my 5 week old is very gassy. I have switched formula to gentlease and bottles to dropins. Any suggestions?

Question

He won't burp for me, but passes lots of gas and around the same time every night he gets super cranky. Anyone know how I can help my little guy out?

I am using the powder and do mix it up ahead of time. Thanks anyway!

I have also tried the mylicon drops and they don't seem to have an effect. I did order some gripe water from my pharmacy.

Answer 1

Most babies will get gassy at some point. Like the other answer said make sure you use powder formula, it is better. My daughter, now 3 months, was very gassy around the same time. Don't give up on trying to burp him even if it seems like he will never burp. Also try holding him like he is laying down for a minute, then try burping him again. Sometimes this helps the gas move. But just for a minute or you risk a spit up! (at least my kids did)

Have you tried the Dr. Browns bottles? I hated spending the money on them but they do keep most of the bubbles out of your baby, better than any other bottle I have used for both of my children.

Like I said my daughter was very gassy around the same time every night (about 9pm) around 5 weeks old. She would cry for about an hour. I never switched formulas, I always used Enfamil Lipil. Around 2 months, maybe a little earlier she stopped being so gassy at night and stopped the crying spells.

Oh, you can also lay your baby down on his back and move his legs around - like doing the bicycle. It is said to help gas come out. I have never seen proof of it working - but it is worth a shot!

Answer 2

How you prepare it can make a difference. The way we do it is to mix it in separate cup, then gently poor into the bottle or get a long spoon/knife and stir it. If you shake it up (the the directions on the can say to) it creates more gas. If you have time (as in, baby isn't screaming hungry) let it sit a couple minutes. I also recommend Mylicon, and I've heard good things about Grip Water. Check with your doctor but it could also be reflux, which they do have medication for.

The nighttime crankiness may not be related. My baby did the same thing at that age and I read that they can get overstimulated just by everyday life. It stopped within the first couple months so try to hang in there.

Answer 3

I haven't tried the gripe water myself, but have heard good things about it. Instead of feeding your baby the Gentle Ease try the Nestle Good Start. My son did better on this stuff. If you can afford try putting your baby on an organic soy formula. They have an organic soy formula for toddlers, but if you go to there website you can print out a sheet to take to your doctor and have them look at it. I wouldn't trust the regular soy formulas, but they organic stuff might be better, but I'm not sure.

You can also try letting your baby sleep in a bouncy seat or swing. I don't know which other bottles you have, but Dr. Brown really makes a good bottle for colic, or gas. I tried the Avent and my baby didn't do well with these at all. You can also try the Playtex Nursers which are easier to clean and seem better then some of the other bottles I have tried. Walmart also has a bottle called Parent Choice and these are also good and less pricy then the Dr. Brown ones.

If you have any more questions please e-mail me and I will try to help you.

Answer 4

Ok. I know there are alot of answers here. And most babies ARE gassy at some point in time. Let me tell you what I did with my little gas bomb of a baby.
Changed her formula - SOY based. Within four days TOTALLY different baby.
Baby Bliss - a gas release agent - like Mylicon drops - excepts actually works. : ) You get it from health food stores.
Changed her bottles - Avent works wonders
Held her upright while feeding
Placed a sleep positioner in her bassinet for her to sleep on. Her head was higher then her feet.

Hope this helps!! Everyone has their own advice but I just know mine got me through this time!

Answer 5

My son lived on Mylicon drops! He had the same problem and would cry b/c his belly hurt and he couldn't burp. We gave him a dose of the gas drops every time we fed him and they seemed to help some. Also try rubbing his tummy. Press firmly, but not enough to hurt him and rub in circluar motions. Sometimes laying him in your lap face down on his belly while you rub his back will help too. Something about that position.

Good luck!

Answer 6

I tried everything with my little one, including soy, and he still was colicky and gassy. It turns out he was allergic to the cow's milk protein (also present in soy products). There is a hypo-allergenic formula called Nutramigen that is for babies with this problem. When I started my son on this, I noticed a difference within hours. It was a miracle. The only problem is that it's quite pricey. But I think it's worth it because he's 8 months now and he's actually starting on yogurt and seems to be doing fine. I would ask my pediatrician.

Answer 7

Have you tried using Mylicon Drops yet? It works wonders for any gassy baby.

Here is the website for Mylicon and also for the generic brand with works just the same..

Hope this helps you.

Answer 8

Dr. Brown bottles...they work awesomely.

My baby has been having the same issue.

Those bottles and the gripe water work great. And different burping techiniques. LIke over the shoulder, bouncing, walking with her, and laying down, rubbing her tummy.

Answer 9

I KNOW THIS WILL SOUND FUNNY, BUT IF YOU BOUNCE HIM AROUND A LITTLE BIT, LIKE PUT HIM ON YOUR LEG AND BOUNCE HIM UP AND DOWN, KINDA LIKE A HORSEY RIDE, IT WILL GET RID OF SOME OF THAT GAS. AND IT IS PROBABLY THE MILK HE IS DRINKING, YOU NEED TO BE SURE YOU GET ALL THE AIR OUT OF HIS BOTTLES BEFORE YOU FEED HIM TO PREVENT HIM FROM SUCKING SO MUCH AIR IN HIS STOMACH. IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH, HIS STOMACH IS ONLY THE SIZE OF HIS LITTLE FIST. PUT HIM IN A VIBRATING CHAIR, OR SWING, AND THAT WILL HELP HIM OUT ALOT. OR GIVE HIM A TEASPOON OF KARO SYRUP IN HIS MILK, AND THAT WILL MAKE HIS BOWELS MOVE AND THE GAS WON'T BE THERE ANYMORE. GOOD LUCK AND YOU CAN ALSO TRY RUBBING THE MIDDLE OF HIS BACK, BABY'S HATE THIS, BUT IT PUSHES THE GAS OUT, AND HELPS THEM TO BURP. RUB HARD, NOT REAL HARD, BUT HARD ENOUGH TO WERE HE WILL FIDGET WHEN YOU ARE DOING IT, CAUSE BABYS DON'T LIKE TO HAVE THEIR BACKS RUBBED.

Answer 10

are you using powder formula or ready feed. try the powder but mix a piture of it and let it sit in the fridge and poor it as you need it letting it sit will release all the bubbles and be smoother to digest. i always foud the ready feed to be more gassy it even smells bad.