Signs Your Baby Has Gas And How To Treat It

Gas is quite a common problem, not only in old people but also in babies. I suppose that’s why they call old-age a second childhood. Jokes apart, babies do tend to get quite gassy and this could lead to a lot of discomfort for them (which means discomfort for you). The reason for excess gas in babies is the swallowing of excess air. This could happen when they eat, cry, or suck on anything. What it does is it causes a buildup of gastric juices in the intestines by creating an obstacle for them to pass.

1. Gas tends to manifest itself in burps, farts and fussiness.

2. Additionally, you may find that your baby’s tummy feels kind of hard or bloated.

3. Your baby will also tend to cry probably due to the discomfort, or hiccup and spit up more often than normal. The crying may be different from normal cries.

The key is prevention. To ensure that your baby doesn’t have to face gas pains, try your best to make your baby burp after every feeding. To do this, gently pat and rub your baby’s back after you’re done with the feeding. Another thing you can do is to make sure that the angle at which your baby is fed (either nursed or bottle-fed) is such that it prevents any excess air from entering. Consult your doctor to make sure that the food and formula that you’re feeding your baby is right for him/her and not causing any unwanted reactions in your baby’s body. Help your baby is sitting upright while you feed so that the milk doesn’t go down the wrong way. Also, avoid feeding in a hurry because the chances of latching being improper are higher and it tends to make you less careful while feeding.

“But I’ve made those mistakes, so what do I do if my baby’s already gassy?”

If this is a question you’re asking yourself right now, there are a few suggestions we can give you. For starters, you could try massaging your baby. Gently rub and massage your baby’s belly and back. This will help the gas move out of your baby’s body and ease the discomfort he/she may be feeling. Another thing that has been found to be quite helpful in making your baby’s legs in cycling motions. This leads to movement of the intestines which helps move the gas along

There are a couple of other things you could try after consulting your doctor. Firstly, you can try gas drops which help relieve discomfort in the intestines. Secondly, you can try over the counter medicines/ pharmaceutical drugs which help with gas. If the gas hasn’t seemed to pass even though it’s been a few days, take your baby to the doctor to get the little one checked up for any problems.