Infants and Gas

Infants and gas - yes this can be quite a problem. Young babies naturally fuss and get cranky when they have gas, which happens because they swallow air during feedings. Although this occurs in both breastfed and bottle-fed infants, it's seen more often with bottle-fed babies.

If you find that your infant has gas during feeding, you're better off stopping the feeding than letting your baby fuss and nurse (or bottle feed) at the same time. Fussing will cause her to swallow even more air, which will only make her more fussy.

Concerning infants and gas, a much better strategy is to burp her frequently, even if she doesn't seem to have gas. If she's bottle-feeding, burp her halfway through the bottle. If she's nursing, burp her when she switches from one breast to the other.

How to Burp a Baby

There are a few tried-and-true techniques to relieve infants and gas. You will find which ones work best for your baby.

One: Hold your baby upright with her head on your shoulder, supporting her head and back while you gently pat her back with your other hand. If she still hasn't burped after several minutes, don't worry, just stop trying; no baby burps every time.

When she's finished eating, burp her again and keep her in an upright position for 10 to 15 minutes so she doesn't spit up.

Two: Lay your baby on your lap with tummy across your legs. Support her head so it is higher than her chest, and gently pat or rotate your hand on her back. Personally I never got the hang of this one -- but it does work for some people.

Three: Sit your baby on your lap, supporting her chest and head with one hand while patting her back with your other hand.

Remember, infants and gas is a common problem, and one that they grow out of eventually as they get better at regulating their bodies.