Are you a new parent navigating the world of baby care and feeling stumped on how to help your little one alleviate excess gas? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many parents face the challenge of soothing their baby’s tummy troubles and knowing how to make a baby fart excess gas can be a game-changer in restoring comfort for both you and your little bundle of joy.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore gentle and effective techniques to ease your baby’s discomfort and promote healthy digestion. From simple massage techniques to specialized feeding strategies, we’ve got you covered with practical tips to help your baby pass gas and find relief. So, let’s dive in and uncover the secrets to keeping your baby happy, comfortable, and gas-free!
How To Make A Baby Fart
Baby gas is indeed a common issue that many parents face. Babies tend to swallow air when they eat or cry, which can get trapped in their bellies and cause discomfort. Some visible signs that your baby has a filled belly due to excess gas include a hard and swollen tummy, squirming, restlessness, and fussiness.
While some of these techniques may seem unusual or even funny, they can be very effective in helping your baby pass gas and feel more comfortable. It’s always a good idea to consult with your pediatrician if you’re concerned about your baby’s gas or if your baby seems to be in a lot of pain or discomfort.
Babies are different, and as such, no technique can work for all babies. Though the techniques work on the same principle, they have different effects on babies. The techniques include:
1. Burping in the middle of the feed
There are many ways in which babies tend to get excess gasses inside them. Excess gasses come as a result of air that is trapped in their digestive tracts. One good technique devised by parents is burping in the middle of feeding.
This works by parents patting their baby’s back so that the air that might have entered with the food is released with ease. This technique works on the principle of reducing the pressure of the excess gas so it can escape.
2. Rubbing baby’s tummy
If you ever find yourself in that scary tummy situation, gently rubbing your baby’s belly is another way of triggering farting in them when necessary. This works by reducing the pressure on the stomach and triggering a form of escape from the gasses in your baby’s body.
You need to understand that this hard tummy is very painful and should not be done with a lot of force. So, rub gently till you hear the sound of success or you smell it.
3. Bicycle kick
This technique uses the baby’s locomotion. It involves alternating left and right legs on the baby’s leg to simulate bicycle riding. The process is easy and has a success rate.
4. Warm bath
The good part of a warm bath is that it’s like it’s the solution for everything in your baby; when they are dirty, cold, sick, etc. Warm water may help relax their tummies and help soothe the pain that the gas might cause.
5. Swaddling
Swaddling involves gently wrapping your baby in a suitable cover. This works for some babies.
6. Gas drop
A Baby gas drop makes use of simethicone. Simethicone has an antifoaming effect which might work in relieving bloating and pain that might have been because of gas.
Why Is My Baby So Gassy?
It gets confusing finding out that your baby has excess gas. You start to ask how it is that they get filled with gas.
Babies are not developed like you and me; they are unable to release gas as easily as we can. So, whatever gets in there might have a hard time getting out. These are possible ways by which a baby can have excess gas in their body
1. Swallowing air
Swallowing is the easiest and most common way for gas to develop in babies. They swallow air during feeding, crying, and even giggling. Ironically, they cry when they have excess gas in their stomach, which makes it difficult to determine whether the tears are due to the gas or the other way around.
It’s important to note that babies can trap a lot of air through their open mouths. This can happen during breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or even when they’re laughing or crying.
It’s important to pay attention to all these and help relieve them if they need help.
2. Constipation
Excessive gas in babies can also be a symptom of more serious conditions such as colic, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lactose intolerance, or a milk protein allergy. If you suspect your baby’s excessive gas is caused by any of these conditions, it’s important to consult with your pediatrician for proper diagnosis and treatment. In some cases, a change in diet or medication may be necessary to alleviate the symptoms.
3. Food intolerance
In some cases, excessive gas in babies can also be a sign of a food allergy or intolerance. Cow’s milk protein is one of the most common allergens in babies, and if a baby is allergic to cow’s milk, it can cause gas, fussiness, colic, and other digestive issues. In such cases, switching to a hypoallergenic or soy-based formula may be necessary.
It’s important to note that food allergies and intolerances can have serious consequences, and it’s always best to consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
4. Inactivity
Babies tend to develop more gasses when they are not moving. When babies sleep more, they get to build up air that is not being exercised out.
When babies move around, they can pass out gas easily. Babies who sleep, however, have a hard time passing out their gasses and they build up in their stomachs.
Symptoms Of An Excess Gas In A Baby
1. Fussiness and prolonged crying for about an hour
This can be a sign as a result of excess gas that comes with having an underdeveloped digestive system. Babies in their first few weeks of development have a very weak digestive system.
Gassiness can occur as a result of this. It is important to consult your pediatrician if the situation persists and shows no sign of improvement. This could be a result of an underlying medical condition.
2. Your baby seems unhappy most of the time
Babies are naturally cheerful; they only cry when something is not right. However, if they tend to look unhappy most of the time, it could be that something is wrong with them. This might be pointing at a more serious gas problem with your baby and needs intervention.
