“Obviously, you can hear the farts,” says Linda Palmer, D.C., author of Baby Poop. “That’s the first clue that a baby has gas.” Parents can use their hearing more deliberately, too, and investigate the buildup at the source. “You can put your ear to their tummy and listen for growling,” Palmer adds. Any bubbling or growling sounds coming from a baby’s stomach indicate that something is boiling. Another sign of trapped gas is, of course, a grumpy baby. If a baby stops “smiling” and is visibly uncomfortable, there’s a good chance that there’s something inside that needs to be released. For really little babies, though, moving the gas bubbles from inside the digestive tract to the open air is no easy feat. Their undeveloped organs are ill-equipped for pushing that air out, and their lack of motor skills make any deliberate attempt almost futile. Luckily, there are a few things parents can do to help ease the passage. “Jiggling and bouncing can really help gas that wants to go this way or that way,” says Palmer. Gentle movement can move air bubbles through the passages and bring everything together, naturally expelling the gas and bringing instant relief. This jiggling can include knee bounces or bicycling a baby’s legs. You can do anything that includes torso movement, or combines leg extensions with bringing knees up to the belly. A change in position can set the gas on course to the outside world too. If a baby has been on its back for a while, lifting them into an upright position can move gas around enough to escape. Holding a baby up can have additional soothing effects too, says Palmer. “Skin-to-skin contact and just holding the baby in your arms can override some pain signals.” If a baby is strong enough to support their own head, then a spot of tummy time can get things moving. It has the added benefit of a solid neck and core workout and some distracting fun that can take everyone’s mind off the challenging task at hand. If a baby still isn’t experiencing relief, sometimes a quick feed can alleviate the pain associated with trapped gas. “Some formula or mommy milk can also have a pain-reducing effect,” Palmer says. As with many things, prevention can often be better than a cure. Regular burping during feeding is beneficial (and kind of fun) and prevents air from getting pushed down into the stomach. But all gas eventually passes, and Palmer says there is almost never a reason to intervene with medication or at-home remedies. And eventually, babies grow and develop the muscles and control to start ripping on their own. Babies who seem to be in constant pain from gas may be suffering from colic — a nebulous diagnosis that has no definitive cause. But this passes too after a few months. Alleviating gas is all about making a baby comfortable. And, if done right, it can be an extremely satisfying end to an episode of fussiness.
