Gas In Babies - Causes, Signs And Treatment

By Author: CordLife India
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Infants and toddlers suffer from gas-related problems. As they are cannot express, they end up crying incessantly. Infants are usually gassy due to their under developed digestive system. However, there are also other factors that cause gas in babies.

Causes

Swallowing air: Most babies swallow air while breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. When babies latch onto the breast or bottle incorrectly, they tend to swallow a lot of air. Many babies also suck extra air when they suck on the pacifier. This leads to gas.

Crying: Babies also swallow a lot of air when they cry. If babies cry a lot, it is very difficult to say if the crying is building up gas inside the baby or it is the gas that is making them cry.

Digestive issues: A baby’s digestive system is still developing. As a result, they are not able to process the food that they are eating. Unprocessed food can lead to the formation of gas.

Constipation: Babies often get constipated especially, formula-fed babies. When the baby is constipated, it leads to gas in the body.

Food sensitivity: Breast milk ...
... contains traces of the food that the mother eats. If the child is sensitive to certain food that is present in the mother’s milk, they may get gas. Certain foods like nuts, chilies, cheese and prawns in the mother’s diet can be early warning signs of an allergy trigger for the baby.

Overfeeding: If the baby is overfed it can lead to gas. During breastfeeding, the fore-milk has an overdose of sugar such as lactose, while the hind-milk contains fat. Lactose can contribute to the formation of gas.

Lactose intolerance: Gas formation can also indicate that your child is sensitive to lactose.

Gastrointestinal issues: If there is some virus in the intestinal tract, it can also cause gas.

Signs and Symptoms

Crying incessantly: When a baby cries incessantly for almost an hour and also gets red in the face while crying, check for gas.

Arching the back: If you see your baby arch its back and buttocks, lift its legs up or even bring its knees close to the chest, it could be suffering from gas-related problem.

Squirming and grunting: When the baby squirms and grunts and shows signs of discomfort it could be gas, they may even belch.

Clenching the fists and straining: Babies often strain and clench their fists when they have gas.

Not eating or sleeping well: Usually, a baby stops eating and sleeping when they have gas. You may also feel their stomach has become hard.

Home Treatment

Proper Position: While feeding, keep the baby’s head and neck at an angle higher than the tummy. This controls the excess air from entering the body.

Burp: To prevent extra air entering the baby, gently lift the baby and tap the back to make them burp after feeding. This will allow the milk to settle in the body and release the extra air.

Massage: Lay the baby on its back and rotate your palm gently through the stomach. This will help release the accumulated air from the stomach. You can also use mustard oil to massage.

Swaddle: Wrapping your baby tightly in a soft cotton blanket can help with the problem of gas.

Gas is usually a common problem; however, if you feel that there could be something more than gas, it is best to consult your doctor.