A common cause of fussiness in infants is related to stomach aches, most often caused by gas build-up or reflux. Your baby’s immature GI system is to blame for a lot of these episodes, but that doesn’t mean you as a parent can’t give your child some relief. Dealing with tummy troubles simply takes careful observation and a little resourcefulness. Experiment with both preventative measurements and homecare to find what works best for your little one.
Prevention
While some infants do have GERD and so require medical treatment, if the pediatrician has cleared your child, you can tackle instances of reflux at home. During feedings, try burping your baby more often; start with once midway through, then once more at the end. If your baby has difficulty burping, use a new position such as laying your child across your lap, or sitting them up with your hands. Keeping your child in a more upright position in your arms or a seat for 20 minutes after eating can also help.
If your child’s main problem is gas, another place to check is the baby bottle. Proper bottle positioning can be essential in minimizing air intake during feeding. Both shorter bottles and those with ergonomic handle designs can help you maintain this position for your child. Also, avoid letting your baby hold the drink themselves until they have been weaned to sippy cups or glasses. Nipples are also important for regulating air intake at feeding time. Check the flow rate on your nipples to ensure they are the correct stage for your child. Too fast a rate may cause your child to start gulping, and too slow a rate may cause too much sucking, both of which can lead to swallowing too much air.
If you are breastfeeding, experiment with your diet. Many food components can pass through the breast milk to your baby, such as caffeine, garlic, and pepper tannins. While many babies may easily adjust to these possible irritants, others develop a sensitivity in infancy that may not wear off until early childhood. If you are feeding formula, consider switching to one labeled “gentle,” that has its milk proteins more broken down than regular formulas.
Remedies
Simethicone drops are effective, but are not the only homecare for infant stomach complaints. Often, a warm compress or bath can ease pain, and gently massaging tummies may work as well. For gas, you can lay babies on their backs and slowly bicycle their legs in circles, or gently press their knees towards their stomach to encourage flatulence. Another all-natural remedy that lets you avoid over the counter medication is a cup of chamomile tea: one standard teabag to one cup of warm water. Served without honey, this tea is perfectly safe for infants and young children, and can help them sleep as well as relieving belly cramps.
One final remedy is do-it-yourself gripe water: one teaspoon of sugar in one fourth cup of lukewarm nursery or filtered water can be mixed and given to your child for stomach relief.
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Thanks for the tips. It’s always awful to see a poor baby suffer with a tummy ache.
great ideas, thank you
I always feel so bad when babies cry and we can’t seem to figure out how to help them. Thanks for the helpful tips.
I didn’t realize you could have GERD when you are a baby. I’ve known I’ve had it since my 20s. My mom always said I cried all the time as a baby. I bet that is why. That is so said that little babies have to suffer that way.
Love the tips for DIY gripe water! I never thought to try to make it myself!
I remember it was a nightmare for my kids! I used drops and really helped a lot. thanks for tips
I always knew the baby bottle played a huge role in stomach aches, so I made sure to invest in a good one. Excellent tip with the gripe water, we used that when my girls were babies, saved us a lot of headache.
Great tips… I remember when mine were little.. poor babies… luckily they grow out of it, my 18 year old is perfectly fine.. but till they get there.. bless their hearts….
It’s really sad because you can’t seem to relieve their pain and they just seem so miserable!
My cousin just had a baby last month. I’ll pass this along. Thank you!