What Causes Gas in a Baby?

A normal infant may pass gas up to 23 times a day, according to WebMD. While gas is a normal, healthy part of life, it can be worrisome to parents when an infant becomes distressed by the discomfort or pain it causes. Infants may become frustrated by their inability to release gas, which causes pain and bloating. Most cases of infant gas are harmless, caused by everyday activities and is easy to treat.

Crying

One reason infants are more prone to gas than older children or adults is because they cry more often, according to WebMD. Crying causes infants to swallow air, which may become trapped in their stomachs as gas. Infants may become frustrated because they have difficulty releasing gas or because it is painful, leading them to cry even more. Gas can also be worsened by colic, a condition in which an infant cries inconsolably for long periods of time, allowing them to swallow large amounts of air.

Feeding Techniques

Positioning an infant with her stomach above her head during feeding can increase gas bubble formation because the air cannot separate from the milk. The type of bottle you are using may also be increasing the amount of air your infant swallows. Choose bottles with slow-flow nipples and bags that collapse as your child empties them to help your child avoid swallowing excess air. It may also be helpful to give your child a few minutes after a meal before burping her, allowing time for the air to re-separate from the milk.

Digestion

Infants naturally produce gas as they digest the lactose, proteins and other nutrients in formula or breast milk, according to ColicCalm.com. Food eaten by the mother when breast-feeding may also make infants more prone to gas, such as cruciferous vegetables, acidic vegetable and fruits. Infants may also experience gas from foods they are intolerant to, such as dairy, soy and peanut products from the mother's diet. It may help for the mother to reduce her intake of foods that irritate the infant's stomach while she is breast-feeding.

Treatments

There are a variety of treatment options available for infant gas. Natural remedies include gripe water, which is an herbal solution made from dill and other stomach-soothing herbs; allowing a few minutes for air to separate from milk in the stomach before burping your infant; and massaging the infant's back or stomach to help release gas. Simethicone infant drops also can be purchased over the counter to relieve infant gas symptoms.