What causes baby gas?

Baby gas is undoubtedly painful for both you and your baby. But, what exactly causes baby gas? And what steps can you take to prevent it?

A baby’s digestive system is immature. It has trouble digesting lactose, proteins and other nutrients found in either breast milk or baby formula. Gas is the natural byproduct of this immature digestive system.

If breastfeeding, a mother’s diet could contribute to a gassy baby. If the mother is eating hard to digest foods such as, dairy products, cabbage, potatoes, beans, broccoli, bran, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, caffeine, and onions, she could try to eliminate some, or all of these foods from her diet. Sometimes, too much air taken in while feeding is the gas-causing culprit.

If bottle-fed, make sure you are using a nipple that is the correct size. If the nipple is too large, your baby will eat too fast; if the nipple too small, your baby will gulp air. Be sure to burp your baby every three to five minutes while feeding. If you are breastfeeding, make sure you burp your baby before switching breasts.

If your baby is over-stimulated during the day, this can lead to a condition known as colic. A colicky baby is a baby that cries excessively for 3 or more hours a day (usually in the evening), for 3 or more days a week, over a 3 week period of time. Experts call this the rule of three’s. When your baby cries excessively, this causes her to take in excess air. The excess air becomes trapped in the digestive system and causes baby gas.

To alleviate baby gas and aid in digestion, many mothers turn to products such as gripe water, simethecone drops, or even easier-to-digest baby formula.