Understanding why your baby is fussy can go a long way in helping parents soothe a crying spell –different root causes will change the way you help ease your baby’s discomfort. For instance, your little one may be hungry, too hot or cold, or overstimulated. In some instances, however, fussiness can be attributed to feeling uncomfortable due to gas.
Gas is a normal part of the gastrointestinal (GI) system, and everyone experiences it from time to time. However, babies have immature GI systems and can experience gas pains that make them fussy.1 While this may be hard for parents to watch, it’s important to know that intestinal gas is not harmful.1
What Is Causing My Baby’s Gas?
Fussiness due to gas pains has a few causes, and it may take trial and error for parents to determine the specific reason:2
- Swallowing too much air while eating. If you’re bottle-feeding your little one, take note of the nipple on the bottle. Your baby may swallow excess air during feedings if they drink too rapidly or if they’re lying down on their backs while eating.
- Swallowing too much air while crying. If your baby is an intense crier, they may be swallowing extra air.
- Positioning. Many babies can trap gas in their intestines while lying on their backs. While babies should always be put to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, this position can also lead to excessive gas.
- Improper feeding. Talk to your doctor about the appropriate time to introduce new foods. Starting solids before they’re physically able to digest them may be the cause of your baby’s gas.
While somewhat uncommon, it is possible for your breastfed baby to have an allergic reaction or sensitivity to something that its mother has consumed.3 Some moms report that foods like beans, broccoli, kale, onions, garlic and peppers are known to cause gassy, fussy behavior in some babies.1,3
While most foods consumed by the mothers of breastfed babies aren’t likely to cause an issue, foods containing milk proteins are the most commonly reported food substance to cause gas and fussiness in infants.1 While an infant’s fussiness and gas may be temporary, it may also be a sign of cow’s milk protein allergy.1
What Can I Do to Help My Baby with Gas?
There are a few things that parents can do to help prevent their babies from unnecessary gas pains and fussiness.
If you’ve chosen to bottle-feed your baby – whether it’s expressed breast milk or formula – take note of the nipples that you’re using on your bottles. For very young babies, these nipples should start with a very slow flow of milk. As your baby ages and becomes more adept at eating, make sure that your bottle-fed baby is using the right size nipple for their developmental stage and abilities so that they’re not swallowing too much air while eating.2
Make sure to bottle-feed your baby in a more upright position to help prevent your baby from getting gas trapped in their abdomen. Burp them during and after a feeding, and continue to keep them in an upright position for 15 to 30 minutes after they’ve finished eating.2 If you’re formula feeding, talk to your child’s doctor about other options.
Some other feeding tips for parents who hope to spare their children the discomfort of gas pains include:2
- Wait until your baby is at least a year old before offering fruit juice. It can cause babies to develop excess gas and should be avoided unless your child’s doctor gives the okay.
- Don’t offer cereals or other solid foods until your child is at least 4-6 months old and your child’s doctor gives the okay. Younger babies may not be able to digest the starches in these cereals, and this may lead to gas pains.
- Cow’s milk shouldn’t be offered until your little one is at least 9 months old. Some pediatricians may recommend that you wait until they are a year old to ensure that they’re getting enough iron in their diet. Some babies may have an allergy to proteins found in cow’s milk, which can cause irritability, cough, diarrhea and rashes. This is known as cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA).
If you’re breastfeeding, make sure that your little one has a good latch so they don’t swallow too much air during feedings.1 You may wish to work with a lactation consultant to make sure that your baby is properly latched on to your breast.1
If you suspect that your own diet is affecting your breastfed baby, keep a diary of what you eat and take note of when your baby is overly fussy or gassy. If you notice a pattern of fussy behavior after you’ve eaten a specific food, try eliminating it from your diet for a while to see if there is any improvement.1 It’s a good idea to keep your child’s doctor in the loop about any concerns you may have regarding food sensitivity.
No parent wants their child to feel uncomfortable or gassy, and thankfully, there are some preventative steps you can take. Explore other information about baby tummy trouble for more tips on offering your little one relief.