Tips To Put Your Gassy Baby At Ease

Last updated on August 2nd, 2023 at 06:06 pm

Life is hard with newborn twins. Life gets harder when they are struggling with gas. Gassy babies’ times two is a recipe for sleepless days and nights.

What makes a gassy baby? Babies generally pass gas between 13 and 20 times a day (like my husband). They are bringing air into their bellies through breastfeeding, bottle feeding, sucking on a pacifier and when they cry. Usually, they will get mildly fussy and after they pass gas, settle back into the happy baby you remember. (Or in my twins’ case, the happy babies you wished they would be.) Nothing is more satisfying then a giant burp coming from your precious bundle of joy. Slightly less satisfying is a giant fart but still a relief nonetheless. But how can we help our babies get to that point? Gas can be very painful for an infant and they can’t tell us that they just need to let one rip. It can be extremely frustrating at 2 AM for everyone involved.

Tips and Tricks for Relieving Your Twin’s Gas

Always keep the baby’s head higher than his stomach.

Whether you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding, keeping his head higher, pushes the milk to the bottom of the stomach and the air to the top. The best way to get into this position while breastfeeding is to use a nursing pillow as support. When bottle feeding, tip the bottle upward and ensure there is no air bubbles in the nipple. If he is still suffering with bouts of gas, try switching to a slow-feed nipple.

Burp him.

There are several ways to burp him. Experiment with what works for your babies. Remember to straighten the spine to get the air up and out. My boys liked when I held them in the upright position on my lap, cupped their chins with my hand and gently patted their backs. This position also saved a lot of my shirts from the dreaded spit-up.

The bicycle motion.

Lay him on his back and pump his legs slowly toward his belly. The air will move up through the stomach and hopefully out in a giant burp that everyone can laugh about. Sometimes, you may need to do this in conjunction with burping.

A warm bath.

Many moms have used a warm bath as a way to relieve gas. This didn’t work for my two but some swear by it.

Eliminating certain foods.

Some babies can’t process cow’s milk proteins. Eliminating dairy from your diet if you are breastfeeding, as well as the babies’ and this may help keep the bouts of gas to a minimum. As their stomachs mature, a lot of times it will resolve itself. Always discuss any formula or dietary changes with your pediatrician.

Gripe water.

Gripe water is sometimes suggested by some pediatricians and alternative practitioners as a naturopathic option. There is no evidence that it truly helps with gas discomfort. With that said, I believe it helped my colicky babies quite a bit. Always discuss any medications and over-the-counter remedies with your doctor.

Farty McFarty Pants_Relieving Your Gassy Baby (1)

Simethicone gas drops.

There is also no evidence that these gas drops work. Many parents find that they do, and many find that they don’t. Your pediatrician can help you decide if simethicone drops might be right for your babies.

Many colicky babies also suffer from gas pains more regularly. Your baby may have colic, if he cries for 3 hours, for more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks. Gas does not cause colic, but if your baby is colicky, he may swallow more air, which gives him more gas. Godspeed if both your babies are colicky. Both my babies suffered with colic, acid reflux, and milk protein allergies. There was a lot of vomiting, crying, and wine drinking in my house for the first six months.

Always check with your pediatrician before changing your diet or babies’ diet. Discuss any over-the-counter medications with them as well.

**All content on this Web site, including medical opinion and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.

Laura Birks is a freelance writer and essayist. She lives in New Jersey with her twin boys, a dog, a couple of cat and a husband. When she’s not doling out medicine or cleaning up vomit, she is writing. Her house is in a constant state of disarray and the laundry is never put away. She likes to pretend she is superwoman but the truth is, she is a mere mortal with a messy house. Find her on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

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