Gas in babies
Excessive
gas in babies is usually caused by swallowing air during feedings, not milk
problems. You can avoid excessive gas with effective burping.
How to burp a baby
Don't
try to burp your baby when he suckles greedily. This will most likely upset
them, make them cry and make them swallow even more air. Pick a time when he
slows down or pauses.
Use
whatever burping position feels most comfortable for him. There are three basic
positions for gently stroking and rubbing your baby's back:
- Over your shoulder
- Sitting on your lap, facing out or to the side
- Lying face down on your lap
Note for bottle feeding
To
avoid swallowing air while bottle feeding, make sure the air is always at the
bottom of the bottle and not at the nipple. This ensures that no air is
swallowed.
Persistent gas
Less
commonly, gas can mean a mild digestive problem. If so:
- Check with your doctor or health visitor about changing your baby’s formula.
- If you are breastfeeding, talk to your doctor about what foods you should avoid
- Try an antigas medicine.
- Try infant massage between meals:
- Place your infant facing you on your lap.
- Move the legs around as if they were riding a bicycle.
- Rub warm oil on the baby’s tummy and gently massage.
When to worry about baby gas
The
good news is that most gas problems resolve themselves over time. However, if
your child's irritability is severe and chronic, you should suspect something
other than gas as the culprit. And if your baby is not growing well, gas can be
a sign of a serious digestive problem. Check with your child's doctor to
discuss any concerns you may have.