How to Help When Your Baby Has a Lot of Gas

If your baby seems uncomfortable, fussy, or hard to settle, gas is often one of the first things parents wonder about. Gassiness is extremely common in newborns, especially in the early weeks, and it does not mean you are doing anything wrong.

A baby’s digestive system is still learning how to work. Air gets swallowed. Muscles are immature. Coordination between sucking, swallowing, and digestion takes time. All of this can lead to gas that feels uncomfortable for your baby and stressful for you.

The good news is that there are gentle, developmentally appropriate ways to help.

Why Babies Get Gassy

Newborn digestion is a learning process. Gas can build up for several reasons, including:

• Swallowing air during feeds
• Immature gut motility
• Sensitivity to feeding pace or position
• Difficulty releasing trapped air
• Changes in feeding methods or formulas

For babies who were premature or spent time in the NICU, these challenges can be even more noticeable as their gastrointestinal and nervous systems continue to mature.

Signs Gas May Be Bothering Your Baby

Every baby expresses discomfort differently, but common signs include:

• Pulling legs up toward the belly
• Squirming or arching during or after feeds
• Fussiness that improves briefly after passing gas
• A tight or distended abdomen
• Difficulty settling, especially in the evening hours

If your baby is gaining weight, feeding adequately overall, and otherwise healthy, gas is often a temporary developmental phase rather than a medical problem.

Gentle Ways to Help Relieve Gas

You do not need to try everything at once. Small, simple adjustments are often the most effective.

Upright Positioning after feedings

Holding your baby more upright after feeding for several minutes allows gravity to help air rise and be released.

Burp Early and Often

Some babies benefit from being burped more frequently, even during feeds rather than only at the end. There is no single “right” schedule. Follow your baby’s cues.

If a burp does not happen right away, that is okay. Gentle patience matters more than force.

Bicycle Legs and Gentle Movement

Slow, relaxed bicycle movements of your baby’s legs can help move trapped gas through the intestines. This is often most effective when your baby is calm rather than already very upset.

Gentle rocking or holding your baby upright against your chest with slow movement can also support digestion.

Tummy Time, When Appropriate

Short periods of supervised tummy time can apply gentle pressure to the abdomen and help gas move along. This should be done when your baby is awake and calm.

For babies recently discharged from the NICU or with medical considerations, always follow guidance from your care team.

Gentle Belly Massage

With warm hands, you can try slow, clockwise circles on your baby’s belly, following the natural direction of intestinal movement. Pressure should be light and soothing, never firm.

If your baby becomes more uncomfortable, pause and try again later.

What Often Does Not Help

When a baby is uncomfortable, it is tempting to try many products or techniques quickly. However, some approaches may increase stress without providing relief:

• Overhandling when a baby is already overstimulated
• Frequent formula changes without professional guidance
• Rushing feeds
• Expecting immediate results from every strategy

Gas relief often works best when care is slow, consistent, and calm.

When to Check in With Your Care Team

While gas is common, there are times when it is important to ask for support. Reach out to your pediatrician or care team if:

• Your baby is not feeding well or gaining weight
• There is persistent vomiting or blood in stools
• Your baby seems inconsolable despite comfort measures
• You are feeling unsure, anxious, or overwhelmed

You do not need to wait until something feels urgent to ask questions. Trust your instincts.

A Gentle Reminder for Parents

Babies are learning how to digest just as parents are learning how to care for them. Gassiness does not mean you are failing or missing something.

Sometimes the most helpful thing you can offer is steady comfort, patience, and reassurance.

Your baby is not giving you a hard time.
They are having a hard time.

And you are doing exactly what they need by responding with care.

References

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2021). Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5. Bantam.

Benninga, M. A., Faure, C., Hyman, P. E., St James Roberts, I., Schechter, N. L., & Nurko, S. (2016). Childhood functional gastrointestinal disorders: Neonate/toddler. Gastroenterology, 150(6), 1443–1455.

Douglas, P. S., & Hill, P. S. (2013). Behavioral sleep interventions in the first six months of life do not improve outcomes for mothers or infants: A systematic review. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 34(7), 497–507. (For regulation and evening fussiness patterns)

Shamir, R., et al. (2014). Infant colic and functional gastrointestinal disorders. World Review of Nutrition and Dietetics, 110, 120–127.

Thompson, A. L., et al. (2015). Feeding interactions and infant regulation. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 61(1), 13–20.