How to Help a Newborn With Gas

Almost half of newborn babies will experience gas pains during the first few months of life. Some babies will continue to experience gas for the entire first year of life. You may feel helpless and frustrated when your newborn is crying in pain from gas cramps. There are, however, steps you can take to reduce or eliminate your newborn's gas pains.

Instructions

1

Apply gentle pressure to your newborn's abdominal area. Hold your baby face down across your lap, placing her head on one knee and her belly on the other. Gently rub your newborn's back while using soothing, comforting words.

2

Lie your newborn on the floor and massage his belly. Take his legs in both hands and gently push his legs up until his knees touch his abdomen. Hold his legs there for a few seconds, and then gently bring them back down. Repeat this step several times to help expel any excess gas from his system.

3

Burp your newborn frequently during feedings to expel excess air. Control the amount of air your baby takes in by minimizing air intake during feedings. Be sure your baby has latched on properly during breastfeeding or use the right size nipple for a bottle-fed newborn. Change your position or the size of the nipple if you notice your newborn gulping air during a feeding, which can lead to gas and crying.

4

Change your diet if you are breastfeeding your newborn. Foods that will cause gas in an adult will also cause gas in a newborn. Avoid beans, broccoli, onions and other gas-inducing foods while you are breastfeeding to eliminate or decrease gas in your newborn.

5

Talk to your doctor about food allergies or intolerance, which could be causing gas for your newborn. Your doctor may recommend switching to a lactose-free or soy-based formula.

6

Use over-the-counter infant gas drops to relieve the pain your newborn is experiencing if nothing else seems to work. You can give these drops directly to your newborn or added to her bottle at each feeding.