3. Your baby is having a problem eating or sleeping
A problem with sleeping or eating can have many causes, but infant gas may be one of them. It’s not necessarily the problem with your baby, but it is one good culprit.
Please, do well to consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis. It might be just excess gas and it might be more than that. Take the right precautions and talk to your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
4. Your baby gets red in the face
Excess gas in babies and newborns can’t be quite painful; it shows a level of discomfort in them. If your baby tends to have redness over their face and cries a lot like they are in pain, it might be as a result of excess gas in them.
5. Your baby tries to fold
Another possible symptom of a gassy baby or baby with excess gas is the constant attempt at folding or raising their legs towards their chest. This action is almost like they are trying to avoid the pain in their stomach
6. Hard tummy
This is the most obvious symptom that your baby is suffering from excess gas and needs to be relieved. If your baby won’t stop crying and you’ve tried feeding, petting, and so on, you might need to check their tummy.
If their tummy is hard, it’s caused by excess gas in their stomach. You either wait for them to get fat or induce it.
Is Swaddling A Good Technique For Releasing Excess Gasses In Babies?
With the right material, swaddling is a very safe technique; whether to help make your baby fart or to keep them warm. Nevertheless, there are cases where swaddling can go wrong. Swaddling can go wrong if
- The blanket is too thick and passes too much heat to the baby. This can lead to overheating or in the worst cases suffocation.
- The blanket is not well-tightened. This can make it cover the baby’s face.
- The blanket is too tight. While trying to ensure a tightened blanket, ensure it is not too tight. There’s a risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
- The baby is capable of rolling over. If the baby rolls on his face, it might be dangerous.
What Is Colic?
Colic is a term used to describe a condition in which a baby cries for extended periods at the same time every day for no apparent reason. It can be confusing and stressful for parents, especially when they’re already trying to deal with excess gas in their baby.
If your baby seems to cry for no reason at the same time every day, it may be colicky. However, it’s essential to rule out any underlying medical condition by consulting with your pediatrician. Don’t assume it’s colic just because you’ve tried everything to soothe your baby and nothing seems to work. A proper diagnosis is crucial to ensure your baby’s health and well-being.
When Is It Bad To Try Swaddling?
Swaddling it’s a good practice that’s highly recommended. However, it’s only recommendable when considering babies between 2 to 3 months. This is because babies in this age range cannot roll over. Swaddling babies that are moving is a bad practice. You can’t practice swaddling for babies more than 3 months. At that point, it is bad to try.
What Are The Dangers Of Swaddling?
1. Overheating
Swaddling is not recommended for all seasons. Swaddling in hot weather can subject babies to extreme heat. This is dangerous to your baby and might cause serious harm.
2. Hip dysplasia
This is a medical condition characterized by the inability of the hip socket to cover the end of the thigh bone; this makes the leg prone to dislocation. Swaddling babies too tightly has been believed to influence the rate of hip dysplasia recorded.
3. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Babies sleeping on their side or front are at increased risk of SIDS. Loose blankets can also increase the risk by making suffocation more likely. Secure swaddling and ensuring the baby is on their back reduces the risk.
When Should I See The Doctor?
It’s not wrong to always trust your gut as a parent. Sometimes, the signs before you are always obvious about the needs of your baby. Nevertheless, it’s best advised to consult your pediatrician from time to time to give a proper diagnosis.
1. Food allergies
Symptoms of excess gas are mostly linked to food allergies. However, it has been shown that babies who are suffering from food allergies are probably dealing with other medical conditions such as Vomiting, rash, diarrhea, and so on. You might need to consult your pediatrician when you observe this.
2. Celiac disease
Gas pain is a symptom of celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder. The environment can trigger celiac disease. Your doctor should run a test for your baby if there is a family history of celiac disease or autoimmune disorders.
3. Abundant breast milk supply
Producing more milk as a nursing mother might mean there’s a strong letdown of milk from your breast. This makes your baby exposed to a larger gulp of breast milk and air at the same time. You might need to consult your doctor to help you out with your level of milk supply.
4. Infection
Let your pediatrician know about any gassiness that’s accompanied by fever, incontinence, diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, poor growth, blood in the stool, or other sudden symptoms. These symptoms might signal an underlying issue like an infection.
Final Thought
Excess gas in the stomach can be a source of great discomfort for babies, and it’s a common occurrence due to their level of development. But as a parent, there’s no need to panic if your baby experiences this condition. There are various techniques that you can use to help relieve them of their pain.
However, it’s important to note that there are also other reasons why your baby might be crying and exhibiting symptoms of excess gas. It’s always advisable to consult your pediatrician regularly to get a proper diagnosis and rule out any underlying medical conditions.
By staying informed and taking the necessary steps, you can help your baby feel more comfortable and ease their pain when they experience excess gas in their stomach.
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