Get Instant Access To Our In-Depth Reviews, Expert Advice, Intensively Researched Deals, And Helpful Tips.
So, what’s the best sleeping position for gassy baby? How do you get a gassy baby to sleep without hurting? And what’s the best way to put a gassy baby to sleep? Let’s find all of this and more in this article.
One major problem that is typical in most babies is a gassy problem. This issue is majorly found in babies whose digestive systems are still developing. However, this issue has left most parents, especially moms, with the question of what is the best sleeping position for gassy baby.
So, if you have a newborn that’s faced with this issue, and having difficulty sleeping due to the gas pains, — and you are wondering if there are any unique sleeping positions that can help him/her calm or prevent their disturbing stomach.
In this article, I will share some of the proven methods that have worked for several moms. I believe if you apply them, they will also work for your baby.
Why Is My Baby Having Gassy Issue?
It may interest you to know that your baby is not the only one facing this kind of situation. Also, you shouldn’t be overly worried as it is just one of the typical baby situations, — due to their underdeveloped stomach.
Research has shown that the digestive systems of newborns and babies 0 to 6 months are still developing.
What this means is that food may not digest easily and as quickly as it would in adults — since it may not always be fully broken down in their stomach, resulting in gas or trapped air in the stomach of the baby.
Also, babies’ stomachs are so little, and they can easily be filled with excess air, which also causes pain and pressure for them.
The good news is that the soreness or gas pressure is mostly temporary. It will dissipate, and your baby will be free. Also, as your baby grows older, the problem naturally fades away, and you will soon stop worrying about the gas in your baby.
Are you an expecting mom? Check out our complete hospital bag pack checklist for mom and baby
The Signs of A Gassy Baby
You may be wondering if it is possible to determine if your baby has gas issues or not. The easiest way is to check if your baby burps or passes gas a lot. — This is a sign of a gas problem and the baby may be experiencing a gas discomfort issue.
Other signs to know if your baby is having a gas discomfort are when they:
- Become red in the face while crying
- Wriggle and pull their legs up to their chest
- Act increasingly fussy after feeding
- Have trouble eating or sleeping
The Causes Of Gas In Babies
There are several reasons why babies may have gas issues. One such reason is due to their still-developing stomach and intestines. This is usually the case for most babies, — which is termed a regular case.
Gas issues also happen when air gets into the digestive tract when a baby sucks on a feeding bottle and swallows air.
But if the gas problems seem to be getting worse, there could be a number of other factors at play, including:
Taking in air
Infants who latch on to the breast improperly or who nurse or drink from a bottle in particular situations risk swallowing air. Also, babies, who babble a lot, are always prone to swallowing air.
Crying excessively
Babies tend to swallow air when they cry. If this causes them to have gas, they may pass it after crying.
Also, it may be difficult for someone to tell if gas is causing the baby to cry or if the crying is causing their gas. This is why it is important for a caregiver or a nursing mom to closely pay attention to babies and promptly tend to a crying baby’s needs and soothe them in the best way possible.
Minor digestive problems
Constipation can also cause gas in babies.
Gas may signal a gastrointestinal condition, such as acid reflux — however, this is a rare condition. But if this occurs, you can talk with a pediatrician about your baby’s gas, especially if the gas happens a lot or is severe.
An immature digestive tract
The bodies of babies are still learning how to digest food, so they tend to produce more gas than adults.
Gastrointestinal virus
There are other cases that can cause stomach problems. Such as viruses. When this happens, you notice symptoms such as:
- Vomiting
- Gas
- Diarrhea
- Stooling, etc.
Change of diet
When you change your baby’s diet, for instance, milk, it may cause their stomach to react, — causing them to have gas. Also, as babies grow and are introduced to a new food, their system may initially react to the food. However, there is no cause for alarm because they will adjust before you know it.
While your baby’s gas may feel stressful, it may help to remember it won’t last forever. At around six to nine months of age, your baby’s digestive system will mature. Until then, there are steps you can take to treat their tummy and set them up for nights of back-sleeping bliss.
What Is The Best Way To Prevent And Treat A Gassy Baby?
There are several effective techniques and natural treatments available to help your newborn baby with gas problems. These techniques will provide the best sleeping position for gassy baby at all times. The key is to get rid of the gas bubbles that have accumulated in the digestive tract and abdomen. The following treatments may be beneficial.
1. Burp During and After Feeding
Burping is your friend because gas bubbles form from the air that sneaks in during feeding. It expels air, which can cause gas bubbles to form in the stomach. Although it is customary to burp your baby after feeding them, if they have gas, you can try burping them during the feeding. This can help your baby get some gas relief, especially at night while feeding before bed.
