The newborn phase is full of delightful surprises — including, well, smelly ones. Yes, no matter how adorable they are, all babies burp and fart regularly. And new parents might have questions about all those aromas coming from their sweet little one’s body, finding themselves worrying that their newborn has gas that is much too potent, or conversely, that their baby isn’t burping enough.
The good news is that wind is a normal part of a newborn’s life and routine, according to a paediatric gastroenterologist, who says that you can anticipate your baby to have wind for the first few months of life, generally up to about three or four months — at times, even longer (potentially up to six months), depending on the cause of their wind. For instance, it may be due to a sensitivity to formula or their parent’s milk that isn’t addressed right away.
But how much wind is okay? Should your newborn be burping after every meal? What if they don’t ever seem to burp at all? And when does wind potentially mean something else is amiss? Read on for expert advice on these questions and more.
What causes gas in newborns?
While adults experience flatulence for a wide range of reasons, including drinking carbonated beverages or eating too many beans, wind in newborns is typically the result of just a few different factors. Among them? Swallowing too much air, different aspects of their diet (or the breastfeeding/chestfeeding parent’s diet) and digestive immaturity. The next time your baby farts or burps, see if it directly correlates to any of the following.
Swallowing air
Kids and adults know how to suck in air to elicit a burp, but babies swallow air inadvertently all the time, leading them having more wind overall. A gassy baby tends to come from taking in extra air while feeding, crying or sucking on a dummy. It is most common during their first four months, after which it generally subsides.
Swallowing air can also happen due to the design of the baby bottle, as well as due to improper latching. Trying different bottles with air vents or working with a lactation consultant (to address latching issues including lip and tongue-tie) can be helpful in these situations.
It helps if you’re able to feed the baby before they get too hungry, because gulping milk or formula and gasping while crying contribute to excess air intake. Hungry babies generally show signs like moving their fists to their mouths (and even sucking on them), smacking their lips, opening and closing their mouths, and turning their heads to seek out a nipple. If they’ve shown some of these signs and have begun to cry, they are too hungry.
A newborn’s diet
Speaking of feeding, you might wonder, “Why does my breastfed baby have so much wind?” or, “Is my baby’s formula responsible for all those burps and farts?” But dies how a baby is fed make a difference here?
One paediatrician says that overall, there is no difference between breastfed versus formula-fed babies in terms of how much wind occurs. There are, however, some things that may be causing a bit more wind than necessary. For example, one common cause of wind is when parents forget to wait for the bubbles to settle in their baby’s powder-and-water mixed formula.
What’s more, some babies don’t tolerate certain formulas due to various reasons. For example, they may have congenital lactase deficiency (a condition that causes the baby to be born without the enzyme one needs to digest lactose, the main sugar in cow’s milk) or galactosemia (a similar condition, except this time they can’t digest galactose, which is also found in cow’s milk). If you’ve got a particularly gassy newborn on your hands after formula feeding, it might be time to see if they prefer or tolerate a different type or brand.
It is also possible that certain intolerances can lead to wind, so it is important to assess this possibility with your paediatrician or paediatric gastroenterologist.
But it’s not just formula that causes wind. Parents who breastfeed or chestfeed need to realise their own diets may also affect their baby and how gassy they are. Some foods that may potentially cause breastfed/chestfed babies to have wind include regular milk, onions, beans, cabbage, peas, broccoli, legumes and others. This is because many of these foods are high in things like raffinose (a complex sugar that humans cannot digest), contain lots of fibre (which causes bloating and gas in the body) or are foods that can cause sensitivity issues leading to wind. Anything that causes the parent to have gas will therefore often cause wind in the baby.
Digestive and gastrointestinal immaturity
Additionally, parents should keep in mind that digestive immaturity is a very real thing.
Just as infants are learning to do so many things after they are born, their intestines are also adapting to life outside the womb. The intestines are working to establish their normal bacterial flora, which aid in digestion, and what it is like to move food through the GI tract.
Essentially, newborns need the proper amount of gut flora to process and break down breastmilk and/or formula in their gastrointestinal system. Without it, wind (and other issues like bloating, constipation, and diarrhea) can also occur.
A premature baby may also struggle with an immature gastrointestinal tract (which includes issues like lacking coordination skills for sucking and swallowing, as well as peristalsis), so this can also cause your baby to have more wind.
What is considered “normal” gas in newborns?
Again, it’s perfectly typical for newborns to burp and fart several times a day, and this isn’t a problem so long as there is no excessive burping, especially after feeding.
Some signs of normal levels of wind in a newborn is when the baby doesn’t seem to be irritated, in pain or bothered by their wind and are otherwise growing and developing well, without any other symptoms. While they may show some slight fussiness just before they pass wind, if they seem relieved afterwards, your baby is doing just fine.
What are some abnormal wind symptoms in newborns?
Newborn gas is expected and generally isn’t a cause for concern. That said, you’ll want to keep an eye out for other symptoms that might warrant further exploration. Our experts recommend keeping an eye out for the following signs if your newborn has wind:
- Fussing a lot or crying while passing gas (similar to signs of colic — an intense, ongoing, unconsolable period of crying in an infant for no apparent reason).
- Fussing or crying after feeding (whether they pass wind or not).
- Showing other physical signs that they are in pain or irritated by their wind (such as grimacing or kicking/pulling in their legs).
- Refusing to feed.
- Abdominal distention.
- Inability to pass gas (especially after feeding, which is when they typically do).
If your baby seems to be struggling a bit with wind, you might try warm baths, massage
techniques and a variety of other techniques to help a gassy baby.
When should you seek out a paediatrician?
While abnormal wind symptoms might warrant a call to your paediatrician, our experts say other symptoms are severe enough that you should seek immediate help from a health-care provider:
- A sudden increase or decrease in dirty nappies.
- Excessive spit up or vomiting.
- Blood in the stool.
- Not gaining weight regularly (failure to thrive).
- Being more lethargic and sleepier than usual.
- Signs of dehydration (such as only having three or fewer wet nappies within 24 hours).
- Fever (anything over 38˚C).
- Crying inconsolably.
- Other extreme changes in behaviour.
- Sudden symptoms of an allergic reaction, like a rash, hives, swelling or difficulty breathing.
Make sure to keep a special eye out for these symptoms if you’re introducing your baby to a new formula or if you have changed your diet and are breastfeeding.
The bottom line on what to know about wind in newborns
Overall, wind in newborns is very common and — despite the smells — nothing to worry over. But knowing the signs and symptoms of abnormal wind (especially when it may indicate other issues) is key.
That said, parents should always feel free to seek help from their paediatrician or another health-care provider if they feel they need extra help to deal with their newborn’s upset tummy. In conclusion, if wind is preventing your baby from living a happy life, then you should absolutely consult your child’s doctor for resources and support.