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Gassy baby help

The digestive system of your baby was not used while in the womb. This all kick starts when they get born. Newborn digestive systems are immature, so they produce a lot of gas. Infants also take in a lot of air while feeding and crying, which produces more gas. A gassy baby is thus very normal. While the digestive system matures babies tent to pass gas 13-21 times a day. Yes, that is a whole lot and a normal part of development.

In this article we will help you recognize the signs of a gassy baby, describe the most common causes, tips on what to do with a gassy baby and a formula that can help your little one.

Signs of a gassy baby

Generally, when a baby is suffering from gas, it means that their stomach is inflated with air. Your little one can have gass that refuses to pass and this can make him/her fussy and genuinely uncomfortable. The gas and related issues can start from the first few feedings and can last through to the toddler stage. Most babies experience a peek when they are between 4 and 12 weeks old. This is the period the digestive system changes and matures the most. Signs of a gassy baby are:

  • Excessive crying
  • Bending knees to belly
  • Squirming after a feeding
  • Clenched fists
  • Bloated belly
  • Red face
  • Actually passing gass  

It can feel quite overwhelming when your little one is fussy and experiencing tummy trouble all the time. Just remember, it is a phase, it will pass and your little once body is working hard to grow and become strong.

Gassy baby causes

What can be causes for the gassiness of your baby? While part of it is just simple because of your baby’s development some things can make it worse:

Drinking formula with air bubbles

When using powdered formula to prepare the perfect baby bottle of baby formula, make sure you let your freshly mixed bottle settle for a minute or two before feeding your baby. The shaking during mixing allows air bubbles to enter the milk, which can lead to a gassy baby. Another way to prevent the bubbles is by simply stirring the formula with a sterile spoon to mix. If the bubbles do not go away after letting it settle you can always scoop the top layer with air bubbles of off the top.

Drinking to quickly or too slowly

If a breastfeeding mom has an overactive supply, or if the nipple on a baby’s bottle has too fast of a flow, your baby can end up gulping the milk down, swallowing air in the process, which can cause gas. On the contrary, if the flow of the baby bottle is to slow or the milk supply of mom is not high enough your baby might have to suck really hard to get milk. As a result, also swallowing air in the process.

Crying for extended periods

When a baby cries they tend to swallow air. Thus, if a babies cries for a longer period of time it is to be expected that gass is building up in their tummies. 

Lactose intolerance or sensitivity

Your baby could be intolerant or sensitive to lactose, which could cause gassiness.

Gassy baby tips and help – How to prevent gass

If you want to avoid your little one getting gass pains you start by trying to stop gass from building up in their digestive system in the first place. Hereby some tips and help to avoid that gass from building up:

Feeding tips

By optimizing your little ones bottle and feeding technique you can prefent gass building up in their tummy during feeding time. The most common cause for a gassy baby. This starts by preparing the perfect bottle of baby formula and feeding technique:

  • Bottle with no bubbles, not to cold and not to warm (approximately 98 degrees Fahrenheit).
  • Try our different sizes nipples and different types of bottles if needed
  • Tilt the bottle to a 30/40 degree angle, this makes the air rise to the bottom of the bottle rather then in your little one tummy
  • Make sure your baby’s mouth encloses the entire nipple rather than just sipping on the tip

Burping your baby

Allowing your baby to pass the gass through their mouth during and after a feeding is a great way to get rid of gass build up that could otherwise enter your baby’s digestive system. How to get your little one to burp:

  • Place the baby upright on your schoulder and pat their back gently
  • Sit the baby on your lap, lean them slightly forward and pat or rub their back.
  • Place your hand under their chin to support their chest and head
  • Place the baby across your lap with their head slightly elevated, face down while you rub and pat their back

Gass relief for your baby

The gass did build up in your little once digestive system and you see your baby struggle and uncomfortable, this is what you can do to comfort your baby:

Baby bike ride: When you baby is experiencing discomfort you want to get that gass out of their digestive system. You can help the gass move by moving your baby. Place the baby on their back and make bike motion movements (as if they are riding a bike) with their legs. This movement can help the gass pass but also calms the nerves in the intestines.

Massage: Make small circular motions with your thumbs over their belly, underneath the ribcage. It is like you are guiding the gass down, out their belly.

Forearm hold: Place your baby, face down on your forearm and gentle massage their back. The pressure on their tummy can help relieve the pressure from gas. At the same time you can gentle rock your little one back and forth while rubbing their back. This helps relax your little one, and eventually helps allow the gass to pass

Gass drops: There are natural and organic infant gass drops designed to help your baby with gass pains. Check with your pediatrician if this is something to consider

Prebiotics and probiotics: The digestive system of your little one is developing and maturing. This growth causes any interruption, like gass, to be painful and uncomfortable. When your baby’s digestive system matures they grow over this. A healthy gut flora can help. By giving infants probiotics and prebiotics gastrointestinal symptoms can be reduced and a healthy gut flora is created. The HiPP organic baby formulas almost all have prebiotics and probiotics added to their formula to stimulate a healthy gut flora right from the start.

Formula for gassy baby

HiPP has developed a special formula to help relieve with gassiness, bloating and digestive discomforts that many babies struggle with. The special formula from HiPP is called HiPP Comfort. If your baby is struggling with gassiness, bloating or digestive discomfort HiPP Comfort can help.

If you need any further information about gassiness with your baby please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to help.