What to Know About Baby Gas and How to Treat It
Is your little one squirming, fussing, and generally uncomfortable? Whether you have a gassy newborn or older infant, the signs of gas in babies are easy to spot—if you know what you're looking for.
New parents are often surprised by the big noises that come out of a small baby. Newborns can be quite the audible orchestra, and gas is often part of the repertoire. "Gas is a normal part of the digestive process, but it's also involved in most intestinal complaints," says Jeremiah Levine, M.D., director of pediatric gastroenterology at NYU Langone Health. "Too much gas is usually a symptom that something else is going on." So what causes baby gas and what are the signs of a gassy newborn?
Learn more about what causes babies to be gassy, how to know whether your baby's gas is normal or cause for concern, and how to help your little one cope with gas-related discomfort.
Why Is My Baby So Gassy?
Everyone, including your baby, produces and expels gas. As food moves through the gastrointestinal tract, the small intestine absorbs the usable nutrients. Bacteria in the large intestine break down the leftovers, releasing hydrogen and carbon dioxide and producing bubbles of gas in the process. Burping allows some gas to escape from the stomach early on, and the rest travels from the colon to the rectum, where it's ejected primarily via bowel movements or flatulence.
