Why is My Infant so Gassy?

At some point or another, your adorable baby is going to suffer from some gas issues. Many times your wee one will not have any discomfort or irritability with gas, but there may be a chance that gas can become frustrating and even painful for your baby. That means it is time to figure out what is the cause of your baby's gas, and how to keep it from coming back.

First off, it is completely normal for your baby to be full of gas. Remember your baby is a baby, and doesn't have the understanding of social graces like the rest of us. There will be times, I guarantee it, when your sweet young thing will pass some loud gas, and it is going to smell, too. There isn't much you can do when this happens, other than pretend baby has a dirty diaper, or laugh it off. I find laughing works best. It is hard to explain why you are changing dirty diapers every 20 minutes or so when having a play date with friends.

Gas is caused by several things, mainly eating. When your baby eats, they gulp air at the same time. It doesn't matter if your baby is breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or eating solid foods, babies like to eat and they often gulp down their food. This causes air pockets to form in their stomachs, and they have to be released somehow. Gas is also a result of digestion. When the stomach breaks down sugars, which are found naturally in foods, bacteria is busy at work and gas is the by-product of their efforts.

Some medications or gastrointestinal infections can also be the cause of excessive gas. So, if your little one is taking medications, there is a chance they may be gassier than normal. If they are passing gas and also have abnormal behavior or extreme fussiness, there is a chance they could have an infection. It is hard to determine abnormal behavior in infants, but if your baby seems to be pushing hard when trying to pass gas or have a bowel movement, it is a good idea to call your pediatrician.

There are days I find myself checking my baby's diaper constantly because I think there is something going on in there, only to find it free and clear. It was just some gas. I was amazed at how much gas my wee one could produce until I did a little research and discovered it is normal for babies to pass gas up to 20 times a day! Take the time to burp your baby after feedings to keep gas to a minimum, but understand, there will be gas no matter what you do.

Sources:

http://www.babycareadvice.com/infant_gas/infant_gas.old.htm

http://www.parents.com/baby/care/diapers/the-gas-crisis/