does anyone have ideas how to help a "windy" baby?

Question

My newborn (5wk old) seems to have alot of lower wind pain all the time, i wind him after each feed for longer and longer and he burps but he seems to still get lower wind pain. I have tried watching my diet as im breastfeeding (no cabbage, chocolate etc) to no avail and also given him some colic relief which only sometimes works. any other ideas out there??

Answer 1

Have you heard of the "tiger in the tree"? You place the baby's belly on your forearm with his head closest to your elbow and his bum in your palm. The pressure of your wrist to his tummy feels good and he should relax. Also, when burping him, place him to your shoulder and hold him so his spine is straight. Give a few good pats and then rub your fingers up and down on both sides of his spine a few times and go back to burping.
If you have stopped swaddling him you may want to try again but this time leave his arms out. The pressure feels good on his belly. If you give him tummy time during the day this is also good. He will work his muscles and have pressure on his belly all at the same time. Warning! he may not like it for more than a few minutes the first time but keep trying everyday. You want him used to his tummy so the first time he rolls over he doesn't completly hate it and scream at 2am just to be rolled back over. This is very good for babies to have a little tummy time during the day while you are there to watch. also, I would fold a burp cloth under the belly at times for added pressure.
You could also try the gas drops, but I never saw much of a difference after using them.
Make sure he is still having regular and daily BMs. Don't stop nursing unless a doctor tells you to. If you notice he is loosing weight or If you think it is something more serious go to the doctor.There is something called a pylori that a SMALL number boys get around the 5 week of age mark. They will start to projectile vomit after a feeding and if this is the case you should go to the doctor or the ER. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Not to scare you but this is something to watch for at 5 weeks of age in a boy. Not to worry when the baby is older.

DON"T GIVE THE BABY WATER.THIS CAN CAUSE SWELLING IN THE BRAIN. THEY SHOULD HAVE NO MORE THAN A 1/2 OUNCE OF WATER A DAY AND THAT ISN'T EVEN NEEDED BECAUSE THEY GET ALL THEY WATER THEY NEED FROM THE MILK. Water is to more or less to rinse his mouth if you feel he needs it and again that is less than 1/2 ounce a day.

I'm a mother of 2 and a Certified Nanny, trust me these tricks work. You shouldn't worry if you call the doctor or the nurse line too much, that is why they are there.
Good Luck and God Bless

Answer 2

"Windy" That's a new one for me! It took me a second to figure out that you mean your baby has bad gas pains. Well, the 1st thing to try are the Mylecon infant gas drops. If that doesn't help, you might want to try eliminating milk and milk products from your diet. Call your pediatrician and ask for other ideas that might help. Some babies need medication to help with the gas.

Answer 3

I had the same problem with my baby. I was scared to give her anything being so young. I did not breast feed so I am not sure if this will help you. I would put a peppermint in her water bottle. I would give her the bottle when I noticed her discomfort. Not all the water bottles were given like this because I did not want her to get used to her water being sweet. The sugar water idea to get babies to drink water is not a good one. I would hate to get the bill from the dentist. If the candy peppermint is out of the question for you try fresh. In your case eat the peppermint and the baby will get it. Because I thought when you breast feed you don't have to give the baby water. I maybe wrong. I would think to give the baby water anyway. My mind is fixed on thinking they would need plain water to keep their little bodies hydrated. Not to mention their dry skin.

Answer 4

It probably is not wind. Cranky babies often act like the have gas, when really they are just cranky. You can try bicycling the legs to help relieve gas, but most likely that is not the cause. Babies are pretty good at getting rid of gas.

Try getting your son to take more naps during the day, and try putting him in a carrier while you do housework. The movement will help him get rid of his extra energy so he can relax better.

Also, I guarantee it will get a lot better in the next two weeks. Around 6 weeks old most mothers report it gets a lot easier.

Answer 5

I had this problem with my daughter. Try Mylicon or Gerber gas relief drops. They are perfectly safe to use with every feeding. I got that idea from my lactation consultant. There are A LOT of things that made my daughter gassy--broccoli was her enemy. Also, to help his tummy feel better try putting him face down on your lap and patting his tummy, or laying him face down across your arm. The pressure on his tummy might help. If nothing else helps, you could try giving up dairy for a week--he might be lactose intolerant. Try talking to a lactation consultant or going to a La Leche League meeting. Good luck!!

Answer 6

Mylicon gas drops are simethicone liquid drops that can be given directly to a breast fed baby by the mouth. You do not need to put it in a bottle. I always purchased it in a cheaper generic form at the grocery store. For colic in a breast fed baby, I suggest this article by Dr. Jack Newman. Also for gas pains, I used to lay my babies on their tummies across my lap, bouncing them gently, supporting the head if needed. (My feet would be touching the floor, and I would jiggle my legs together.) Sometimes that seemed to help them pass the gas.

Answer 7

I always found that gripe water was always helpful. Also wrapping the baby nice n tightly and snug helps to calm a colic baby as they seem to feel like they are back in the warm confined comfort of the womb. Gripe water should be found at any drugstore.

Answer 8

lay him on his back on the floor then bicycle his legs( hold his calves and make circular motions with his legs as though ridig a bike) Every few turns stop and reverse direction (backpedal). This helps the gas move thru the lower intestine. You will probably be shocked at the sounds coming from your babies bum.

Answer 9

Try cutting dairy and caffeine (coffee) out of your diet. But not at the same time...try one then the other . They are very common causes of this and not a lot of breastfeeding mothers realise it. Also, make sure he burps good between sides, and too...make sure he is latching on properly and not sucking air in at the same time, which can easily happen when not properly latched on. Good luck and congratulations on the new bundle of love!

Answer 10

Try some chamomile tea, it worked very well with my son. I put just a touch of sugar to take away the bitterness so he would drink it, but it worked every time! Good luck!