Gas can cause discomfort in infants. Babies may have gas from improper feeding, swallowing air while sucking or crying, or from their position. Lactose intolerance can also cause gas, although this condition is rare in babies.1 Use these tips to help your newborn with gas.
Happy Tummy Tip #1: Burp Your Baby
While feeding your baby helps you nurture and bond with them, it can also lead to discomfort if they swallow too much air. To burp your baby2:
- Hold your baby in an upright position. You can place your baby over your shoulder or place them in a sitting position on your lap. If you choose to place your baby on your lap, support their head by placing a hand under their chin.
- Pat or rub your baby’s back. Your baby might not burp immediately. You can wait for a few minutes before trying to burp your baby again.
Happy Tummy Tip #2: Use the Right Feeding Position
It’s important that your baby is in a comfortable position during feeding. You can prevent gas in a newborn by using the right feeding position.1 Your baby should be in a partially upright position during feeding.1 After feeding, you can place them in a baby seat for about 15 to 30 minutes.1 Make sure to burp your baby during and after feeding them.1
Happy Tummy Tip #3: Massage Your Baby
If you want to help an infant with gas, a massage can help relieve discomfort.1 Massaging your baby is easy—simply lay them on their stomach on your lap and massage their back after feeding.1
Happy Tummy Tip #4: Use the Right Bottle
If you bottle-feed your baby, the nipple that you use can lead to gas and tummy troubles.1 A nipple that is too large can cause your baby to swallow too much air.1 Choose a nipple with holes that can drip cold formula at 1 drop per second.1
Happy Tummy Tip #5: Give Your Baby Tummy Time
“Tummy time” (placing your baby on their tummy while they are awake) can help relieve gas.1,3 You should always supervise your baby during tummy time.3 To start tummy time with your baby, place them on their stomach 2-3 times a day.3 When you start tummy time with your infant, you should only keep them on their stomach for a few minutes. You can eventually work towards longer tummy times.3
Tummy time can help with more than just gas—it can also help prevent your baby from developing plagiocephaly (a flat head).3
Happy Tummy Tip #6: Observe Your Diet
As an expecting mom, it’s important to know that the foods you eat can affect your breast milk and cause intestinal gas in your baby.4 This can cause colic in your baby.4 Foods that may affect breast milk include:
- Garlic, onions, beans, broccoli, cabbage, and turnips.
- Apricots, melons, prunes, and other fresh fruits.
- Cow’s milk.
- Caffeine.
If your baby cries frequently after breastfeeding, keep track of what you eat to observe how your baby reacts after breastfeeding.4
Contact your doctor if your baby has excessive gas.1 If your doctor determines that your baby’s food is causing an unhappy tummy, they may recommend changes in your baby’s diet to improve their gut health.1
Baby formulas like Enfamil A+® NeuroProTM Gentlease® is designed to reduce fussiness, crying and gas in 24 hours*. It is a tummy-friendly milk-based formula for infants 0+ months. It is the leading formula† with a combination of easy-to digest proteins‡, an expert-recommended level of brain-building DHA§ and our exclusive fibre blend# shown to promote soft stools¶,// It’s also the #1 Pediatrician recommended infant formula**. Learn more about Enfamil A+® NeuroProTM Gentlease® and explore its benefits for your baby, or learn about more baby formulas for tummy troubles that can help reduce feeding issues like gas, crying, fussiness and other common feeding issues.
- https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/pregnancy-parenting/parenting-babies-0-12-months/baby-health/abdominal-gas-and-colic
- https://myhealth.alberta.ca/health/pages/conditions.aspx
- https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/safe-sleep-your-baby-brochure.html
- https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=hw31265&lang=en-ca