Tips to Help My Baby If They Have Gas

During the baby's first months, it is very common for them to suffer from gas. This happens because they swallow air while feeding, as they have not yet fully mastered the sucking technique.
Gas causes a lot of discomfort for the baby, which is why it is so important to help them expel it.

In extreme cases, gas can cause the baby to cry continuously, although this should not be confused with the well-known colic. These are two different things. Colic, remember, are painful abdominal contractions that some babies experience during the first 12 weeks of life.

Why does my baby have gas?

There is no single reason that causes baby gas. In fact, it can be caused by many different things, not just swallowing air during feedings.

For example: digestive problems, intolerances, or excessive crying.
There are two types of gas:

• Stomach gas. Caused by excessive air intake, either during feedings or during periods of excessive crying.

• Intestinal gas. Usually caused by having an intestinal flora that produces it, although it can also be due to intolerances. In the latter case, we should consult the pediatrician to get guidance on what to do.

The best positions to expel gas

• Upright on your chest, with their little head on your shoulder. This is the classic position we have all seen at some point. A mother who, after breastfeeding her baby, holds them upright while gently patting their back to help them burp. Although it doesn’t always work, it is a good method to try to expel gas after meals.

• Sitting on our knees, facing away from us, with the palms of our hands on their chest and their fingers on the chin.

• Face down on our lap, trying to keep the head higher than the chest.

Other recommendations to avoid gas

• Feed them in a upright position; the more reclined they are, the more gas they can swallow.

• Do the bicycle motion with their legs. That is, lay them down, hold their legs, and gently move them as if they were pedaling a bicycle.

• Apply warmth to the area, which has an analgesic effect and can significantly reduce gas discomfort.

• Give tummy massages, in circular motions clockwise. Without pressing.