Flatulence in the baby: what to do with flatulence?

8 ways to treat bloating in babies

Bloating is usually not a cause for concern. However, if these are accompanied by stomach cramps, flatulence can be uncomfortable for your baby. We will inform you here about typical causes and symptoms of flatulence. Therefore, take the following measures to treat and relieve your baby’s flatulence:

1. Avoid foods that cause flatulence

Try to avoid foods that cause gas. This not only applies to your baby, but also to you if you have decided to breastfeed your baby. Foods that promote flatulence include legumes, onions, celery, cabbage or sauerkraut.

2. Test for food intolerance

If your baby has flatulence, a food intolerance can be the cause. If you suspect this, have your baby tested for it. The doctor will first take an anamnesis, which means he will ask you about your baby’s symptoms. He will then carry out various tests. A blood test is particularly suitable for babies.

3. The right teat for the bottle

The right teat and the right contact between your baby and the bottle are so important because otherwise your baby will swallow a lot of air while drinking, which can then collect in his intestines and cause flatulence. Many manufacturers have also optimized their teats so that excess air can escape from the bottle and colic in babies can be significantly reduced.

You should always pay attention to the following with the bottle: The hole in the bottle teat should be the right size for your baby. The manufacturer often classifies teats into certain age groups, which can give you some orientation. The hole size also depends on what you want to feed your baby. At this point, a basic distinction is made between tea, milk and pulp teats. How quickly or slowly the food comes out of the bottle is regulated not only by the size of the hole, but also by the number of holes. So it makes sense that a small baby with a light need to drink may initially only need a small teat with a small hole, while an older baby with a heavy need to drink may need a bottle with multiple holes or a large hole. The size of the hole ultimately depends on the individual development of your baby and both the age, as well as the size and drinking needs of your baby play a role. To prevent excessive air build-up in the bottle, you should also avoid shaking your baby’s bottle too much. Because that leads to foam formation in the milk, which means that air bubbles are formed, which your child drinks with it, which means that the intestines are also only supplied with air unnecessarily.Here you can find out everything about bottles.

4. Make sure the atmosphere is as calm as possible

You can find a permanent place in your home to feed your baby. Create a pleasant atmosphere for you and your baby. It is very important that you give him enough time to eat. Drinking greedily and hastily will only result in imbalanced breathing and your baby will swallow too much air, which in turn will lead to abdominal pain and bloating. Also, keep the bottle upright so that the entire teat is full of milk, and take breaks as needed. That means: don’t just let your baby burp after eating, but also during feeding. This allows air to escape and his stomach doesn’t cramp in the first place.

5. Alleviate flatulence with the fly grip

When you’re carrying your baby in your arms, proper posture can also help treat your baby’s gas. The aviator grip is a carrying method that is particularly suitable for babies with stomach pains or flatulence. Your baby lies face down on your forearm. This way it can let air out much more easily.

6. Exercise and gymnastics relieve gas in the baby

Little effort, big effect. With baby gymnastics you can easily relieve abdominal cramps that often accompany your baby’s flatulence. To do this, first bend your baby’s legs and gently push the bent legs towards the upper body. Then stretch your legs out again. You can repeat this movement 10-15 times without hesitation. Exercise can help treat your baby’s flatulence because it has a relaxing effect and stimulates digestion. Gases that may be stuck in the gastrointestinal tract and cause uncomfortable abdominal cramps can escape much faster with this simple movement.

7. Abdominal massage to prevent flatulence in the baby

A massage has a calming effect on your baby’s tummy. If you massage your baby’s tummy with circular movements, gas that is stuck in your baby’s stomach can be released. In this way you can relieve your baby of unpleasant stomach cramps. Here you will find detailed instructions for a gentle abdominal massage for flatulence.

8. Ointment against flatulence in the baby

Special ointments against flatulence, such as a wind ointment, are available in every pharmacy and can be used for a baby tummy massage. They support the deflating effect of a baby tummy massage and have a calming effect on your baby’s gastrointestinal tract.

Treating flatulence in the baby: when to see the doctor?

With a combination of all these measures you can achieve a good relaxation for your baby’s tummy and relieve it quickly of its flatulence, but in certain cases you should have your baby treated by a doctor. The first thing to do then is to determine the cause of the bloating. You should take your baby to the doctor, above all, if…

• …your baby’s stool is hard. Then your baby may be constipated, which can result in colic.
• …Your baby gasps and cries immediately after every meal. These can also be possible signs of colic.
• …your baby’s stool is foamy. Then it may be that your baby suffers from a food intolerance.