Natural ways to treat gas problems in infants

When a newborn is in dismay, their only way of telling us is through crying. But if you’ve changed their nappy and fed them, gas may be the result of their discomfort. You feed her, you burp her and you shower her with love – but still, your baby won’t stop crying. So what’s a mom to do?

Gas problems in infants are more common than you think and can cause serious discomfort and pain in your bundle of joy. The good news, however, is they can be treated the natural way…

1.  Feed and Burp

While a lot of parents resort to using gripe water and other equivalents to treat their baby’s gas, it’s not recommended by experts as It may cause side-effects in your bub.

Instead, ensure you follow the feed and burp rule as it’s proven to be the most effective when combating gas in babies.

When feeding your baby, give them a break every five minutes and pat them on the back. If burping takes time and your tot needs encouragement, then try rubbing their back in gentle motions. This will guarantee that there’s no or minimal gas formation in your bub after feeding.

2.  Sit and Feed

It’s essential that you sit upright while feeding your little one, resting them on a pillow on your lap with their head slightly elevated, if you want to bring down their chances of gas formation. This will also help prevent colic.

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3.  Use Touch Therapy

Make a point of physically interacting with your baby throughout the day. By gently rubbing and massaging their back, you will encourage them to burp or pass gas. The same goes for when you put your bub to sleep. Before you do, give their tummy and back a rub which will help with any excess gas removal so your tot has a more peaceful sleep.

4.  Avoid Eating Gas-Causing Foods

What you eat during breastfeeding has an important impact on your little one’s gas production. As with adults, foods like broccoli, onions, Brussel sprouts and cabbage cause gas so try avoid them in their rawest form while breastfeeding. If you must, rather cook them instead.

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Dairy products have the potential to cause colic in babies thanks to their potentially allergenic proteins. Make sure you keep dairy products to a minimum when breastfeeding. Caffeine-containing foods, wheat, corn, peanuts, soy and spicy foods should also be avoided as they’ve been known to cause gas in infants when consumed by breastfeeding moms.