Understanding Your Child's Gas
What is it? Gas is a common condition in infants caused by swallowed air during feeding, immature digestive systems, or sensitivity to formula ingredients. Gas occurs when air gets trapped in your baby's intestines, causing discomfort that is usually relieved when the gas is passed.
Common Types:
- Normal Infant Gas: Brief fussiness that's relieved by burping or passing gas, occurs mainly after feeding, baby returns to normal mood quickly
- Excessive Gas from Feeding: Prolonged fussiness during and after feeds, frequent need for burping, often related to feeding technique or bottle flow rate
- Gas from Lactose Sensitivity: Frothy or loose stools, rumbling stomach sounds, persistent gas pain, may worsen with certain formulas
- Gas from Milk Protein Sensitivity: Gas combined with skin rashes, unusual stool consistency, feeding refusal, may require specialized formula
When to Manage at Home
✅ You can manage your child's gas at home when:
- Your baby is feeding well and gaining weight appropriately
- Gas symptoms are relieved by burping, position changes, or passing gas
- Fussiness is brief and baby returns to normal mood between episodes
- No fever, vomiting, or blood in stools
- Your baby appears healthy and alert most of the time
How to Treat at Home
🏠 Home remedies for gas:
- Feeding Techniques: Burp every 1-2 ounces during bottle feeding, hold baby upright for 15-20 minutes after feeding, ensure proper bottle nipple size for baby's age
- Movement and Positioning: Bicycle baby's legs gently in circular motion, supervised tummy time when awake, hold baby face-down across your forearm
- Massage Techniques: Gentle clockwise tummy massage, "I Love U" massage on baby's belly, leg-to-chest movements to help gas move through intestines
- Environmental Positioning: Keep baby upright during and after feeds, avoid laying flat immediately after eating, gentle bouncing or rocking motions
- Gas Relief Activities: Warm (not hot) compress on tummy, gentle knee-to-chest exercises, allowing natural movement and wiggling time
Safe Medications
- For children 2 weeks and older: Simethicone drops (Mylicon, Gas-X infant drops) - follow package dosing, can be given before or after feeds
- Probiotic drops: May help with digestive health and gas reduction - discuss with your provider first
- Formula modifications: Trial of low-lactose, partially hydrolyzed, or hypoallergenic formula if gas seems related to current formula
- ⚠️ Talk to your provider first about which formulas are best to use for your child.
- As a rule of thumb, try to avoid switching formulas before trialing for at least 2 weeks (this gives effects time to take place and is better for infant health)
- AVOID honey (under 1 year), adult gas medications, herbal remedies, and gripe water containing alcohol or unsafe ingredients
When to Contact Poppins
📱 Contact us again when:
- Gas symptoms lasting more than 2 weeks without improvement
- Symptoms worsen or new symptoms develop
- Baby shows signs of formula intolerance (rash, persistent diarrhea, feeding refusal)
- Gas pain seems to be interfering with sleep or feeding significantly
- You need guidance on formula changes or feeding modifications
- You're just not sure and need reassurance
When to Visit Your Pediatrician
🩺 Go to an in-person appointment when:
- Gas symptoms lasting more than 1 month without improvement
- Poor weight gain or slow growth despite addressing gas issues
- Persistent loose stools, blood in stool, or unusual stool changes
- Development of rash, hives, or other signs of allergic reaction to formula
- Feeding refusal or significant decrease in milk/formula intake
- Gas symptoms accompanied by frequent spitting up or vomiting
When to Go to the ER
🚨 Seek immediate emergency care for gas with serious medical signs:
- Fever in baby under 3 months old
- Persistent vomiting or signs of dehydration (dry mouth, no tears, fewer wet diapers)
- Blood in stool or black, tarry stools
- Baby appears lethargic, unresponsive, or won't wake for feeds
- Rigid, hard, or severely distended abdomen
- High-pitched crying with inability to be consoled for extended periods
If your gut tells you something is wrong, don't hesitate to reach out. Need help? Reconnect with our on-demand team of medical staff available 24/7.