Tip: Some babies may object to mid-meal burps; well, nobody wants to be interrupted during a delicious meal. However, if you make it a routine, they may become accustomed to the pace and adapt. For instance, if you stop feeding the baby every five minutes, burp. Your baby may cry at first, but they will soon get the hang of it and keep enjoying their food.
2. Use the Proper Feeding Bottle
Slow-flow nipples are revolutionary, but so are vented, tilted, or collapsible infant bottles. Professionals designed these types to limit the amount of air your baby swallows while eating. If your baby feeds too quickly, he or she may swallow air, resulting in gas bubbles. Try an angled bottle with a slow-flow nipple in that case, or experiment with different breastfeeding positions.
3. Apply Slow Eating
Your baby swallows more air and produces more gas bubbles when he or she feeds too quickly. To encourage slower eating, use a bottle with a slow-flow nipple. As a breastfeeding mother, you can control your milk flow by gently squeezing your milk ducts. However, you can consult your doctor or a lactation consultant if you are breastfeeding and have an excess of breast milk.
4. Determine Food Sensitivities
If your baby appears to be in pain after being breastfed, he or she could be allergic to the foods you’re eating. You can try to identify these foods and eliminate them from your diet for at least one week to see if it improves the condition of your gassy baby.
Foods to Steer Clear of If Your Baby Has Gas While Breastfeeding.
Certain foods can make some babies feel more bloated. Remember that you and your baby are both unique, but if your baby has a lot of gas, and you’re nursing, you might want to avoid these foods:
- Caffeine-containing meals,
- Dairy products,
- Onions,
- Cabbage, and
- Spicy foods.
5. Change or Modify Formula
Gassy newborns respond differently to different formulas due to individual factors. Generally, specialists recommend formulas that use cow’s milk as the first ingredient. In addition, your child may be allergic to milk or unable to digest lactose. If that is the case, a soy-based iron-fortified formula or a hypoallergenic formula would be more appropriate.
If you are considering switching formulas, consult with your child’s doctor first. A gassy baby may not require a formula change, but the provider will be able to treat the problem and help you switch successfully if necessary.
It is important to always consult with your baby’s doctor before changing formulas or changing his or her diet. When the problem isn’t with the formula, additional treatment may be required.
6. Position Your Baby for Gas Relief
There are a few positions that can help your baby get gas relief. You need to help your baby with these positions, especially during sleep. As babies usually benefit from a few positions that support the stomach and digestive system.
Below are some of the positions you can apply:
The side on the left: You can gently roll your baby onto his/her left side while holding them in your arms. To help them relax, stroke their back.
They have their backs: You can also place your baby on their back and move their legs in a cycling motion. A gassy baby’s best sleeping position is also on the back (and the best and safest sleeping position for all infants until their first birthday).
On the stomach: Tummy time has many benefits, one of which is that it may aid digestion. A little abdominal pressure may help keep things moving along and break up those gas bubbles. Keep an eye on the baby when they are in this position.
Over Your Shoulder: This is the classic style that involves you resting your baby’s chin on your shoulder, supporting their bottom and gently patting their back until – burp!
On Your Knee: Keep your infant upright by placing them on your lap. Support their head and chest with one hand while giving them a gentle pat on the back with the other.
On Your Lap: Baby should be placed belly-down on your legs. Pat their back after supporting their head high enough to be above their chest. Burps can often be relieved in this way.
Tummy Massage: Gently massaging your baby’s belly while they’re on their back can help relieve pressure and yield some gaseous relief.
7. You Can Use Babocush Comfort Cushion
Another great technique is the use of the babocush comfort cushion.
Because of its unique laying position, internal heartbeat simulator, and gentle secure hold, the babocush comfort cushion has helped relieve colicky babies. The simulator, in particular, is fantastic because its gentle vibration mimics the womb.
Relieving Gassy Babies During Sleep
By now, we know that the best sleeping position for gassy baby is on the back. This position may help them relieve gas in their stomach while they sleep. Swaddling your infant before bedtime can occasionally keep them warm and cozy through the night, and also help to ease any discomfort.
If your baby suddenly sleeps off while you were nursing, you will be faced with the reality of finding the best approach to burp the baby before finally putting them to bed. And you want to do this without waking them up.
Below are the strategies you can apply to help release any trapped air before laying your baby down on their back:
- Hold your infant close to your chest with their head resting on your shoulder. Their stomach should feel enough pressure from your body to trigger a burp.
