How Can I Relieve My Newborn’s Gas? | Calm, Safe Tips

Relieving Newborn Gas At Home: Step-By-Step

Newborn tummies are small, feeds are frequent, and air sneaks in. The goal is simple: help air move up as burps and out as toots. Start with calm, steady steps, and give each one a fair try. You do not need gadgets or special formulas to get results.

These methods line up with pediatric guidance. For a clear overview of what helps and what usually does not, see HealthyChildren’s gas relief guidance.

Technique	How To Do It	Why It Helps
Burp During And After Feeds	Pause midway and at the end. Hold upright against your chest or sit baby on your lap, supporting the chin, then pat or rub up the back.	Releases swallowed air before it moves into the gut.
Paced Bottle Feeding	Keep the bottle horizontal so milk just fills the nipple tip. Let baby pause often. Use slow flow nipples sized for newborns.	Slows gulping and lowers air intake.
Check Latch	Wide mouth, lips flanged, more areola below than above. If using a shield or switch nursing sides, watch for clicks that signal air.	A snug seal stops air leaks at the breast.
Upright Positions	Feed with head above tummy. After feeds, hold upright on your shoulder for ten to twenty minutes.	Gravity keeps milk down and air moving up.
Bicycle Legs	Lay baby on the back on a firm surface. Gently pedal the legs, then press both knees toward the belly for a second.	Moves gas along the lower gut.
Tummy Time While Awake	Short, supervised sessions on the belly between feeds, not right after a meal.	Pressure on the abdomen can nudge out gas and builds core strength.
Warm Bath And Massage	Warm water relaxes muscles. After a bath, use light, clockwise strokes around the navel once the cord has healed.	Relaxed muscles pass gas more easily.

Burping That Works

Good burps start with a good setup. Keep the room quiet. Aim for rhythm, not force. A few reliable holds:

• Over the shoulder: Baby’s chin rests above your collarbone. Support the neck and pat upward from mid back to shoulder blades.
• Seated on your lap: Sit baby sideways on one thigh, support the chest and jaw with one hand, and use the other to rub small circles up the back.
• Across your forearm: Lay baby face down along your forearm, head near your elbow, hand between legs. Rock gently and pat from lower to upper back.

Watch your baby’s cues while you burp. A relaxed brow, open hands, and soft belly mean you can stop now. Squirming, pulling knees up, or a tight tummy suggest one more try in a new hold. If milk comes up, wipe, reset the shirt or bib, and carry on without extra pressure.

If a burp does not come, switch positions and try again for a minute, then set the baby down for a bit before a second attempt. Some feeds release air only at the end, and that is fine.

Positioning That Eases Pressure

During the day, movement helps. Use a baby carrier with the head supported and the tummy snug to your chest. Rocking chairs and slow walks can help bubbles travel up. Between feeds, brief tummy time sessions are handy. Save belly time for when your baby is awake and watched. For safe sleep, always place your baby on the back in a bare crib. Follow the CDC safe sleep recommendations.

Feeding Tweaks That Reduce Swallowing Air

Small shifts during feeds can pay off fast:

• Hold the bottle level. Milk should just fill the nipple tip. Bubbles racing through the nipple mean the flow is too fast.
• Try slow flow nipples. If milk pours without effort or baby coughs, drop to a slower size.
• Keep the head higher than the tummy. A slight tilt is enough. Skip car seat feeds unless you are on the road.
• Watch the latch. Clicking sounds, dimpling cheeks, or milk dribbling can mean extra air.
• Aim for steady pacing. Give short breaks every few minutes to reset breathing and release bubbles.

What About Gas Drops Or Gripe Water?

Over the counter simethicone drops are widely used. Some families notice small wins. Research does not show clear benefit for colic, and not all gassy babies have colic. If you choose to try simethicone, stick to the labeled dose and watch for change over a week before deciding if it earns a spot in your routine. Herbal gripe waters vary by brand and may include sugar, sodium bicarbonate, or botanicals. These products are not well studied in newborns and can cause side effects. Skip any item with alcohol, honey, or vague ingredients. When in doubt, keep it simple: burping, pacing, upright holds, and tummy time while awake beat quick fixes and keep your baby safe.

