Baby Gas: What Causes It And How To Support Your Child

If your bub has a grumpy gut, they may also be experiencing gas. Infant gas happens to many babies and usually means there’s some air trapped in their digestive tract causing some discomfort.

No one likes a tummy ache (or seeing their little one feeling poorly), but understanding the common causes of infant gas and tips may help you and your health professional to get to the root of the issue and help relieve their symptoms.

This information is general in nature and provided as information only. You should always take your child to visit a health professional if they experience any kind of digestive discomfort or gas.

When dealing with a gassy newborn, it’s can sometimes be tricky to understand just what’s happening inside your little one’s body.

When a baby has gas, small bubbles develop in their stomach or intestines, which sometimes causes pressure and stomach discomfort. Many babies aren’t bothered by their gas, however for some, they may become restless and find drifting off to sleep trickier until it has passed.

Luckily, most infants will have outgrown their gas by the age of four to six months old, however baby gas can last longer for some newborns.

It’s important to remember every baby is unique and each situation will be different from the other. Regardless of their age, if your baby develops gas you should take them to see a health professional ⁽¹⁾.

Although an uncomfortable experience for some bubs, infant gas isn’t uncommon and there are several potential causes that may contribute. These include:

As babies’ bodies are still learning how to digest foods, they may accumulate more gas than adults.

When babies cry, they sometimes swallow excess air. If this has caused gas, you may hear them passing it soon after they’ve stopped crying. Although, the catch 22 is that sometimes it can be difficult to know whether the gas is causing their crying or if the crying is causing their gas.

Regardless, tend to your little one’s needs, try to calm them while they are distressed, and take them to see a health professional to rule out any other possible causes

When a baby sucks on a bottle and swallows air during their feed, air may enter their immature digestive tracts and linger, causing mild discomfort.

Once you begin introducing solids to your bub (usually around the six-month mark), some foods may contribute to or cause excess gas.

Every bub will respond to certain types of food differently, however there are a few repeat offenders that commonly cause gas in babies. This is because your little one’s body takes a little longer to break them down.

Some common foods which may cause baby gas include:

• Beans
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Apricots
• Pears
• Peaches

For some infants, frequent gas may be a sign of a food sensitivity. This is one of the reasons it’s important to consult your friendly GP if your little one experiences gas.

Although an uncomfortable experience for some bubs, infant gas isn’t uncommon and there are several potential causes that may contribute. These include:

• Crying while passing gas, or soon after
• Arching their back
• Passing gas or burping
• Lifting their legs
• Trouble sleeping

If you think your little one is experiencing gas, it’s important to take them to see your local GP. During your appointment, you may wish to discuss these symptoms ⁽¹⁾.

As a parent, it’s never pleasant to see your little one feeling uncomfortable. Once you’ve taken your bub to see a doctor and they’ve ruled out any underlying causes, you may like to try the following tips to help provide your baby with some relief:

• Gentle massage: massage your baby’s tummy by pumping their legs back and forth while they lay on their back, as though they’re riding a bicycle.
• A warm bath: may also help settle discomfort caused by gas as your little one is relaxed and the warm water may help their gastrointestinal tract operate more effectively.
• Gently rub their tummy: in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. You can gauge how much pressure to apply by watching your little one’s reaction to the feeling.
• Burping your baby: to help expel excess gas. Softly patting their back in a position that is comfortable and in which their face is uncovered ^{(5- 7)}.

If your little one is gassy, your first port of call should always be a trip to your friendly local doctor’s office. They will be able to assess your bub’s individual symptoms and determine the likely cause.

If your child experiences any of the symptoms mentioned in this article, or if they change or worsen unexpectedly, take them to see a health professional.

Looking for more information about your little one’s tummy? You may find the following resources helpful:

The Ultimate What, When, Why And How Guide To Colic

This Is How Probiotics May Help To Support Your Child

1. Villines, Z. (2019). Why is my baby gassy? Symptoms and treatment. [online] Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324725 [Accessed 30 Sep. 2020].
2. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (n.d.). Gas in the Digestive Tract | NIDDK. [online] Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gas-digestive-tract [Accessed 30 Sep. 2020].
3. Better Health Channel. (n.d.). Colic. [online] www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au. Available at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/colic [Accessed 30 Sep. 2020].
4. (n.d.). Foods That Cause Gas in Babies. [online] Available at: https://www.parents.com/baby/care/gas/foods-that-cause-gas-in-babies/ [Accessed 30 Sep. 2020].
5. Johnson, J.D., Cocker, K. and Chang, E. (2015). Infantile Colic: Recognition and Treatment. American Family Physician, [online] 92(7), pp.577–582. Available at: https://www.aafp.org/afp/2015/1001/p577.html.
6. Texas Children’s Hospital. (n.d.). What’s causing gas in my breastfed baby? | Pavilion for Women. [online] Available at: https://women.texaschildrens.org/blog/whats-causing-gas-my-breastfed-baby#:~:text=If%20you%20notice%20that%20each [Accessed 30 Sep. 2020].
7. Inc, C. com (2015). How To Comfort A Gassy Baby: 7 Tips From Experts And Parents. [online] Care.com. Available at: https://www.care.com/c/stories/4475/8-tips-for-comforting-your-gassy-baby/ [Accessed 25 Nov. 2020].