Many infants fart, and this is not a big deal to their mothers. However, excessive farting could be a sign that they are having difficulties with gas in their stomachs. This is common for kids between two weeks and four months. As a mother, you may be wondering how to deal with babies and gas and if excessive farting is actually a big deal.
Doctors say that most adult humans fart at least 23 times in a day, but babies should not be farting this much. More than once every couple of hours can be a signal of an issue. If your baby is farting more than this frequency, you should be concerned. Before we look at how to get rid of gas for such as an infant, we will discuss what the common symptoms that accompany these farts to help you understand what to look for in this case.
Symptoms of Baby Gas
Most children who fart excessively also bloat, burp or belch. Some fuss a lot while others experience stomach cramps that make them cry a lot. Baby gas also causes irritation and restlessness in a child. Some have constant hiccups while others experience flatulence. You may notice that the tummy of your baby is harder than it should be. An irregularity during urination as well as fever are also signs of baby gas.
Causes & Treatments of Gas In Babies
Underdeveloped digestive system
Babies are born with immature digestive systems. This inhibits quick digestion of foods such as proteins and fats that they get from breast milk. In the first month, your baby is learning how to digest food for the first time.
The muscles that are responsible for digestion are still developing. This makes the food they eat go through without a proper breakdown. It causes gas to develop through their intestines which lead to excessive farting. A child is likely to experience pain as they pass this gas making them cry excessively. This situation is temporary and may improve the development of their digestive system.
Lack of a balance in gut bacteria
At a tender age, a baby is born clean without sufficient bacteria flora which should digest breast milk. Most bacteria that are found in 4 weeks baby are proteobacteria. This triggers production of gas which causes pain to an infant. Lots of proteobacteria make your baby fart excessively and cry.
With time, as you continue breastfeeding your child, they will pick good bacteria to help digest the food appropriately. Probiotics are the best way to stop farting of children since probiotics balance the bacteria in the baby’s gut. We highly recommend Evivo probiotics for babies to fix this issue.
Improper feeding techniques
Breastfeeding your baby directly or using baby bottles can either increase or reduce gas in a baby. Finding the right method to feed your baby will prevent them from swallowing gas. When breastfeeding, hold your baby in a position where their head goes above your breast to keep them from taking in the air. If your child swallows air, their digestive system struggles to break down lactose leading to the increase in intestinal gas. Now you know why your baby farts excessively.
A bottle to feed also affects the flow of milk inside their throat. Ensure that you are doing it correctly to prevent them from swallowing gas. After your baby’s meal, put them at the right angle for them to burp so that you can eliminate gas trapped inside their system.
Allergy to milk protein
Do not assume that your baby may not react to artificial milk proteins. Unlike breast milk, some children are sensitive to formula food. Your child may negatively react to the whey or casein found in baby food which increases the rate of farting. Milk protein may cause inflammation in your baby’s digestive system which leads to flatulence.
The symptoms that accompany allergy of milk protein include congestion of the chest, diarrhea as well as rashes. You may also notice that your child’s stool may contain some mucus when changing their diapers. The best solution to this problem is using more breast milk instead of milk protein. Hypoallergenic formula is also a treatment for this allergy.
The shock from new surroundings
Studies reveal that it is possible for a one month baby to experience shock which leads to anxiety with the change from the surroundings. Since they are now out of your womb, a child may take time to learn how to respond to stimuli. Sensitivity to everything causes their brain to become overwhelmed by the new changes which lead to irritation and crying. This fuss makes a child accumulate gas which increases farting. With time, they get used to their new environment and their bodies adjust accordingly.
Your diet
As a mam, the foods that you eat also affect how much gas your baby is likely to pass through farting. Breastfeeding sometimes passes traces of your meals to your child. Children react to the foods we eat and if you are gassy, this, in turn, makes your child gassy. Ensure that you feed on healthy diets that don’t pass down the gas to them
Intolerance to lactose
A child’s mechanism is not wired to form sufficient lactase to break down lactose from breast milk. The lactose intolerance makes bacteria in a child’s large intestine increase fermentation causing smelly farts. This causes pain and abdominal cramps to a baby
Doctors advise that you drain the first milk from your breast to prevent lactose intolerance. They say that the breast contains foremilk and hindmilk. The first milk that comes out, which is the foremilk has more lactose than your hindmilk. It causes excess lactose in your baby if you don’t drain it before your baby feeds. Foremilk is also believed to increase flatulence.
Excessive feeding
Some women worry about a child going hungry thus may lead to overfeeding them. Remember that your child’s stomach is small and incapable of taking in too much milk. It prevents their digestive system from functioning properly and may lead to the production of intestinal gas which increases farting. It also causes tummy aches and flatulence. Rub the tummy of your child to prevent stomach aches from excess food as you peddle their feet.
Final thoughts
Most babies under 6 months old fart, but excessive farting needs you to implement these tips to reduce the gas and make them more comfortable. Sticking to breast milk, avoiding eating foods that cause gas, giving babies probiotics and feeding them using the correct techniques is how to deal with babies and gas!
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