How Can You Help Your Baby Expel Gas?

Babies need to expel gas correctly. If they don’t, the gases can then cause discomfort and irritation. In this article, we’ll tell you how to help your little one expel gas correctly.

Infants and Gases

It often happens that babies do not know how to drink correctly or that it does not work out quite right. They can also swallow air while feeding, especially if they are bottle-fed.

This buildup of gases in their small stomachs can cause discomfort. Therefore, they may feel uncomfortable and irritated. That is the most common reason of babies crying.

This is why it is important after each feeding to help your baby get rid of the gas he swallowed during the feeding. It is still very difficult for him to do it himself, so he needs your help.

Therefore, after feeding your baby, you should burp him so he can expel the gases to avoid discomfort or colic. Colic occurs when gases build up in the digestive tract due to air swallowing or poor digestion.

Types of gases

There are 2 types of gas that can bother your baby and you can help him solve the problem. The gases that can accumulate in your baby’s body are:

• stomach gases. These are the most common gases. It’s the air your baby swallows while feeding, as we mentioned above.
• intestinal gases. These are usually produced by poor digestion or some food intolerances and can lead to colic. In this case of your baby, consult your pediatrician. They can recommend a different bottle feed if needed.

How can you help your baby expel gas?

You can use various techniques and tricks to help your baby expel the gas correctly. We will explain these techniques further below.

Correct position for breastfeeding or bottle feeding

It is essential that you adopt the correct position when feeding so that your baby does not ingest air along with milk.

It does not matter whether you breastfeed or bottle. This way they can suck better and will swallow less air. To do this you should pay attention to the following:

• Your areola and nipple should be well covered by the baby’s mouth. If your baby only sucks on your nipple, he’s probably also swallowing air.
• The baby’s gums should not be squeezing your nipple. When they do, they only swallow air, not milk.

Let your baby burp

Burping your baby is the most effective way to help him expel the gas correctly. Certain positions can help him expel the gas better. The most famous poses are:

• Hold your baby against your shoulder with his face toward you.
• Put him in a sitting position on your lap with his back to you and place your hand on your baby’s chest and your fingers on his chin.
• Place your baby face down on your arm. With his stomach pressed against your arm, the emission of gases is facilitated. However, remember that your baby’s head should be slightly higher than the rest of his body.

While your baby is in the correct position, pat or rub his back. You should give your baby 5 to 10 minutes to expel gas. However, don’t worry if you don’t hear the characteristic sounds of belching, as they can go unnoticed. Then you can put your baby down.

When should you burp your baby?

Experts say it is necessary to help your baby expel gas. You are probably wondering when to do this. Normally you should burp your baby after every feeding. However, in some cases you may need to interrupt feeding to expel gases and then continue.

• If your baby is restless while feeding, he may have swallowed air. You can then stop every 5 to 10 minutes to help him expel gas. Then you can continue feeding.
• You can also burp your baby if you move him from one breast to the other.
• If you are bottle feeding your baby and he seems upset, you can stop every 60 milliliters to burp him and then continue feeding.

Just listen to your maternal instincts! If your baby does not appear to be restless and is drinking correctly, there is no need to interrupt the feeding. Then simply burp your child when he is ready.

Choose the right teat when you bottle feed

If you bottle feed your baby, you should pay close attention to the bottle’s teat. This is because they may not be suitable for the age of the baby.

If the holes or the teat itself are too big, it can cause your baby to swallow air along with the milk. Therefore, it is better to choose an age-appropriate teat so that your baby does not swallow air. There are also special teats that can prevent this problem by minimizing the amount of air that babies swallow during feeding.

Is it always necessary to burp your baby?

Some mothers believe that babies always swallow air while feeding. That’s why they think they should always burp their baby, no matter what. However, this is not always the case. Especially when breastfeeding, your baby will not swallow air if the position and sucking technique are correct.

Trying to burp your baby when he doesn’t need to burp him can cause discomfort. It is best to try to help your baby expel gas for a reasonable amount of time (over 5 to 10 minutes) with gentle pats or rubs and then just let him rest.