- Allow their belly to be placed down over your arm so that their legs dangle on either side and their head is supported in the crook of your elbow. Pat their back while gently moving your arm from side to side.
- Let your baby lay on his/her stomach on your knees as you place their belly over your lap. Then, rock them by swaying your legs back and forth while giving their back a gentle rub.
Most FAQs: Best Sleeping Position For Gassy Baby
Why Do Babies Get Gas?
The digestive system of your infant is still growing. This means that food isn’t always properly digested in your baby’s stomach, which can result in gas. Due to their tiny stomachs, babies may experience even a small amount of gas as a lot.
When Do Babies Have the Most Gas?
Babies tend to have more gas in their first 6 months, as their digestive systems develop. Some babies will have even more gas after that, others will have less.
In the first six months of life, babies tend to have more gas. However, as their digestive systems mature, there may be some reduction in some babies. But some babies will have even more gas, depending on their digestive system.
What is the Best Sleeping Position for Gassy Baby?
Babies less than a year old should always be placed on their backs. Not only does this keep them safest at night, but back sleeping also helps gassy babies sleep well!
What If My Gassy Baby Won’t Sleep on Their Back?
Chances are, they still have gas in their stomach. Try removing your baby from their crib and try to burp them again if they are gassy and won’t sleep or stay on their back. Occasionally, a little independent wriggling in the crib will stir up some gas and cause them to burp.
Is Gas Worse for Babies at Night?
Yes, babies can experience more discomfort from gas at night. Since babies are less active at night, gas can be worse for them. Less movement means gas has fewer chances to escape.
When Do Babies Stop Getting Gas?
Every baby is different and has their own unique body system. While some babies may have gas for a longer period, in others, it may be short.
But generally, the initial “gaseous period” typically winds down around 6–9 months. By the end of month 9, your baby’s digestive system has grown sufficiently to function more effectively and produce less gas.
If My Baby Falls Asleep While Nursing, What Should I Do?
I already explained this process earlier and what you can do to help the baby.
Generally, you want to steer clear of feeding your baby until they fall asleep if possible. This process is usually referred to as feeding to sleep and can result in a sleep crutch. However, especially with newborns, babies can occasionally doze off while being breastfed!
If your baby nods off while you’re nursing them, and you need to burp them. Simple burp them as you would normally. Babies can sleep through a great deal of activity, so it’s very likely that your baby will just burp while still dozing off!
If you need to burp your baby before bed but find it difficult to do in their sleep, try gently rousing them.
Do babies with gas sleep better on their stomachs?
Even if they’re gassy, babies should always sleep on their backs. Avoid putting your baby to bed stomach down to relieve gas. However, you can try burping them while they’re laying their stomach down across your lap, or you can give them some supervised tummy time to move the gas.
How should I hold my baby to help them pass gas?
Burping your baby over your shoulder or lap; burping them while they sit on your lap; supervised tummy time; and swaddling can all help newborns pass gas.
Is Swaddling Effective for Baby Gas?
Yes. Swaddling your baby helps them release gas if they are under 2 months old.
Swaddling relaxes the baby, which may help them calm enough to sleep. You can also apply gentle pressure to their stomach.
You can wrap them in a swaddle to release gas if they are older than 2 months, but you must stay with them the entire time. It is dangerous to leave a baby swaddled once they are able to roll over one way.
What Is the Difference Between Colic and Gas?
Gas and colic can both cause your baby to cry, pull their knees to their chest, or turn red in the face, but they are not the same thing:
Gas is caused by the accumulation of air bubbles in your baby’s digestive tract.
Colic’s cause is unknown. It could be caused by a variety of factors. While a variety of causes have been investigated, it is difficult for researchers to account for all the important features, such as why it usually begins late in the first month of life, how it varies between infants, why it occurs at specific times of day, and why it resolves on its own over time.
Can pacifiers help a baby’s gas?
While the pacifier will not help your baby pass gas, sucking on it will calm them down enough for them to fall asleep.
Conclusion
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), all babies (including gassy ones) should sleep on their backs until they are one year old because this is the safest sleeping position.
The best way to put a gassy baby to sleep is to help them release the gas.
I have outlined several ways to help a baby release the gas in their system in this article. If one burping position does not work, try another.
If none of those options work, try laying your baby on their back and cycling their legs. They may cry and wiggle, but even this may help move the gas free.
Pacifiers can also be useful in this situation. Pacifiers do not reduce or move gas, but they can help your baby fall asleep.
If nothing else works, it may be best to leave your baby and take a step back. They may cry for a while, but they will eventually fall asleep on their own.
