After your baby is born, there’ll be so many things you’ll be taking care of. Right from breastfeeding your baby, understanding their sleep schedules to changing diapers, there’s so much to do. And if you notice your little one starting to grunt, then that’s probably gas. You’ll be surprised to know that babies have an immature digestive system and so you don’t need to panic if your baby farts a lot. Read on to find out what to know if your baby farts a lot and what you can do to prevent excessive gas in their tummy.
What Causes Your Baby To Fart?
As a parent, it’s natural for you to worry if your baby is farting a lot. But, remember that unlike mature children and adults, babies tend to swallow more air and that can cause the gas. It takes several months for your little one’s intestines to form the microflora they need in order to digest foods effectively. When it comes to breastfed babies, their farts tend to be less smelly compared to the ones who eat complementary food along with breastfeeding.
It takes time for your little one’s digestive systems to develop. That’s also why your baby farts a lot.
There are several reasons as to why your baby’s tummy creates gas. Here’s a list of causes to consider if your baby farts a lot:
Underdeveloped Digestive System
You need to remember that babies have underdeveloped digestive systems. Your little one’s muscles responsible for digestion are still in the developing stage. So, all the proteins and fats that they get from breastmilk and other foods take time to get digested.
As a result of this, your baby experiences gas and that causes them to fart. You might notice your little one squirming or crying excessively especially when they want to pass gas. Do keep in mind that this is a temporary problem and will reduce as your baby’s digestive system keeps developing.
Feeding Techniques
One of the key factors that can increase or reduce the gas in your baby’s tummy is your feeding techniques. Whether you’re breastfeeding or relying on bottle-feeding, you need to figure out the right technique to feed your baby. That’s when paced bottle feeding comes to the rescue as it makes your baby drink slower, reducing the chances of them taking in air.
When your baby swallows a lot of air, it causes excessive gas because of the air bubbles formed in their intestine. This happens when your little one isn’t able to latch properly. In order to prevent your little one from swallowing too much air, see to it that you hold their head above your breast when breastfeeding. You can try switching between your breasts while feeding your baby. Otherwise, make sure that your baby is in a vertical position when you’re breastfeeding.
Also, keep in mind that the intestinal gas in your baby is caused due to the slow breakdown of lactose in their digestive system. That is what causes your baby to fart a lot. Another thing you must do to ease their discomfort is burping your baby after their feeding. That will help reduce the gas in their stomach.
Lack Of Sufficient Bacteria Flora
As mentioned earlier, your newborn baby doesn’t have enough bacteria flora that can help them to digest your breastmilk. After 4 weeks, most babies have a good amount of proteobacteria that are known to produce gas. Your baby can experience pain because of the gas caused by proteobacteria.
Naturally, your little one will tend to cry while farting excessively. That’s why it’s advised that newborn babies should be fed breast milk at least for the first 6 months after birth. This helps them to digest the food properly as they start picking up good bacteria.
If your baby farts a lot it could also be because they’re allergic to some food.
Lactose Intolerance And Allergy
When it comes to gas, you need to be mindful about what you’re feeding your baby. If your baby has been having digestion problems and excessive farting, it can be because of food allergy and sensitivity. The whey or casein found in baby food is known to cause excessive farting in babies.
Let’s not forget that some babies are allergic to milk protein. If you notice your little one getting rashes, congestion of the chest or diarrhea, those can be counted as signs of allergy. Another sign you need to be aware of is your baby’s stool containing mucus, which can be because of milk protein allergy.
Sign And Symptoms Of A Gassy Baby
There’s nothing to worry about as long as your little one is passing gas comfortably. But, if your baby is experiencing pain while farting, you need to consult your pediatrician or a doctor.
Here are some signs and symptoms of a gassy baby:
- Constant crying
- Bloating of the stomach
- Stretching out the body and arching the back
- Frequent burping throughout the day
- Clenching the fists
- Problems in urination
- Blood in stools
- Continuous vomiting
What Can You Do To Ease Your Baby’s Farts?
If your baby farts excessively, there are some things you can try to help them be at ease. Do keep in mind that flatulence affects most babies and can cause them a fair bit of discomfort. Here are some measures you can take to ease your baby’s farts:
Give Your Baby A Tummy Massage
One of the best things you can do for your baby is give them a nice tummy massage. You can use a baby lotion or oil to gently massage your baby’s tummy. We suggest you do this after giving your little one a nice warm bath. This will help to get rid of the air trapped in your baby’s intestines.
Help Your Baby Burp
It’s important that you help your baby burp after feeding them. You can do that by gently rubbing your baby’s back after breastfeeding. Make sure that you don’t lay down your baby after feeding. The air that your little one swallows during breastfeeding or bottle-feeding can come out with burping, helping them rest or sleep better.
Get The Right Sized Bottle For Your Baby
Make sure that you get the correct sized bottle for feeding your baby. If yours is a newborn baby, see to it that you get a small bottle. As mentioned earlier, the risk of overfeeding your baby is more if you choose the wrong bottle for your little one. That’s why you need to check the nipple size of the bottle before you purchase one.
Baby Exercise
The best thing to do to get rid of the gas in your baby is by helping them exercise. You can try pedaling by holding your little one’s feet and moving them in a circular motion. Just make sure that your baby is flat on their backs on a firm surface. Otherwise, you can try stretching your baby’s legs and then bring them to either side of their hips. These movements will help get rid of the air trapped inside your baby’s intestines.
Helping your baby burp and do some exercise, can help ease your baby’s farts to some extent.
Conclusion
Farting is a natural way of releasing gas from the body, even for babies. Remember that every baby is different, so no one technique may help all babies especially when it comes to gas problems. In case your little one is experiencing a lot of discomfort and pain, see to it that you immediately consult your pediatrician. And if you’re worried about keeping a track of all your baby’s medical records, you can use our ImmunifyMe app and be at ease. The best thing is that you can even keep digitized records of your baby’s immunization and vaccination records.
FAQs On What To Know If Your Baby Farts A Lot
Why Should I Worry About Baby Gas?
It’s normal for babies to have gas and fart excessively as their digestive system is still developing. But, if your baby experiences pain or discomfort while farting, then it can be a result of some digestive problems. That’s why it’s best to consult a pediatrician during such times.
What Can You Do If Your Baby Has Too Much Gas?
Here’s what you can do if your baby has too much gas:
- Give your baby a tummy massage
- Help your baby burp
- Get the right size bottle for your baby
- Help your baby exercise
Can Overfeeding Cause Gas In Babies?
When you overfeed your baby, they are not able to digest all of the proteins and fats from the milk. At the same time, your baby tends to swallow a lot of air that can create gas in the stomach and cause a lot of pain and discomfort. That’s why it’s advisable that you get the right sized bottle for your baby when bottle feeding.
Is It Normal For Babies To Fart A Lot?
Gas and farting are natural for both babies and adults. But babies tend to fart a lot as their digestive system hasn’t completely developed yet. If your baby is farting a lot, you can help them to burp after feeding. Otherwise, baby exercise is also a great way to get rid of the air inside your little one’s intestines.