The newborn phase is full of delightful surprises — including, well, smelly ones. Yes, no matter how adorable, all babies burp and fart regularly. And new parents might have questions about all those aromas coming from their little one’s body. For example, you may find yourself worrying that your newborn has trapped wind that is much too potent, or conversely, that your baby isn’t burping enough.
The good news is that trapped wind is “very common in newborn babies and may continue for the first three to four months after birth”, states Katie Hammond, paediatric staff nurse at the NHS. Sometimes, this period can last even longer (potentially up to 6 months), depending on what the cause of their gassiness is. For example, if the baby is sensitive to formula or their parent’s milk, this may lead to gassy symptoms.
But how much trapped wind is OK? Should your newborn be burping after every meal? What if they don’t ever seem to burp at all? And when does trapped wind potentially mean something else is amiss? Read on for expert advice on these questions and more.
What causes trapped wind in a newborn?
While adults can experience trapped wind 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 include 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 to be gassier overall.
“Aerophagia, or swallowed air, has been implicated as a cause of colic,” states Dr Sunit Godambe, a paediatrician and neonatologist writing for TopDoctors. “Hence, babies with blocked noses experience an increase in symptoms.” And with colic so closely intertwined with gassiness, this is well worth taking into account.
Swallowing air can also happen due to the design of a baby bottle or a 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 in these situations. According to the NHS, sitting your baby up as straight as possible while feeding “will help minimise the amount of air they swallow”. It also 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 feedings, you might wonder whether there’s a difference between breastfeeding and formula when it comes to gas.
This problem “is reported to occur equally in babies of both sexes who are breastfed and bottle-fed,” says Dr Godambe. In other words, one does not produce more gassy symptoms than the other overall. There are, however, some things that may be causing a bit more gas than necessary. For example, Hammond points out that “babies may swallow tiny air bubbles as they feed, which can cause pain in the intestines”. One way to eliminate this is to wait for the bubbles to settle in a baby’s powder-and-water mixed formula before feeding.
Of course, some babies simply do not tolerate certain formulas. For example, they may suffer from 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 have a particularly gassy baby on your hands after formula feeding, it may be time to see if they would prefer or tolerate a different type or brand. It is important to assess this possibility with a paediatrician or paediatric gastroenterologist to be sure.
But it is not just formula that causes gas. Parents who breastfeed or chestfeed need to realise their own diets may also affect their baby and how gassy they are. According to one guide, some foods that may potentially cause breastfed/chestfed babies gas include garlic, onions, cabbages, legumes, citrus fruits 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. Anything that prompts a buildup of gas in a parent will therefore often result in the baby having trapped wind as well.
Digestive and gastrointestinal immaturity
Additionally, parents should keep in mind that digestive immaturity is a very real thing. Essentially, newborns need the proper amount of gut flora to process and break down breastmilk and/or formula in their gastrointestinal system. Without it, gas (and other issues like bloating, constipation, and diarrhoea) 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 may also cause your baby to become gassier.
What is considered “normal” gas in newborns?
Again, it is 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 absolutely fine.
What are some abnormal gas symptoms in newborns?
Gas can sometimes be an indication of other health issues, so our experts recommend keeping an eye out for the following signs in your gassy baby:
- 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 with gas, you could, as Hammond says, try “bathing your baby in a warm bath, gently massaging your baby’s tummy” and “avoid overstimulating your baby by continually picking them up and putting them down”.
When should you seek medical assistance?
While abnormal gas 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 sleepy than usual.
- Signs of dehydration (such as only having three or fewer wet diapers 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.
“Less than five percent of babies with excessive crying have an underlying organic cause,” states Dr Godambe. “It is always important to see a doctor to make sure that the crying is not due to any other cause. Accompanying symptoms that should raise alarm are fever, lethargy, or poor feeding.”
The bottom line on what to know about a gassy baby
Overall, gassy babies are not a rare occurrence, and — despite the smells — nothing to worry about. 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 paediatrician or another health care provider if they feel they need extra help with their gassy baby. As Hammond notes, “If you are worried about your child, be sure to take them to your GP.”