Soothing Moves For A Gassy Night

Evenings can be loud. Gas plus normal witching hour fuss can feel like a storm. Try a short reset routine:

1. Hold upright and burp in two positions.
2. Pedal the legs, then do two or three gentle knee presses.
3. Offer a short, calm feed or a pacifier if cues show hunger is still in play.
4. Walk the room or sway while humming. Keep lights low.
5. When the belly softens and the body loosens, lay baby down on the back for sleep.

Avoid wedges, inclined sleepers, or belly sleeping. These products raise risks without easing gas.

Breastfeeding Notes That Can Help

If you pump or nurse, a few adjustments can cut down on extra air and pressure. Offer one breast per feed if your letdown sprays and your baby sputters. Hand express a small amount before latching if flow is strong. Try a laid back hold so gravity softens the spray. If baby seems frantic at the breast, pause to burp, then relatch with a wide, deep latch. If you use pumped milk in a bottle, warm it gently and swirl to mix the fat so the flow feels smooth.

Bottle Feeding Notes That Can Help

Match the nipple to the baby, not the age on the box. Watch your baby’s work: wide jaw drops mean a good seal; tight, fast sipping often means the flow is too quick. Venting bottles may lower bubbles for some babies, but technique matters more than parts. Keep your hand steady, pause often, and let your baby set the pace.

When Gas Looks Like Pain

Normal gas comes and goes. The belly feels soft between waves, and babies settle after passing air. Signs that point to more than routine gas include a hard, tight belly, high pitched cries, back arching at nearly every feed, or spit ups that soak clothes and sting. These patterns can come from fast flow, a shallow latch, or simple overload from frequent snacking. Tackle the basics first, then watch for change over three to five days.

When To Call The Doctor

Call for red flags, not just noise. These signs deserve a same day call:

When To Call	Signs You’ll See	Reason
Fever In A Young Baby	Temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby under three months.	Young infants need prompt checks for fever.
Vomiting Or Bile	Forceful vomiting, green vomit, or blood in stool.	Needs urgent assessment beyond gas.
Feeding Troubles	Poor intake, weak suck, or fewer wet diapers.	Risk of dehydration and poor weight gain.
Breathing Concerns	Fast breathing, belly pulling in with each breath, or a blue tint.	Emergency signs.
Unsoothable Crying	More than three hours a day, three days a week, or a cry that sounds painful.	May be colic or another issue that needs a plan.

Safe Sleep And Gas: Common Myths

Myth one: “Belly sleeping fixes gas.” Babies must sleep on the back on a flat, firm surface with no pillows or positioners. Back sleep cuts the risk of sleep related death. Use tummy time for play only, and only while awake. Myth two: “Inclined sleepers reduce spit up and gas.” Devices that angle the body raise risk and are not advised. Hold upright after feeds, then use a flat crib for sleep.

Simple Daily Plan

Pick a few steps and repeat them across the day. Here is a calm plan many families like:

• At each feed: start upright, watch the latch, and burp midway and at the end.
• Twice a day: five minutes of tummy time between feeds, then add minutes as your baby grows.
• Once a day: a warm bath and a short, gentle belly massage if the cord is healed.
• All day: steady pacing, slow flow nipples, and quiet breaks to reset.
• Every evening: a short reset routine, then back sleeping in a bare crib.

What To Expect Over Time

Gas peaks in the first two months and fades as the gut matures and feeds get smoother. Burps will come faster, stools settle into a pattern, and nights calm down. Your steady routine speeds this curve. Keep notes on what you try and what works. You will spot your baby’s pattern fast.

Quick Troubleshooting

Still seeing a tight belly and lots of crying? Ask yourself three questions. Is the bottle flow slow enough that baby works for each swallow? Is the latch wide and deep with lips flanged? Are you pausing every few minutes for a brief burp? If all three are solid and the pattern does not shift after a few days, make that call to your child’s doctor for next steps.