What Are the Causes of Loud Rumbling Gas in an Infant?

When your baby has loud, rumbling gas, it is likely that he is suffering from colic. Colic is an irritation that can be caused in your baby by a number of things. Knowing these things allows you to avoid them, saving both yourself and your child from a long, sleepless night.

Food

Certain types of food, such as those heavy with acid, can cause your infant's stomach to be irritated. This can lead to loud, rumbling gas and eventually colic. For mothers who breast feed, any foods they eat can be passed on to their child, so eating a diet rich in acids or spices will transfer to their child. To protect against this, eat only healthy, light foods while breast feeding. In addition to this, try not to overfeed your child, as the extra strain on their stomach can lead to colic.

Stress

Stress can be a cause of colic in an infant. Anytime your infant cries heavily, the large gasps of air they take may increase the bloating to their newborn lungs. Additionally, a newborn mother who is worried with stress may subconsciously project that onto their child, causing it to be more prone to large outbursts. Being relaxed around your infant, and quickly calming any heavy outburst, will reduce the chances of colic in your infant.

Attitude

The attitude a baby has may be a contributor to colic. Babies who are well-mannered and cheerful are less susceptible to colic than a grumpy, fussy baby. Try to keep your infant happy. However, due to your baby's disposition and personality, this may not always work. At this point, colic may become unavoidable.

Early Life Stages

Most babies only experience colic in the first six months of their life. A common theory is that since the digestive track is so new, and not yet accustomed to the daily intake of various foods, it has yet to grow the bacteria needed to process foods naturally. As a result, loud and rumbling gas develops as the digestive system struggles with doing its job. There is no way to avoid this, but after the first six months the digestive system will be more at ease.