them!:
1. Bicycle Your Baby’s Legs
Lay your baby on his back and gently move their legs in a bicycling motion toward their tummy to help push out your baby’s gas.
Or you can gently push your baby’s knees up to his tummy and hold for 10 seconds, then release and straighten your baby’s legs and repeat several times.
2. Tummy Time
Tummy time is fantastic for strengthening your baby’s muscles, but the gentle pressure on your baby’s tummy can help relieve their baby gas.
Be sure to wait at least 20 to 30 minutes after they eat before starting tummy time, and always supervise your baby.
I loved this tummy-time mat for my daughter!
3. Birthing Ball Belly Massage
Like tummy time for this method, hold your baby on their tummy on a birthing ball at least 20 to 30 minutes after eating. Move them in gentle circular motions to apply gentle pressure and help them pass gas.
4. Give Your Baby a Massage
Massage can sometimes help your baby pass gas. Start by gently massaging your baby’s tummy, then give a gentle rub all over — shoulders, back, legs. This gentle pressure, along with relaxing your baby, should help them with any digestive issues, discomforts, or gas.
I recommend using organic coconut oil as a non-toxic option to use when massaging your baby.
- Rub some coconut oil inbetween your hands to melt and warm it up
- Circle with two or three of your fingers around baby’s navelin a clockwise direction
- Next, use both hands to paddle-down, one hand after the other
- Lastly, start your hand on babys left side of their belly, accross the top and down, and up from their right side, accross the top and down the left side.
The last step is called the “I Love You” and works on your baby’s large intestine to help your baby release gas and get their bowels moving more.
5. Consider Baby Probiotics
Probiotics are the good bacteria and yeast that have positive benefits for your body, especially your digestive system, and they are naturally present in your gut microbiome (the microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi found in your GI tract).
Research in people with bowel conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has found that probiotics may help reduce gassiness, likely by supporting gut health.
More studies are being done to prove if probiotics work for gassy babies. In the meantime, while probiotics are generally considered safe, be sure to talk to your baby’s pediatrician before giving them any probiotics.
To learn more, check out this post!: Should You Give Your Baby Probiotics?
6. Feed Your Baby Before They Reach the Late Hunger Stage
Try to feed your baby when you notice their early or active hunger cues (before they begin to cry) because the more your baby cries, the more air they swallow, and then the more gas your baby could have.
Early and active hunger cues include:
- Rooting
- Active alert state (May be fussy, irregular breathing, indicates your baby is starting to need something)
- Flexing arms/legs, clenching hands
- Sucking motions
- Sucking on finger or fist (Also, a normal developmental milestone around 3 months old so look for more than this around that time)
7. Burp Your Baby in the Middle and After Each Feeding
To help reduce gas in your baby, burp them halfway through their feeding (breast or bottle) and also at the end. This ensures you’re getting ant air back out of them quickly to avoid discomfort later.
Burping Positions:
On your shoulder: Hold your baby against your shoulder. Support her bottom with one hand, and pat or rub her back with the other.
Sitting up: Hold your baby in a seated position on your lap, leaning slightly forward. Support your baby’s chest with one arm and use your fingers and thumb to support their head and neck while you pat and rub their back with the other hand.
Tips for burping your baby:
- Use a burp cloth to protect clothes, plus an extra nearby in case your baby spits up a little.
- A gentle pat or rub may get the burp up for most babies, but some need a slightly firmer hand.
- Focus on the left side of your baby’s back, which is where your little one’s stomach is located.
- Fussing in the middle of feeding may be due to discomfort from swallowed air, and continued fussing causes her to swallow more air. Try burping your baby right away to see if it’s an air bubble in her tummy that’s causing her to protest.
Swallowing Air From Bottle-Feeding?
The idea that “babies swallowing air is bad and causes gassiness” is not true and it was made up by formula companies. We all swallow air when we’re eating and it’s okay! To get that air out it’s normal to become a bit gassy and burp!
So, remember how we talked about how your baby doesn’t have a suck reflex until around 3 months old? And how this can lead to overfeeding babies breastmilk and all of the sudden you’re not able to keep up with what your baby “needs”?
What happens when moms cannot keep up with the breastmilk demands from their babies? They often go to formula. Therefore, if parents like you know how to pace feed your baby, you will not run into this problem! (Unless something is going on that you need to talk to a lactation counselor about).
If you are ever worried that you aren’t producing enough milk, or your baby isn’t getting enough, or anything at all that might be breastfeeding or bottle-feeding related, always reach out to a lactation consultant before making substantial changes.
Learn how to pace bottle feed your baby (the best way to bottle feed without overfeeding) in How to Introduce a Bottle to Your Breastfed Baby.
8. Check Your Baby’s Latch
Incorrect latching can cause your baby to gulp or take in lots of air while nursing, and if this happens, they’re going to be gassy no matter what position you nurse in.
Learn how to correctly latch your baby and notice the signs of a poor latch.
See a Lactation Consultant
If your baby’s gas continues, contact a lactation consultant to help assess the possibilities of a food sensitivity/allergy, latching problem, a formula you’re using, etc.!
I hope these tips work to help you relieve your little one’s gas. Let me know in the comments below which ones you swear by to help your baby!
You got this! You are encouraged, educated, and empowered. ♡
Sources:
US Department of Health and Human Services: Babies Need Tummy Time!
DISCLAIMER: This post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding you or your baby’s health. Please read my Medical Disclaimer for more info
DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may get a commission if you decide to purchase something through my links at no cost to you. Please read my Disclaimer for more info.
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