Baby Gas Pain: Reasons and Home Remedies

As soon as baby starts to feed and explore his taste buds, parents start to worry about which food will be good for their baby’s little tummy. Gas pain in babies is common.

Sometimes it’s because of improper digestion and other times it’s because of foods that don’t suit baby’s stomach. We have come across queries like – How to help relieve gas pain in babies

So today we have something new, to bring down the worries of keen parents who are reading this post.

Reasons for Baby Gas Pain

Infant gas pain is very common until the age of 3-4 months due to immature intestines and digestive system. The major reasons are listed below:

1) Protein indigestion

Most food that mom eats is passed in a little amount of the breast milk. At times proteins are fed to the baby while he nurses on breast milk. Baby has an immature digestive system and therefore cannot digest certain proteins which on the other hand are good for mom. The foods that cause gas in babies while breastfeeding are peanuts, egg, soy.

2) Improper feeding position

If baby does not latch properly while feeding he can gulp air due to underflow and overflow of milk. Care should be taken while nursing infants. Always keep their head higher than the body and change positions while feeding after 3-4 mins.

3) Not enough water

Water is essential for healthy bowel movements. If the baby feels the constipated gas problem is natural to occur. To prevent such conditions baby, after he stops breast feeding, should be given enough water in his daily meals.

4) Cauliflowers in diet

Broccoli and cauliflower are considered as gassy foods. When baby starts eating solid and semi solid foods introducing cauliflower and broccoli can cause gas pain in some babies as they have an immature digestive system.

5) Too much sugar

Fructose and Sucrose are difficult to get digested by baby’s little tummy. Indigestion of sugars often leads to gas pain in newborns and infants.

Home Remedies for Gas Problem in Babies

When a baby has gas problems he/she becomes fussy. Taking care of irritated little one is difficult for parents. And in such problems, all they need is a quick and easy home remedy that will make their baby happy again. Below are some home remedies which will relieve your baby from gas pain –

1) Stomach Massage

Stomach massage is the best way to relieve gas in newborns and children. You can massage your baby when he/she feels fussy after having a meal or after nursing. For this, undress your baby and make him lie on the bed or in your lap. With light pressure on your fingers start massaging from rib cage towards the abdomen in clockwise circular motion.

2) Hot Towel

When a baby has gas problems he can also feel constipated. This leads to forced bowel movements which can cause cramps in baby’s stomach. To ease baby of the gas and cramp pain place a towel dipped in hot water on baby’s lower tummy for 5-10 minutes. Do this until the pain reduces and baby calms down.

3) Leg Exercise

Little movement of baby’s lower body can work like magic to relieve him of gas pain. Make your baby lie on the bed and hold his legs little up in the air. Now slowly bend his legs inwards and make his knees touch the abdomen. Repeat the process 5-7 times after every meal.

4) Burp after every feed

Burping your baby is recommended after every feed because while he nurses some air bubbles can get into his tummy. Hold your baby in your arms and keep his head on your shoulder with his tummy on your upper body. Now gently stroke or pat baby’s back.

5) Hing (Asafoetida)

Found in every mother’s kitchen and known for its magic in relieving gas pain, Hing (Asafoetida) acts as a natural home remedy. To a few pinches of Hing, add a little water. Now apply the Hing water on baby’s navel and start massaging in an anti clockwise direction moving the fingers towards the abdomen.

Watch this video for baby massage and exercises which reduce baby’s gas pain-

We hope that now you will be more equipped to manage baby’s gas issues. Always be in touch with your doctor and consult if you observe that your baby is in continuous discomfort. Happy Parenting!