Burp often, keep feeds upright, use bicycle legs and tummy massage, adjust latch or bottle flow, and call your doctor for fever or other red flags.
What Gas Looks Like In Newborns
New babies swallow air while feeding and crying. That air stretches tiny tummies and can sting. Signs include a tight belly, pulling knees up, grunting or straining, lots of farts, and short bursts of crying that settle after a burp or a toot. If your baby calms after passing gas and feeds well again, you are likely dealing with plain old wind, not illness.
Helping A Gassy Newborn: Step-By-Step Playbook
Try these gentle moves in this order. Stop once your baby looks relaxed. Mix and match through the day.
| Method | How To Do It | Best Time |
|---|---|---|
| Burp During And After Feeds | Pause every 2–3 minutes for newborns; place baby upright on your shoulder or sit them on your lap and pat or rub up the back. | Mid-feed and when the feed ends |
| Upright Hold | Hold baby against your chest, chin on your shoulder, back straight, for 10–20 minutes after feeding. | Right after any feed |
| Bicycle Legs | Lay baby on their back, move legs in a slow pedaling motion, then gently press both knees toward the belly for one second, release. | Between feeds or when fussy |
| Tummy Massage | With warm hands, rub small circles clockwise around the belly button; stop if baby tenses or cries. | At least 30 minutes after feeding |
| Tummy Time | Lay baby on the tummy on your chest or a firm surface while awake; start with short spells. | Several times daily |
For a deeper guide to burping positions from pediatricians, see the American Academy of Pediatrics’ advice on baby burping and spit-up. That page also shows how some babies need less burping than others.
Feed Smarter To Cut Down Air
Paced Bottle Feeding Basics
Hold the bottle near horizontal so milk flows, not gushes. Let your baby draw the nipple in fully. Offer short pauses to breathe and burp. A slow-flow nipple suits most newborns; move up only when feeds take too long and your baby grows impatient. Keep the bottle tip full to cut down swallowed air.
Breastfeeding Latch Tweaks
Bring baby to breast, not breast to baby. Aim for a wide, deep latch with lips flanged and more areola visible above the top lip. If you hear clicking, try a new position such as football hold to improve seal. If the let-down sprays fast, express a little first or use laid-back nursing so gravity tames the rush.
Burping Routines That Work
Try three classic positions: over-the-shoulder, seated on your lap with chin steadied, and face-down across your forearm. Gentle upward rubs and light pats help bubbles rise. Some breastfed babies burp less; others need breaks mid-feed. Watch your baby’s cues, not the clock.
Positioning Tricks During And After Feeds
Good body angles make gas easier to pass. During feeds, keep the head higher than the belly. Side-lying nursing can calm a strong let-down and reduce gulping. With bottles, keep your baby upright at roughly a 45-degree angle. After feeds, avoid tight bending at the waist in car seats for long stretches. A held, upright snuggle wins for digestion.
If your baby is squirmy, try the “colic carry”: lay the baby face-down along your forearm, head near your elbow, legs straddling your wrist. Walk and sway. The gentle pressure on the belly can move bubbles while your arm gives steady motion.
Gentle Moves That Move Gas
Motion helps trapped air gather and pass. Walk with your baby held upright. Use a baby carrier after feeds so the belly stays vertical while you keep hands free. Warmth relaxes muscles: a warm bath can calm cramps, then try massage. Keep sessions short and soothing, not brisk.
Tools And Drops: What To Know
Simethicone gas drops are sold over the counter. Many parents feel they help; research shows mixed results for colic and gas. If you try them, stick to the label and stop if you see no change after a few days. Pediatricians often note that evidence is limited, so use only if they seem to make a difference for your baby.
Probiotic drops with Lactobacillus reuteri may shorten crying in breastfed babies with colic in some studies, though results vary and the benefit is not specific to gas. If you plan to try a probiotic, choose the exact strain used in research and talk with your pediatrician about timing and dosing.
Skip gripe water and herbal teas. These products are not regulated like medicine and formulas vary. Some brands add sugar or other additives, and benefit has not been proven. For newborns, avoid honey in any product.
