Gas is formed when tiny bubbles of air get trapped in the stomach or intestines of the baby.
Newborns and infants often produce a lot of gas due to their immature digestive system. This is completely normal as long as they are passing it in form of burp or fart.
Sometimes babies swallow air from outside that leads to the formation of excessive gas which they find difficult to release on their own. This excessive gas is very discomforting and even painful for some babies.
This article lists 7 effective ways to help relieve gas in babies. Let’s have a look:
#1: Burp Burp Burp!
One thing to swear by is to make the baby burp after every feed. Burping helps the baby to get rid of the air that she may have swallowed during the feed. Though your baby may not burp always, you must lift her up in an upright position and gently pat her on the back for at least 5 to 10 minutes after feeding. This helps the milk to settle down in her stomach and reduce the chances of spit ups.
Did You Know?
There are multiple positions to burp a baby. 3 most common positions are: chin on shoulder, sit on lap, and face down on lap.
#2: Exercise
Exercise is another effective way to release the trapped air from your baby’s stomach. Place your baby comfortably on her back. Now gently move her legs in a bicycle motion, bringing her knees up to her stomach. You can also try bringing both the legs up at the same time. The gentle up and down movement of the legs shall move the gas through the intestines of your baby.
#3: Tummy Massage
A gentle massage on your little one’s tummy may help soothe her gas problem. Lay her comfortably on her back and using your forefinger start massaging around her belly button in circular motion – clockwise only. Add fingers one by one and keep expanding the circles till you cover all her tummy.
Another effective massage technique is the ‘I Love You’ massage. Using your thumb, make an inverted I (bottom to top) on the right side of your baby’s tummy (your left). Then make a ’90-degrees-clockwise-rotated’ L (bottom-left to top-right). Then make an inverted U (bottom-left to bottom-right). Repeat 4-5 times while rhyming ‘I Love You’ to your baby.
#4: Tummy Time
Tummy time is an excellent activity to lessen your baby’s gas problem, as well as to strengthen her muscles. Regular tummy time help reduce gas build-ups in babies. Lay the baby on her stomach and allow her to play on her own as long as she feels comfortable. As the baby lies on her stomach, her intestines are stretched, allowing the gas to move and pass easily. This exercise should be done only when the baby is awake and under supervision of parents.
#5: Warm Bath
When a baby is partially submerged in a tub of warm water, her gastrointestinal tract work more efficiently. This helps ease her gas pain and soothe her painful tummy.
Did You Know?
A perfect latch is important to manage gas problems in babies. If a baby is not properly latched on her mother’s breast or bottle, she may swallow a lot of air during the feeds and become extremely gassy.
#6: Asafoetida (Heeng)
Asafoetida is a popular Indian remedy for gas discomfort in babies. Once the baby’s umbilical cord has fallen, you can apply asafoetida on her navel to help alleviate the gas. Mix a pinch of asafoetida in a few drops of warm water and make a paste. Using a cotton ball, apply this paste around the navel of your baby. Allow asafoetida to work while trying to calm your baby.
#7: Gas Drops
When nothing seems to work, give your baby some gas drops – as prescribed by your pediatrician. While there are multiple gas or colic drops available in the market, giving the right drops in right quantity is important for your baby.
Final Take
Gas formation is very common in newborns and infants. It shouldn’t be a matter of concern if your baby is fine. If not, try different methods to soothe the baby. If the baby is still cranky, time to visit your pediatrician.
