Gas is the presence of air in the intestine or stomach. It is a very painful condition for babies. Small bubbles of gas development in the baby's stomach or intestine that exerts pressure and causes stomach pain. Many babies remain normal with this gas but some remain uncomfortable, restless, crying for hours, and can't sleep until their gas is released.  

The gas-related pain of the babies can be treated at home by home remedies. Infant gas problems are not serious in many cases. If parents discuss it with pediatricians, then it can be helpful for them to understand this issue¹.

Many babies can be pretty gassy. Usually, babies pass gas 13-21 times per day. The reason for that much gas it that there are high chances of swallowing air when they 

Eat food, either food comes from bottle or breast

Crying 

Suck a pacifier² 

 

Signs and symptoms of a gassy baby 

As we know almost all babies pass little gas. The following are the usual symptoms of gas in babies. 

 

Your baby cries and is fussy for an hour or so a day:

When your baby remains uncomfortable and crying for an hour or so. The tiny and underdeveloped digestive system produces gas in newborns. If it doesn't go away, then you should consult a pediatrician.

 

Your baby seems unhappy most of the time:

Unhappy baby most of the time. This is the main indication of a gassy baby and that needs more help. It significantly upsets the stomach and creates problems in newborns.  

 

Your baby isn't eating or sleeping well:

Infant gas is one of the main causes when your baby is not eating and sleeping well. For proper diagnosis consult your doctor. 

 

Your baby gets red in the face when he cries:

When the baby feels pain, he cries a lot and his face becomes red³.

 

Causes of gas in babies  

The following are the common causes of gas discomfort in babies.

• Swallowing of too much air due to incorrect latch 
• Filling of baby's belly with excessive crying 
• Constipation
• Poor processing of food, stool, and gas in an immature digestive system⁴

 

Gas Prevention Methods in Babies 

• Bring on the Burps after every meal
• In case of using powdered formula, settle down the bottle before feeding the baby
• Adjust the Angle of the head higher than the stomach. 
• Avoiding giving solid or gas-causing foods to your baby⁵

 

Diagnosis of gas in babies 

Gas is a painful symptom in many babies, however, it is not a medical condition. 

There is no reason to see a doctor for a minor gas, but it is necessary to address any signs at the next check-up for the infant.

Whether the gas is dangerous or there are other signs, a pediatrician can prescribe tests to ascertain the source.

 

The following are the methods used by the doctors to diagnose the causes of gas. 

• Ask the caregivers to maintain a nutritional journal for the baby and, if the baby is breastfed, for the mother. 
• Observing the child look for signs of illness or other problems
• Using diaper, examine the stool of a baby
• When the doctor assumes a serious issue, they can request imaging tests of the baby's digestive tract to help check out more serious conditions⁶. 

 

Commonly used medicines for Gas in babies 

Tummy Calm:

FDA proves this homeopathic gas relief preparation. It is a combination of synthetic ingredients and can be available over-the-counter. It has quick action and can relieve the gas of the baby within 5 minutes. It is composed of natural ingredients and it is safe and effective to use. 

It is free of artificial flavors and colors. Constant dosing is not necessary with tummy calm like simethicone. 

 

Gripe Water:

The most trustable remedy for infant gas is gripe water. People have been using gripe water for more than a hundred years. Millions of patients, nannies, and pediatricians have used it. 

Only that gripe water must be used that has been approved by the FDA. And it should contain natural ingredients and fulfill FDA guidelines and good manufacturing practices (GMP) for homeopathic medicines.  The example of high standard gripe water is Colic calm. It works quickly within five minutes. It is effective and safe to use.

 

Probiotics: 

New research indicates that supplementation with a pediatric probiotic can help to relieve certain gastric problems in infants if administered over a period of several weeks. Once your baby has been consuming solids, adding some yogurt into the baby's diet can often add various types of intestinal bacteria to your baby's intestines.

 

Simethicone: 

Simethicone is a medication that is sold as an antiflatulent or gas relief remedy. Simethicone is a defoaming agent that holds gas bubbles together under the premise that they can be transferred more quickly. Simethicone formulations typically include synthetic additives such as chemical colors and flavors, as well as emulsifiers and fillers. Simethicone has not been found to be especially successful in many trials⁷.

 

References

1. Causes and how to relieve gas in a baby. [internet]. 2019 March 18 [cited 2020 August 21]; Available from  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324725
2. Infant Gas: How to Prevent and Treat It. [internet]. [cited 2020 August 21]; Available from https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/features/infant-gas#1
3. Have a Gassy Baby? What to Know About Infant Gas Symptoms, Remedies and Causes. [internet]. [cited 2020 August 21]; Available from  https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/care/gassy-baby/
4. MANAGING GAS IN BREASTFED BABIES. [internet]. [cited 2020 August 21]; Available from  https://www.happyfamilyorganics.com/learning-center/mama/managing-gas-in-breastfed-babies/
5. Signs Your Baby Has Gas and How to Treat It. [internet]. [cited 2020 August 21]; Available from  https://www.parents.com/baby/care/gas/signs-newborn-has-gas/
6. Causes and how to relieve gas in a baby. [internet]. 2019 March 18 [cited 2020 August 21]; Available from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324725#diagnosis
7. Gas Pain in Infants and Newborns. [internet]. [cited 2020 August 21]; Available from https://www.tummycalm.com/infant-gas.html
8. Causes and how to relieve gas in a baby. [internet]. 2019 March 18 [cited 2020 August 21]; Available from  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324725

 

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