Babies frequently experience gas. They frequently urinate 13–21 times per day! Why all of it? Infants frequently swallow air, such as when they:
- Whether food is from a breast or a bottle, eat.
- Utilize a pacifier
- Cry
- You can observe the following symptoms if the air becomes trapped in your baby’s tummy:
- Burp
- make a fuss
- are swollen
- Cry \Fart
- have a stiff stomach
Diagnosis
It’s not a disease to have gas. It’s a transient, occasionally uncomfortable symptom for the majority of infants. A doctor might advise testing to find the cause of other symptoms or if the flatulence is terrible. To determine the etiology of gas that is accompanied by other symptoms, doctors may employ the following techniques:
Analyzing the infant to look for symptoms of illness or another issue requesting the caregivers to record a food log for the baby and, if the baby is breastfed, for the mother to examine the baby’s stool, typically by asking for a dirty diaper
To rule out more serious diseases, the doctor may arrange imaging tests of the baby’s digestive system if they detect a significant issue.
How can gas affect a baby’s diet?
When it is available, breast milk is the healthiest option for babies because it is the biological standard of diet. If a baby develops gas, there is no reason to stop nursing.
Gas can also result from infant formula. When infant formula is mixed, air bubbles may emerge in the baby’s food, posing an elevated risk of gas. Instead, use a liquid formula that has already been blended, or wait until it has settled for a few minutes before feeding the baby.
Some infants could be hypersensitive to soy or lactose in the formula. However, lactose intolerance in babies is highly uncommon and frequently transient. Developmental lactase deficit, a temporary disease, may affect prematurely born infants.
Lactose-free milk-based or soy-based formulas did not reduce newborns’ fussiness or crying, according to a 2015 study involving nearly 300 infants.
Before changing a baby’s formula, a parent should consult a pediatrician.
Identifying dietary sensitivities that cause gas can be done with the aid of a food diary once a baby begins solids.
Gassy babies can occasionally appear to be extremely unhappy or in agony. How would you know if there was a second issue?
According to pediatrician Jennifer Shu, MD, if your kid is typically content and fusses briefly when passing gas, that’s a clue that it’s okay. “They may make noise and turn red, but it doesn’t necessarily indicate they are bothered by it. There’s probably nothing wrong if they’re content between episodes and not overly upset when they’re happening.”
The gas will get better for both of you as your baby’s digestive system develops.
How to Improve Your Baby’s Health
To avoid and lessen the discomfort of gas, try these steps:
Verify the feeding position. Shu advises keeping the infant’s head higher than her stomach while breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. This makes it easier to burp out since the milk falls to the bottom of the stomach, and the air rises to the top. Use a breastfeeding cushion for support and tilt the bottle up just a bit to prevent air bubbles from forming in the nipple.
Your infant, burp. Burping a baby before, during, and after nursing is one of the simplest ways to relieve gas discomfort. Lay them down on their back for a while if they don’t immediately spew, then try again.
Give your infant a gentle massage, rock them back and forth on their back like they’re riding a bike, or let them spend some time on their tummy (watch them while they lie on their stomach). The additional gas can also be eliminated by taking a warm bath.
Examine foods more carefully. Foods that can cause your infant to have more gas can be discussed with their doctor. According to Lavine, some parents give their babies fruit juice containing sorbitols (sugar alcohols) that babies can’t digest. The physician will also ensure you don’t forgo any nutrients your child requires.
If you breastfeed, certain items that you consume that can pass into your breast milk, such as dairy products and caffeine, may be difficult for your infant to digest. If you take their formula, discuss switching brands with your doctor. Some assert it is beneficial for gassy infants.
OTC (over-the-counter) medications
You can also try a few over-the-counter medicines to assist a gassy baby. Ask your physician or pharmacist for a suggestion. Ask them to confirm that none of these medications will interfere with any other medications they are taking, that they have no food allergies to any ingredients, and that the dosage is appropriate.
You can try simethicone gas drops for infant gas, although there isn’t any conclusive evidence that they work.
infant colic and gas
Your infant may experience colic during the first four months of life if they cry for three hours straight, more than three days a week for more than three weeks. Although colic does not result from gas, a colicky baby may swallow more air, which results in more gas.
When Should You Be Anxious?
- Infant gas is typically common and curable. But on occasion, it can be the first indication of a more serious digestive issue, adding Jenna Faircloth, PharmD, of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Ohio. Immediately seek medical attention if your infant:
- has bloody stools, vomits, or neither.
- quite picky. A doctor must examine them for a problem if you cannot soothe them down.
- is feverish. A rectal temperature of at least 100.4 F necessitates a physician ruling out infection. Take them right away to the doctor if they are younger than three months old.
