Jennifer Shu, M.D., a pediatrician, says, “If the baby is happy most of the time and only fusses for a little while when the gas is coming out, that’s normal. Even if the baby is red and noisy, it doesn’t mean that the gas is hard for them. If they are usually in a largely happy state and the gas is not too unpleasant, it usually doesn’t matter.” Try these steps to prevent and relieve distress: Check feeding position “When nursing or bottle-feeding, try to position the baby’s head higher than the stomach so that the milk sinks to the bottom of the stomach and the air floats to the top of the stomach, making it easier to burp it out. Tilt the bottle slightly upward so that there is no air in the nipple. Use a feeding pillow to help with feeding.” Tapping to help burp infants One of the easiest ways to relieve your infant’s painful flatulence is to tap your infant to help them burp during and after their feedings. If your infant fails to burp and pass gas in time, let them lie flat on their back face up for a few minutes and then try again. Change feeding tools Joel Lavine, M.D., chief of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in New York, says, “If you’re bottle-feeding, change the nipple to a slower-flowing one.” Move Limbs Gently massage your infant, rock his feet back and forth while he’s lying flat on his face (like riding a bike) or just let him lie down for a while (keep an eye on your infant). A hot bath can also help the baby to pass gas. Pay attention to your baby’s food Consult your doctor to find out about foods that may be causing excess gas in your baby’s body. Your doctor will make sure that foods that supplement your child’s nutritional needs are not cut out. Raven says, “Some parents give their babies fruit juice, which contains sorbitol that babies cannot absorb.” Some foods obtained from breast milk may be difficult for infants to digest, such as dairy products and caffeine. If formula-feeding, consult your doctor and change the brand of formula. Some brands claim their products help infants pass gas. Over-the-counter treatments Jenna Faircloth, M.D., an outpatient specialist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, says, “There are several over-the-counter medications that can help infants pass gas.” Faircloth recommends consulting with a doctor or pharmacist before using any medication to make sure that the medication won’t react with anything else the infant eats, that the infant isn’t allergic to the ingredients in the medication, and that the dosage is correct. Dimethicone drops can be tried, but there is no clear evidence that they work. Gas and colic in infants Infants may have colic until they are 4 months old. If an infant cries more than 3 days a week, for 3 hours at a time, and the condition persists for more than 3 weeks, he or she may be colicky. Gas in an infant’s body does not normally cause colic, but if an infant develops colic, it may be due to swallowing too much air, which causes excess gas in the body. Conclusion: Parenthood is a long way to go, and only by observing and learning more can you protect your baby’s growth!