How can I help relieve my infant of gas?

Question

I know that infants are prone to having gas and some have it more than others. My husband and I have a hard time burping our baby. What can we do to help relieve her?

Answer 1

Burping the baby thoroughly will reduce the amount of air in the stomach, so that it does not pass on to the intestinal tract. Unfortunately, burping is not 100% effective at eliminating gas, since it has absolutely no effect on the gas created in the intestines during normal digestion. There are baby massage techniques which may prove effective in helping baby to release gas. Simply applying light pressure on the tummy can soothe and help. You can also try carrying baby in the “football hold” – face down on your forearm with baby’s legs straddling your elbow and baby’s chin resting in your hand. Again, the gentle pressure placed on the little tummy can help soothe and release baby’s gas.

Answer 2

Back in the older days, we use to give the baby water. About four ounces of water with a teaspoon of kyro syrup. It's like a sugar water. You buy the syrup in the baking section of the grocery store. It is not as sweet as granulated sugar. But the water helps to move the gas bubbles. I just did that for my little guy a few days ago. He's 2 months old and everyhour he was acting hungry, yet squirming alot. So instead of the formula, he drank the water, for the first time. He seemed to enjoy it. It helped, but not quite, right away, about a half an hour, a big one came up. Then he went to sleep.

Answer 3

"More than half of all newborns suffer from infant gas within the first two months of life. Gas bubbles can often cause discomfort, leading to crankiness and crying. Many babies suffering from infant gas pull their legs up, lying in a curled position in an effort to relieve the discomfort. Infants' MYLICON® Drops can provide safe, effective relief for your baby’s gas."

Answer 4

Honey, I would ask my pediatrician and not rely on this site and people's suggestions involving herbs etc. You can't give a baby just anything as you could kill him/her. They often get a lot of gas when they cry a lot. My Dr. never had any great suggestions we were told to draw the baby's legs up to his stomach and work them up and down to relieve some pressure. I am not sure this really helped though.

Answer 5

The best cure we found was a combination of any brand of gas drops, teething tablets, old fashioned water bottles with relatively warm fluid (not scalding hot water) and laying our babies tummy-to-tummy. I'd dress them in a onsie and place them skin-to-skin on my tummy, covering them with a blanket to get them warm and lightly rubbing, patting, and bouncing. (like kangaroo care in a NICU)

Being close to mom, especially when they are gassy seems to be as soothing as all the other stuff.
(We also use the Dr.Brown's anti colic bottles this last time-they didn't help as much as we thought but they are worth the small reduction in colic we've seen so far.)

P.S-never give small babies any kind of herbs or herbal teas. Their bodies process herbs much slower and differently than ours so the dosages can be elevated for much longer in their little bodies. Also, getting too much fluid other than breastmilk or formula can throw off the electrolyte balance and cause problems. Some herbs can cause kidney and liver dysfunction and/or failure. Also, NEVER use honey in their bottles-these can cause severe and deadly reactions. (Know this from family experience.) 99% of all websites regarding herbs and infants also advise not to unless prescribed or advised by a licensed healthcare professional. (we got clearance for the teething tablets)

Answer 6

First, most babies dont burp at every single feeding...she may not be swallowing air...if you try burping her for 2-3 minutes and nothing happens, she probably doesnt need to burp...however, if you can tell gas is bothering her, you can try gas drops, like Mylicon, also, try putting her face down accross your lap (with her tummy on your knees), pat her back gently and sway your knees back and forth...also, you can help move the gas through by massaging her tummy - ALWAYS move from your left to your right (that is the direction of the intestines) - you can take her legs and make clockwise circles accross her abdomen...helping to move everything through...good luck...

Answer 7

I always do two things when my son has gas: 1. lay him on his back and push his knees toward his chest, it will help push more of the gas out. 2. sit him on your knee (or up at your shoulder) and gently rub his back pushing a little harder on the upward stroke to help get any trapped burps out. I've never used Mylicon, only Little Tummies...but they are all the same ingredients, so they all work the same. Good Luck!

Answer 8

The best way is to make sure she doesn't eat to fast if she's eating solids and if she's drinking bottles try buying an anti-colic brand to limit the amount of air that gets in. Also if you are burping her, make sure she's sitting up straight and rub her back in large circular motions, patting every few seconds. Hope this helps!

Answer 9

Massage her little tummy, lift and exercise her legs, lay her on her stomach and rock her, mostly just comfort her, for some reason, infants can't pass gas too well....

Answer 10

1). Use Mylicon Drops, 2) or lay baby on her back on the bed, then take both legs in your hands and bend the legs toward her belly and hold a few seconds. Basically this is helping to break up a bubble in her belly....hope this helps