They lead to tummy aches, cause your baby general discomfort, and keep you on your toes: bloating. You probably didn’t imagine those first weeks with your little explorer like this. However, bloating in babies is quite common and can usually be explained easily. In this article, we’ll tell you where your baby’s bloating comes from, how it shows up, and how you can relieve your baby’s discomfort.

Why do babies suffer from bloating and stomach pain?

In the first days of life and months of your baby’s life, quite a lot is happening: your little explorer grows , gets used to a new environment, and slowly but surely develops cognitive abilities . Alongside the changes you can see with the naked eye, many other developmental steps are taking place in your baby’s small body—including changes and adjustments in the intestines . These can cause bloating, especially during the first 3 to 5 months of life, making things difficult for both your baby and you. Understandably—who likes to see their baby suffer?

In the womb, your baby received all essential nutrients via the placenta. This was an easy task for the digestive system. Once your child is born and you are breastfeeding or giving formula, the gastrointestinal tract faces entirely new challenges: breast milk or infant formula must be digested—and this despite the fact that the stomach and intestines have undergone many changes in recent weeks and will continue to do so:

• The digestive tract is already almost fully developed in the 35th week of pregnancy . Nevertheless, after birth, the intestinal loops must realign.

• Only after birth is the baby's gut colonized with important gut bacteria. This is supported by food intake.

• From about the age of 4 months, a baby's gastrointestinal tract can digest solid foods.

• Your child's gut flora will only be fully developed from the age of 3.

All these adjustments can mean that your baby is especially troubled by colic during the first three months of life.

Another trigger for your baby’s gas is that newborns swallow a lot of air —whether while crying or feeding. If too much air enters the stomach and intestines, it can lead to tummy pain. Also, when switching from breast milk or infant formula to complementary foods , your baby’s gut initially has to adjust. This can also lead to bloating. One misconception we can clear up is that food intolerances in breastfed infants develop through the mother’s diet and cause bloating. However, it is still possible that your baby has an intolerance. You should have this checked medically.

How can you recognize gas in your baby?

If your baby is struggling with gas, it will be obvious—and often audible. Loud and frequent crying is probably the first thing you notice. And who could blame them? Bloating causes real discomfort for adults, too. Another symptom of bloating in babies is a hard tummy —the typical bloated belly that you can easily feel. Another possible sign is when your baby pulls their legs up toward their body and repeatedly pushes forward with a jolt. This is how little explorers try to help the trapped air escape on their own.

In case of these symptoms, medical advice is recommended

Especially in the first few months as a new mother or father, you may not always be able to accurately assess your baby’s discomfort. That’s why it’s absolutely right to consult a doctor if bloating persists. see a doctor or ask your midwife for advice. Even if the symptoms do not point to a serious cause, medical guidance can help you choose targeted home remedies for your baby. If, in addition to bloating, the following symptoms occur, you should definitely have your baby examined:

• Your baby has no appetite and increasingly refuses the breast or bottle.

• Your little explorer is gaining weight very slowly.

• The stool of your baby changes in both consistency and color. Diarrhea or constipation are not uncommon.

• Elevated temperature or fever occurs in combination with bloating.

What helps against your baby's bloated belly?

The good news is: simple home remedies can help your baby and relieve their discomfort. Some of these tips and tricks directly address possible causes of bloating, while others mainly aim to ease your baby’s acute symptoms:

• Burp after feeding : It sounds so simple, but it can make a big difference. When your baby burps after feeding, swallowed air can escape right away and won’t reach the intestines. The best way is to hold your little explorer calmly in the crook of your arm, with their head over your shoulder, and support the neck and shoulders with your fingers. By gently patting your baby’s back with the hollow of your hand, you can also help them burp.

• Stir the bottle, don’t shake : This helps prevent the milk from becoming too frothy and upsetting your little explorer’s tummy.

• Correct positioning during breastfeeding : The nipple should be fully enclosed by the mouth so your baby doesn’t swallow too much air.

• Relieve bloating with heat : What works for adults can also work for babies. Prepare a warm compress and place it on your baby’s tummy for a few hours. A warm, damp washcloth is a good option, but it should not be too hot. Special Grain pillow for babies can also be helpful for bloating. If you’re unsure, it’s best to ask your midwife for tips.

• Abdominal massage with fennel-anise-caraway oil : The oil has a calming effect on the intestines and can help ease the rumbling in your baby’s tummy. During the tummy massage, you can start by gently stroking your baby’s belly clockwise with the flat of your hand. Many little explorers also find it soothing when you then slowly move your fingertips clockwise over the belly. Circling the legs or making gentle “cycling” movements can also feel good and help relieve tummy pain.

In the video, LILLYDOO midwife Sissi shows you how the massage works and shares additional tips for relieving colic in babies:

• Fencheltee zur Beruhigung des Magens und der Därme : Fennel has digestion-promoting, antispasmodic, and calming effects—exactly what your baby needs right now. From the 6th month onwards, when Solid foods are already being introduced if necessary, you can give your baby small amounts of fennel tea. If your baby is younger than 6 months, we recommend that you first consult your pediatrician to find out whether your baby is allowed to drink fennel tea and, if so, what amounts are advisable.

• Hold : With Hold , you aim to relieve your baby’s acute pain and support digestion. You can use either a bowl or a specially designed potty for bowel movements. Hold your baby in your arms so that their back is supported against your stomach. Place your hands in your baby’s knee hollows and lightly on their thighs. This way, your little explorer is sitting directly over the bowl. If you now make a gentle "s" sound, it can make it easier for your child to urinate and also pass stool.

• Carrying in a sling : Carrying your baby in a Baby carrier has several advantages. On the one hand, your little explorer can burp in an upright position. On the other hand, the movement your baby feels through you supports digestion.

• Hold in the flying grip : The Aircraft handle has proven effective in relieving tummy pain in babies. The relaxing position—holding your baby on your arm, tummy-down, and gently rocking back and forth—can provide quick relief from bloating.
  
  

LILLYDOO's Tips: How to Understand and Prevent Baby Gas

Sometimes it helps to keep track of your little explorer’s drinking habits. You might suddenly notice patterns in the bloating and even draw conclusions about what’s triggering the tummy aches. For example, you can keep a diary in which you document, over a certain period, what your baby has taken in and when . You can also note the times when symptoms occur. If your baby’s bloating doesn’t subside over a longer period, such a diary can also help your pediatrician find the cause.

The impact of different should not be underestimated either. Still positions can have on your baby’s digestion. The best thing for your baby’s gut is when it is fed in a semi-upright position . In this position, your baby swallows less air, which can otherwise cause rumbling in the gastrointestinal tract. The same applies to feeding with the Little bottle .

Most importantly: Give yourself and your baby time, because stress can also negatively affect bowel activity. Understandably, bloating and the discomfort it causes are a burden for both your little explorer and you. But if you radiate calm and serenity , your baby will feel it too. No matter what helps your baby with colic, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that the annoying tummy aches will soon be over—and that you can finally enjoy family life again without worry.