6 most effective home remedies which help to relieve gas in babies

Gas in the stomach can be the air swallowed through the mouth, or it can be the gas naturally produced by bacteria in the baby's intestine track. A baby can develop a gassy tummy due to any of the following reasons:

• Drinking formula milk too fast: Babies who breastfeed at a controlled pace, but formula-fed infants tend to gulp down a lot more when the bottle is held vertically into the mouth. This leads to ingestion of surplus air that gets trapped within the stomach and causes bloating.
• Poor latch to the nipple: Babies who do not latch properly to the breast or bottle nipple tend to leave a considerable gap between their mouth and the nipple. This gap can permeate the surrounding air, which the baby swallows along with the milk.
• Formula mixing and type: Some babies may develop gas after consuming a particular kind of formula. If you mix formula by shaking it in a bottle, then it can infuse a lot of gas in the liquid, which eventually ends up in the baby’s stomach.
• Not burping the baby between feeds: You should burp your baby between feeds since they cannot do it themselves. Leaving the baby without burping leads to the accumulation of gas inside the belly.
• Too much crying: If the baby had been crying a lot, then they could inhale a lot of air that accumulates within the stomach and causes gassiness.
• Mother’s diet: What you eat is what you pass to your baby through breast milk. Certain food items may contain compounds that can get into breast milk and cause gas in babies.
• Eating various solid foods: Older infants and toddlers eat a wide variety of food. Bacteria within the gut can produce excess gas when digesting specific food items.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Gassy Baby?

A baby with gas in the tummy displays the following symptoms :

• Fussiness and irritability: It is probably the first sign you notice, especially after feeding the baby. Your baby will inexplicably become fussy and irritable while otherwise being alright.
• Bloating: A baby’s bloated belly may indicate trapped gas. The belly will also be firm to touch.
• Pulling legs towards tummy: The baby will try to relieve any discomfort caused by bloating by pulling the legs upwards.
• Rubbing belly: Infants may also rub their belly while older infants and toddlers may hold or point towards the tummy to express discomfort.
• Gurgling noises from the stomach: If the surroundings are quiet, then you may even hear gurgling sounds from the baby’s belly. It could be a result of gas moving inside the gastrointestinal tract. It is most likely to occur sometime after a feed.
• Crying while squirming: If the gas causes severe bloating, then a baby may cry and squirm due to the discomfort.

Sometimes, gassiness and bloating can cause extreme discomfort, warranting medical attention.

Home Remedies For Gas In Babies

A few natural remedies can work effectively as preventive measures for gas among infants. Parents must try the following steps at home when the baby displays symptoms of gas:

Burp: Timely burping after a feed prevents the accumulation of gas in the baby’s gastrointestinal tract. After every feed, hold the baby in your arms such that their head rests on your shoulder. Gently tap and rub the baby’s back between the shoulders till you hear a burp. Make sure to place a cloth on your shoulder since babies normally tend to regurgitate small amounts of liquid from their stomachs.

Basic baby exercises: One of the best exercises for gas in babies is bicycle kicks. Lay your baby on the back on a soft surface. Move their legs up and down on a regular basis. The exercise will help your baby relieve the gas and feel better.

Give tummy time: Experts suggest that regular tummy time improves upper body strength among infants. Adequate abdominal muscle strength allows the gut to relieve itself from gas. The pressure on the belly during tummy time also helps in the removal of gas.

Tummy massage: Gentle clockwise massage around the navel stimulates the movement of food and gas through the gastrointestinal tract. You can consult a pediatrician or a certified pediatric massage therapist to learn specific massage techniques to relieve gas in babies.

A firm nipple latch is important: Check if your baby is latching right to prevent them from gulping air while they feed. The baby is holding on right when their mouth covers the entire nipple.

A good latch also causes suckling sounds, which let you know that the baby is feeding properly. Babies with some orthodontic problems tend to have a tough time with nipple latching. Get your baby checked by the doctor if you feel they could have a problem. You can also try different bottle nipples. A small or big bottle nipple could cause a baby to suction air. Do not let the baby lie down with a bottle placed vertically in their mouth. Instead, control the flow of the milk by using techniques like paced bottle feeding.

Switch formulas: If you suspect the current formula is causing gas, then try another. Sometimes the baby may have gas if they have lactose intolerance.

If the symptoms of gas persist for long, you should consult a doctor.