Foods That Cause Gas in Babies

Hearing your baby cry or whimper in pain is tough for every parent. One of the most common causes of pain and discomfort in babies is gas. Make life a bit easier for your child--and for yourself--by learning which foods cause gas in your baby and then avoiding them.

Gas in Babies

It is normal for babies to have gas. As with adults, gas is caused by the body's failure to entirely digest certain foods. The undigested food passes to the large intestine, where bacteria breaks it down into various gases. The gas then exits through the rectum. Babies are especially prone to gas because of their immature digestive systems. However, sometimes babies can produce excessive gas, in which case you should consider the foods she is eating. It's also a good idea for the mother to avoid these foods if she is still breastfeeding the baby.

Dairy Products

Both breastfed and formula-fed babies can suffer from excessive gas. Certain enzymes are needed in the stomach to properly break down milk proteins, and many babies don't have enough of these enzymes. If you are breastfeeding and have eliminated other possible sources of excessive gas in your baby, consider limiting the amount of milk, cheese, yogurt, butter and ice cream in your diet. If you believe your baby is having a reaction to the cow's milk in formula, consider switching to a soy-based formula. But speak with your child's pediatrician first.

Fruits

The acid in citrus fruits can be hard on a baby's digestive system. If you notice a connection between feeding your child citrus fruits and an increase in gas, ease up on feeding him oranges, lemons, grapefruits, strawberries and tomatoes.

Vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables are believed to be more likely to cause gas than other vegetables. These vegetables include broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, kale and bok choy.

Other Foods

You may want to avoid foods containing caffeine, such soda and chocolate. Garlic, onions, peppers and spicy foods are also common gas inducers.

Warning

Many of these foods are healthy and should only be eliminated from your or your baby's diet if it is almost certainly disrupting her digestive system. Babies are fussy for many reasons--not everything can be attributed to gas. To determine whether a particular food is causing a problem, eliminate it from your or your baby's diet for at least one week and see whether it makes a difference. Eliminate only one food at a time so that you'll know which food is making a difference, if any.