Burping allows some gas to escape from the stomach early on, and the rest travels from the colon to the rectum, where it's ejected primarily via bowel movements or farts. But when gas doesn't pass easily, it collects in the digestive tract and causes bloating and discomfort. Babies are especially prone to this. Infants also take in a lot of air while feeding and crying, which produces more gas," says Samira Armin, M. Bottle-fed babies have it the worst, but breastfeeding doesn't make a baby immune.
Ultimately, a newborn baby may pass more gas than a grown man. Frequency of gas is generally not a cause for concern, and a fussy baby might be perfectly normal, too. Unlike adults, babies pass gas with a little less decorum and a lot more enthusiasm. If you suspect that your fussy baby is genuinely uncomfortable, and they keep squirming and pulling up their legs, they might have some gas that refuses to pass.
The best way to confirm your suspicions is to try some gas-relieving techniques. This applies to gassy breastfed babies and gassy bottle-fed babies. For some children, even normal amounts of gas can cause abnormal discomfort. That's because they have an increased sensitivity to distension the stretching of the intestines , says John Rosen, M. Kids and adults experience sensations from intestinal pain fibers in different ways and have individual pain thresholds.
If you have a gassy baby, there are several things you can do. Start by placing your baby on a flat surface, belly down. Lift them up slightly on their stomach, and gently massage their belly. Or place your baby on their back and "try moving their legs and hips around as if they were riding a bike," Dr. Brown says. Often these kinds of motions break up bubbles and give gas an extra push to work its way out.
Brown adds. If you're still faced with an unhappy infant, you might want to consult with your pediatrician about trying some gas drops. Shu says. Another option is to consider what might be causing the excess gas and see if you can reduce the bubble intake from the get-go. Bring on the Burps. Feeding time can come with a lot of crying, gulping, guzzling, and suckling—in other words, a lot of air, which eventually manifests itself in the form of a burp or gas.
Baby can also become gassy if they swallow air while crying for an extended period of time—which is why calming baby quickly is important. Infant formulas are made differently, so what works well for one child may not work well for another. Baby gas can also happen naturally as food is broken down during the digestive process.
Gas and related issues can start from when baby is a few weeks old all the way up through the toddler stage. But once they hit the three-month mark, most babies are able to get through it and find other problems to distract themselves with. But there are a few common signs of a gassy baby you can look out for:. The way to know for sure that baby gas is to blame is when baby actually burps or farts. Sometimes, however, these gassy baby symptoms can indicate another problem.
If your little one has reflux —when stomach contents back up into the esophagus and out of the mouth—they may struggle and arch their back, rather than curl in. Constipation may also look very much like baby gas, with baby writhing and struggling. Babies who cry a lot—as in several hours a day—are often said to have gas pain.
But is it really gas? Baby gas and colic can appear to have similar symptoms: In addition to the crying, colicky babies often curl their legs toward their abdomen. Colic may or may not be related to belly pain, but some experts think colicky babies only appear gassy because they swallow so much air while crying due to existing colic pain.
Luckily, there are several baby gas relief options to help release the gas and soothe the discomfort. Read on to learn how to relieve gas in babies. Wrapping baby up tight can soothe your gassy baby by mimicking the coziness of the womb. This helps move gas along physically, but also helps soothe and calm nerves in the intestines.
You can also try changing the bottle nipple. Some babies have an intolerance to certain foods, such as dairy, soy, gluten, eggs, nuts and citrus. Medical Review Policy All What to Expect content that addresses health or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals. Is your baby gassy? Here's what causes infant gas and the best treatments for baby gas relief.
Back to Top. In This Article. Decoding Crying. View Sources. Lauren Crosby , M. Mayo Clinic, Colic , January Mayo Clinic, What Are Probiotics? Cochrane Library, Dietary modifications for infantile colic , October National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis Bi versus placebo for the symptoms of bloating in patients with functional bowel disorders: a double-blind study , July National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, A randomised clinical trial RCT of a symbiotic mixture in patients with irritable bowel syndrome IBS : effects on symptoms, colonic transit and quality of life , August National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Simethicone in the treatment of infant colic: a randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial , July August First Year.
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