9 Natural Ways To Ease Baby’s Gas

5. Bicycle Legs

Always a favourite and a winner for sure! Laying baby on their back and hold their lower legs and ankles for support, then gently move their legs up and down toward and away from their tummy, just as though they were peddling a weird upside down bike. This technique became quite a fun activity for us, with baby gurgling while mummy sang that old ‘riding along on my push bike honey’ tune.

6. Burping

Sounds easy and obvious in all the books you inhale before you have your first baby, but then you become a mum and realise the art of burping is, in reality, a cruel joke. Not all babies burp easily, or at all, and trying to elicit that bubble of wind before it hits the lower digestive tract and becomes painful gas, can become an obsession.

Gentle patting on baby’s upper back, or rubbing, will be enough to get wind up if it’s going to come in most cases. If your baby drinks from both breasts during a feed, try burping during the break in between. If they guzzle from one at a time only, wait until they’ve finished, forcing a break in feeding will probably result in a screaming fit that will incur another inhalation of more air. Just what you don’t need!

Go easy, pounding so hard on a tiny baby so that their whole body shakes and their head is rocking back and forth is both painful and dangerous.

7. Upward Rock

Sit on a comfy chair with your lap flat and your feet on the floor. Lay bub along your outstretched forearms, facing you, with your hands supporting their head. Gently raise bub up toward you (on an angle so that their feet stay down and their head raises up) then slowly lower them back down and rest your arms on your thighs. Remember to go slowly and have a rest in between lifts so that you don’t get more than wind fly out at you!

8. C-Hold

This is the super hold where you kind of ‘hang’ your baby securely on your forearm, they curl up making a ‘c’ shape and they are super comfortable it seems. Midwives look pretty impressive doing this and then they hand you a newborn and say “Have a go!” I could not, I gave it a go but it felt all wrong, probably because it was the early days with my first born! If you can’t do it or don’t want to even try, don’t worry, there are other ways that might be more comfortable for you.

A forearm hold was more comfortable for me, I liked to lay my baby’s face down along my forearm with their head near my elbow, my arm supports their neck, torso and tum while their legs are having a dangle. The counter pressure not only feels comforting to them it helps bring on a burp or two. They seem quite content to have a look around and fall asleep quite nicely like this.

Another version is to hold your baby high up on your shoulder so that they curl over and look down your back. Not for use with wiggly ones that’s for sure!!!

9. Remedies

Mixtures like Gripe water, Infants Friend, Brauer liquids and other varieties may all be helpful remedies containing natural ingredients that can help alleviate gas from babies. Some do contain certain oils that can cause a localised reaction if they come into contact with the skin, like a rash around the mouth if your baby spits it out, but most are very gentle and even taste ok! Check with your clinic nurse, GP or pharmacist if you need help choosing one.

Have you got a baby gas-busting trick to share?

“If you become concerned about any symptoms, please seek immediate medical attention we have some hotlines and suggested websites for further information and advice: https://www.stayathomemum.com.au/my-kids/babies/important-hotlines-websites/
SAHM takes no responsibility for any illness, injury or death caused by misuse of this information. All information provided is correct at time of publication.”