Gear Check: Bottles, Nipples, And Vents
Anti-colic bottles with vents can reduce swallowed air, but technique matters more than the logo. If you switch bottles, change only one thing at a time so you can tell what helps. Nipples wear out; if you see flattening or collapse, replace the nipple. Wash and assemble vents exactly as shown by the maker to keep the system working.
Track Patterns And Tweak
A short log sharpens your plan. For three days, note feed start times, side or bottle used, burps, spit-up, nap times, and fussy spells. Look for the stretch of day that runs rough. Many babies get gassier late afternoon. That is a good window to add an extra mid-feed burp, try a slower nipple, or use the carrier walk after the feed.
When To Call The Doctor
Gas should ease with the steps above and a little time. Seek care fast for any fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby under 3 months, a hard swollen belly, green or bloody vomit, blood in stool, poor feeding, fewer wet diapers, markedly sleepy behavior, or nonstop crying that will not settle. Guidance on infant fevers from Mayo Clinic can help you decide the next step; if unsure, call your pediatrician’s office or an urgent care line for same-day advice. If your baby seems off color, breathing fast, or won’t wake for feeds, treat that as urgent even without a fever.
| Sign | What It Might Mean | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Fever 100.4°F (38°C)+ under 3 months | Possible infection | Go to care the same day |
| Hard, distended belly or not passing gas | Blocked intestines or severe constipation | Urgent evaluation |
| Green or bloody vomit | Possible obstruction | Emergency care |
| Blood in stool | Allergy or anal fissure | Call your pediatrician |
| Poor weight gain, weak suck | Feeding issue | Clinic visit soon |
| Crying 3+ hours, 3+ days a week | Possible colic | See your doctor |
Day-And-Night Routine That Prevents Gas
Small tweaks across the day keep tummies calm. Keep feeds calm and unrushed. Burp midway through every feed for the first weeks. Hold your baby upright after feeding for 10–20 minutes. Avoid tight waistbands that press on the belly. Offer tummy time when awake to help digestion and build strength. If bottle feeding, try not to change formulas often; give any change a full week to judge the effect.
Sample Burp Schedule
Early weeks: burp at minute 2–3, again at minute 6–7, and once more after the feed. By 6–8 weeks, many babies need fewer breaks. Watch for slowed sucking and a wriggle, which often signal a bubble rising.
Feeding Questions Parents Ask
Could The Nipple Flow Be Too Fast Or Too Slow?
Yes. A fast flow makes babies gulp and swallow air; a slow flow makes them work hard and gulp air as they pull. If milk drips freely when you tip the bottle, try a slower nipple. If feeds run beyond 30 minutes and your baby tires, try the next flow.
Should I Switch Formula For Gas?
Some babies handle standard formula well; others seem less gassy on partially hydrolyzed blends. If you test a change, do one switch and wait seven days. If nothing changes, return to the prior formula. Frequent changes can upset the gut and make tracking hard.
What About Food Changes While Breastfeeding?
True food allergy in newborns is uncommon. If your doctor suspects cow’s-milk protein allergy due to blood in stool, eczema, or poor growth, they may suggest a short dairy trial off for the breastfeeding parent or a hypoallergenic formula for formula-fed babies.
Sleep, Soothing, And Gas
Overtired babies swallow more air and cry more. Use a steady wind-down: dim lights, soft voice, swaddle if your baby likes it, and white noise. Offer a pacifier after feeds; sucking helps the gut move.
What Not To Try With A Newborn
- No teas, juice, or water. Newborns get all fluids from breast milk or formula.
- No honey in any form before 12 months.
- No forceful belly pressing or rough massage.
- No sleep positioners. Place baby flat on the back for sleep.
- No constant formula hopping. Make changes one at a time.
Simple Plan You Can Follow Today
- At the next feed, use a slow-flow nipple or a laid-back latch.
- Burp twice during the feed and once after.
- Hold upright 15 minutes.
- Between feeds, try bicycle legs or a brief tummy-time session.
- Track what you try and your baby’s response for three days.
Gas peaks in the first six weeks and fades as the gut matures. Your calm rhythm, patient feeds, and a few steady techniques make the stretch much easier for you both today, most days.