Tuesday, September 16, 2008

What are the causes of newborn gas?

Infants may suffer from newborn gas due to a number of reasons. New born gas is usually seen in the first two months. The gas developed in side the digestive tract will create discomfort the babies. Babies cannot eat well due to the presence of the newborn gas inside. The baby will not be hungry due to the gas.

The newborn gas may be caused due to the breakdown of food inside during digestion or due to the swallowing of air during feed. It can be also caused due to milk intolerance. If your infant suffers from newborn gas, consult a doctor. You can also use infant gas drops if necessary.
Newborn gas is produced when the infant drinks the breast milk for the first time. It is actually the byproduct of reactions taking place inside the digestive tract, which involves the interaction of lactose, proteins and other nutrients present in breast milk.

Newborn gas is also produced by the consumption of certain vegetables and foodstuffs. If the infant is using a feeding bottle to drink milk make sure that its nipple is of the appropriate size. If it is too small then air will also be taken inside along with the milk resulting in newborn gas.

Excessive production of milk by the mother at the time of breast feeding can also result in newborn gas. Large amount of foremilk will be produced and the infant consuming it may feel more fussiness inside his stomach. This is referred to as hyper lactation syndrome.

Newborn gas is also caused due to over stimulation. So the environment of the infant also matters. If the infant is more active during the day then there is more chance of developing gassiness at night

What is infant gas drops?

It is seen that most of the infants suffer from infant gas during their first two months. It will cause all sorts of discomfort to the babies. Babies will show their discomfort by crying. In such a situation infant gas drops must be given to the babies for getting relief from the gas. Infant gas drops are produced by many companies and is available in the market.

Give your baby the infant gas drops only if he/she shows the sign of infant gas. The common symptoms of infant gas include kicking legs, belly looking bloated and unusual crying. Infant gas drops consists of Simethicone, which helps to break the gas bubbles in the digestive tract. Infant gas drops should be given after the meals if you are using it without consulting a doctor. Otherwise, follow the doctor’s instructions.


If you are not sure whether the child is suffering from infant gas or not, you must consult a doctor. Infant gas drops can be mixed with juice or water. But the mixed amount of infant gas drops should be as prescribed. One should not give high doses of infant gas drops to the babies. Always it is better to use the dropper for taking the drops so that the baby gets the correct dosage.

The dosage of infant gas drops varies for different infants. It depends on the age of the child and his weight. Make sure that you clean the dropper after each use. The infant should not be given drops more than 12 doses per day, if you are giving the drops without consulting a doctor. If you experience any problem consult a doctor

Is baby gripe water good for baby's health?

Baby gripe water is actually a mixture of water with some herbs. One must feed their babies with gripe water. The herbs used in this water include fennel, ginger, peppermint and chamomile. Gripe water helps to improve the digestive system of the babies. Baby gripe water can provide lots of relief to the infants especially in case if his/her stomach is upset.

One should not give gripe water to the baby as and when he likes. There is a correct dosage for that and it should be followed. Over dosage of gripe water may not be dangerous, but it is not recommended. The dosage varies according to the age of the infant. For a baby aging between I month and 6 months, one teaspoon 2-3 times a day is recommended.

If the age of the infant is between 6 months and 2 years then two teaspoonful 3-4 times a day is recommended. If the infant is above three years then you can feed him with 3-4 teaspoonful of gripe water 3-4 times a day. Some infants do not like the taste of the baby gripe water. You can feed them by mixing the baby gripe water with milk or water. If the infant is consuming breast milk then baby gripe water can be given using spoon. Otherwise gripe water can be fed along with the milk using the milk bottle.

Baby gripe water is good for the baby’s health as it does not contain any chemical and contains only natural herbs. So, it will not have any side effects. Baby gripe water was found to be very effective against colic suffered by the infants.