Flatulence in babies can be the cause baby is often fussy. Recognize the signs and know how to deal with them.
Flatulence in babies makes the baby uncomfortable so that he becomes fussy and often cries for no reason. Actually, flatulence in babies up to the age of 3 months is a natural thing, because the digestive tract is not functioning perfectly. As they get older, babies can also experience flatulence from starting to try different foods for the first time.
Signs of Bloated Stomach in Babies
In the digestive tract there is gas or air. But the problem is if there is too much gas in it. In older children or adults, the gas can be easily expelled. But in babies, some cannot easily expel gas from the stomach and need help to expel it.
One of the signs of flatulence in babies is that the baby starts to fuss and cry for no apparent reason. If that happens, try to check the abdomen. If the baby's stomach is distended, feels a bit hard, and passes gas several times, this is a sign that the baby has flatulence.
In addition to fussing and crying, also pay attention to the baby's movements. If he's frequently squirming and arching his back and lifting his legs, it could be a sign that he's feeling bloated.
Causes of Bloated Stomach in Babies
Flatulence in babies can be caused by several things. The following are some of the causes of flatulence in babies that you need to know.
- Food consumed by mother
The cause of flatulence in babies who are still drinking breast milk, can be caused by the food consumed by the mother. So, you need to pay more attention to the food you eat. We recommend reducing or avoiding foods that will form gas after digestion, such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, onions or potatoes.
- Food consumed by baby
In a 6 month old baby who has started eating, you need to pay attention to his food. Vegetables are good for babies, but not all vegetables can be consumed in excess. For example broccoli. Although healthy, if consumed in excess, this vegetable can make your little one's stomach bloated.
- Drinks other than breast milk
Babies are not recommended to drink other drinks besides breast milk, formula milk and water. Juice can make babies have diarrhea, stomach pain and excessive gas because the baby's digestive system is still difficult to digest the fruit sugar or fructose content in the juice.
- Baby pacifier
If your baby is drinking formula from a baby bottle, you should be more careful in choosing the right pacifier. The tip of the pacifier that is too small can allow more air to enter the baby's tummy when he is drinking milk, and can cause stomach problems, such as bloating or stomach pain. Some baby bottles are specially designed to reduce the air that enters the baby's mouth.
How to Overcome Bloated Stomach in Babies
There are several ways that can be done to treat flatulence in babies, namely:
- Place the baby on the bed in a supine position. Lift both legs and move as if you were riding a bicycle. This movement can help remove gas from the baby's stomach.
- Gently massage the baby's tummy in a clockwise motion. Just like the previous movement, this method can be done in a sleeping position.
- Rub the back by placing the baby on your thighs with the stomach facing down or face down.
- Breastfeed the baby in a slightly upright position, so that the milk can slowly and smoothly enter the stomach so that it does not cause stomach problems.
- Feed your baby before he gets hungry. This can minimize the possibility of flatulence in babies due to colds. When a baby is crying hungry, he tends to swallow more air along with his food.
Flatulence in babies can also be a sign of a serious digestive problem, so if your baby is getting fussy, has difficulty passing stools, vomits, or even has a fever, you should immediately contact the doctor.
You don't need to panic if your baby is fussy and his stomach feels hard due to bloating. Just do a few ways that can prevent the appearance of flatulence in babies. However, if your baby is very fussy and difficult to soothe, and shows other symptoms, you should consult this with your doctor.