Newborn Gas: Why All The Farts?

Newborns are gassy because they swallow air when they cry or feed, and their digestive systems are still developing. This means they produce a lot of gas, and it can be painful for them to pass it. Newborns might ball up, grunt, turn red, or scream until they pass gas. If your newborn is farting a lot, it could be because of the way you're feeding them, or because of something in their or your diet.

Newborns are learning to expel gas

Newborns are still developing their digestive system and learning to expel gas. In their first few months, newborns are learning to pass gas, and this is a normal part of their development. Newborns may struggle to expel gas because they are not accustomed to the sensation and are still developing the muscles needed to pass gas efficiently. They may ball up, grunt, turn red, or cry until they pass gas.

Newborns may swallow air while feeding or crying, which can lead to an excess of gas in their digestive system. This is why newborns are often gassy in their first two months of life. Newborns may also have immature digestive systems that are still learning to break down food properly, which can result in the production of excess gas.

To help relieve gas pains in newborns, parents can try burping them during and after feedings, massaging their tummy, doing tummy time, and cycling their legs in a pedalling motion while they are on their back. It is also important to ensure that newborns are fed in an upright position and that their head is higher than their stomach to help prevent gas buildup.

As newborns grow and their digestive tract matures, gas will become less of a problem.

Crying and feeding can cause gas

Feeding a baby can also cause them to take in air, which can turn into gas. This can be avoided by burping them during and after feeding. If you are breastfeeding, hold your baby upright before switching breasts to give them a chance to burp. If you are bottle-feeding, hold your baby upright for a few minutes after feeding to allow for extra burps. You can also experiment with different nipples and bottle shapes to see which one allows your baby to feed without gulping too much air.

If you are bottle-feeding, tilt the bottle at an angle so that the entire nipple is filled with milk. Otherwise, your baby will suck in air, which means more gas. If you are using powdered formula, let the bottle settle before giving it to your baby, as shaking it can cause the formation of bubbles.

If you are breastfeeding, your baby may still gulp a lot of air with the milk. Some babies latch on loosely and also suck in air as they drink. To avoid this, go for a deep latch at each feed.

Digestive development

Newborns have no experience with air until they take their first breath. As they cry or feed, they may swallow air, which eventually comes up as a burp. In the first few days, farts can be a good sign that their guts are waking up. As time goes on, some liquid in the intestines may remain undigested, and the normal gut bacteria will eat the food. The bacteria produce gas as a byproduct of their eating, resulting in a fart.

Newborn digestive systems are immature, so they produce a lot of gas, and this is normal. Their digestive tract needs time to warm up. A baby's digestive system is still developing and doesn't yet have enough friendly bacteria to help with digestion.

As your baby's digestive tract grows, the gas will become less of a problem. Their digestive system will develop more friendly bacteria to help with digestion.

If your baby is formula-fed or has started solids, they may be more likely to experience constipation. If your baby is constipated, their poops will be dry and hard.

If your baby is experiencing painful gas, you can try a few things to help relieve their discomfort. You can burp them during and after feeds, as this gets rid of extra air that is swallowed when your baby sucks on your breast or bottle. You can also try switching to a slower-flow nipple, or a different-shaped nipple, to help your baby control their air intake.

Food sensitivity or intolerance

If you are breastfeeding, your breast milk may change depending on your diet. If you notice that your baby seems gassy or fussy after you have eaten a particular food, you can try eliminating that food from your diet to see if it helps.

Some foods that may cause extra gassiness and farting in breastfed babies include:

• Beans
• Onions
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Garlic
• Fried foods
• Asparagus

If your baby is experiencing painful gas, you may want to try eliminating milk and milk products from your diet for a week or two. If your baby's symptoms improve, they could have allergic colitis (a sensitivity to cow's milk protein).

It is important to note that there is no absolute correlation between a certain food in the maternal diet and the production of gas in a baby. However, some nursing mothers may find that certain foods are more "gas-inducing" for their babies.

If you suspect that your baby has a food intolerance, it is recommended to speak to your baby's pediatrician or a dietitian who specializes in infants. They can advise you on whether a formula change or diet modification is needed.

Burping and feeding positions

Burping your baby is an important part of the feeding routine. Babies often swallow air when they cry or feed, and this air needs to be released by burping or passing wind. If it doesn't escape, it may become trapped, causing pain and discomfort.

• Over the shoulder: Bring your baby towards you so their chin rests on your shoulder. Support their head and neck, keeping their back straight and ensuring their throat is clear. Pat or rub their back gently. You can also walk around or sit in a rocking chair while doing this.
• Sitting on your lap: Lean your baby gently forward while they're on your lap. With one hand, support their chin and ensure their throat is clear. With the other hand, pat or rub their back.
• Lying across your lap: Place your baby across your lap, ensuring there's no pressure on their throat. Use your free hand to pat or rub their back.
• Sitting on your lap, upright: Sit your baby up on your lap, supporting their chin with your non-dominant hand in a "U" shape. Allow their chest and belly to rest against your forearm. This frees up your dominant hand to pat and rub their back.
• Face down on your lap or forearm: Place your baby face down on your lap or forearm so they're looking outwards. Rub their back gently with your other hand.

In addition to these positions, you can also try burping your baby during their feed, midway, or at the end. It's common for babies to bring up a small amount of milk when they burp, so keep a cloth or burp cloth handy.

Frequently asked questions