What to Know About Baby Gas and How to Treat It

Gas Prevention Methods for Babies

Try these gas prevention methods if your baby is plagued by excess gas.

Bring on the burps

Feeding time can come with a lot of crying, gulping, guzzling, and suckling—in other words, a lot of swallowed air—which eventually manifests itself in the form of a burp or gas. "And while relief from a burp might be more immediate, air that turns into gas has a longer journey through the intestinal tract first," Dr. Shu says. Try being a little extra vigilant about burping your baby during and after a feeding to see if you can keep some of the gas at bay.

Check the flow

If the flow speed (either from the breast or bottle) is high, your baby may be gulping a lot of air along with their meal. When breastfeeding, you can alleviate this issue by pumping or hand expressing for a few minutes before nursing as flow tends to be fastest at letdown.

If bottle feeding, you can switch to a slower flow nipple to decrease the rate of flow. This allows your baby to drink at a less hurried pace, which should decrease the amount of air they take in as they swallow.

Monitor your latch

If you're breastfeeding, check your baby's latch to ensure they are taking in the areola and have good suction. An improper latch can lead to the baby continually coming off the breast and consequently ingesting more air as they struggle to attach properly.

Consult a lactation consultant if you are having issues with your latch (or any other breastfeeding problems). Slight adjustments in technique can often make a world of difference both for you