When does excess gas mean something is amiss for a newborn? Read on for advice on this question and how to help with infant gas.
The newborn phase is full of delightful surprises — including, well, smelly ones. Yes, no matter how adorable, all babies burp and fart pretty 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 gas is all part of your baby’s healthy life and development. You can generally expect your baby to be gassy for the first few months of life — usually up to about three or four months and potentially up to six months, depending on what the cause of their gassiness is. For example, if they have sensitivities to formula or their parent’s milk that aren’t addressed right away, the issue may persist for longer.
But how much gas is OK? Should your newborn be burping after every meal? What if they don’t ever seem to burp at all? And when does gas potentially mean something else is amiss? Read on for advice on these questions and more.
What causes gas in a newborn?
While adults experience gas for a wide range of reasons, including drinking carbonated beverages or eating too many beans, newborn gas 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 when they cry, eat or use a pacifier, leading them to be gassier overall.
Swallowing air can also happen due to the design of the baby bottle as well as due to improper latch. Trying different bottles with air vents or working with a lactation consultant (to address latch issues including lip and tongue ties) can be helpful to alleviate gassy newborns in these situations.
Gulping while feeding can result in babies taking in too much air, so it’s a good idea to feed them before they get very hungry to alleviate gas in newborns. 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 begun to cry, they are too hungry.
A newborn’s diet
Speaking of feedings, you might wonder whether feeding a baby on breast milk makes them gassier than formula, or vice versa. Experts say that while there’s no meaningful difference here, there are some things that may be causing a bit more gas than necessary. For example, one common cause of gas is when parents forget to wait for the bubbles to settle in their baby’s powder-and-water mixed formula.
Conditions such as 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) may also prevent babies tolerating specific formulas. 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. Other intolerances may also make your baby gassy and this is worth investigating with a medical professional if you believe it to be the case.
But it’s not just formula that causes gas. Parents who breastfeed or chestfeed need to realize their own diets may also affect their baby and how gassy they are. Some foods that may potentially cause breastfed/chestfed babies gas include garlic, onions, beans, spinach, kale and spicy foods. 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 gas. Cutting out foods that cause the parent gas will therefore often help to relieve gas in newborns as well.
Digestive and gastrointestinal immaturity
Additionally, parents should keep in mind that digestive immaturity is a very real thing. As babies grow and change in every other way, so too does their ability to digest. At this early stage, your child’s body is discovering the ability to process food, and their intestines are finding the right balance when it comes to gut bacteria, so part of infant gas relief simply involves waiting for their body to develop.
Essentially, newborns need the proper amount of gut flora to process and break down breast milk and/or formula in their gastrointestinal system. Without it, gas (and other issues like bloating, constipation, and diarrhea) can occur. Premature babies also struggle with immature gastrointestinal tracts (which includes issues like lacking coordination skills for sucking and swallowing, as well as peristalsis), so this can also cause your baby to be gassier.
What is considered “normal” gas in newborns?
Again, it’s perfectly typical for newborns to burp and fart several times a day, especially after feedings. While they may show some slight fussiness just before they pass gas, if they seem relieved afterward, your baby is doing just fine, especially if their growth and development are going smoothly. If they appear agitated, sore and uncomfortable, these are signs to look out for.
What are some abnormal gas symptoms in newborns?
Keep an eye on the following signs in your gassy newborn:
- Fussing a lot or crying when 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 feedings (whether they pass gas or not).
- Showing other physical signs that they are in pain or irritated by their gas (such as grimacing or kicking/pulling in their legs).
- Refusing feedings.
- Abdominal distention.
- A lack of passing gas (especially after feedings when they typically do).
If your baby seems to be struggling a bit with gas, you might try warm baths, massage techniques and a variety of other infant gas relief techniques.
When should you seek out a pediatrician?
While abnormal gas symptoms might warrant a call to your pediatrician, other symptoms are severe enough that you should seek immediate help from a health care provider. This is particularly the case if you have changed your own diet when feeding or the type of formula you use. They are as follows:
- A sudden increase or decrease in dirty diapers.
- Excessive spit up or vomiting.
- Blood in the stool.
- Not gaining weight regularly (failure to thrive).
- Being more lethargic and sleepy than usual.
- Signs of dehydration (such as only having three or fewer wet diapers within 24 hours).
- Fever (anything over 38°C or 100.4°F).
- Crying inconsolably.
- Other extreme changes in behaviour.
- Sudden symptoms of an allergic reaction, like a rash, hives, swelling or difficulty breathing.
The bottom line on what to know about a gassy newborn
Overall, gassiness is very common in newborns and — despite the smells — nothing to worry over. But knowing the signs and symptoms of abnormal gas (especially when it may indicate other issues) is key.
That said, parents should always feel free to seek help from their pediatrician or another health care provider if they feel they need extra help with their gassy newborn. You and your baby’s contentment are paramount.