Is a Gassy Baby Normal?

Most parents are concerned when their newborn is gassy, but it is entirely normal. 

Sarah Sobik, M.D., M.P.H., IBCLC, an outpatient breastfeeding medicine specialist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, consults new and expectant moms about breastfeeding and other pregnancy and newborn topics at the Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine Clinic at ACH Southwest Little Rock Clinic.  She shared necessary information for new parents regarding gastrointestinal health in newborns.  
 
A newborn’s gas is rarely connected to what the mom eats.  

“Their gut has been fed through an umbilical cord for nine to 10 months, and now all of a sudden, it’s being fed rich nutritious milk. It’s learning how to digest that. So, newborns are just gassy, and that’s usually pretty normal,” Dr. Sobik said.  

If a baby is gassy but still enjoys eating and soothes easily to sleep, it’s likely not a concern. However, there are warning signs the gas could indicate something more if a baby is:  

• Crying, back-arching, obviously uncomfortable whenever fed, either breastmilk, also known as human milk, or formula. 
• Latching on and off during feeding, throwing their head back  
• Hearing the liquid when spitting up or burping, along with crying 
• If the baby isn’t gaining good weight and having large amounts of spit up 

Dr. Sobik said these signs can indicate gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD, which can appear in the first few weeks of life.  

Ways to combat the symptoms include:  

• Feeding less volume of breastmilk or formula more frequently. For example, 2 oz. every two hours instead of four ounces every three hours. 
• Pacing the baby during a feed if bottle fed. It should take about 15 minutes to take a 3 oz. bottle. 
• Burping in between an ounce or burping between switching breasts.  
• Holding the baby upright or baby wearing in a sling or wrap after feeding.  
• If breastfed, a parent can cut out dairy from their diet. This diet change can take two weeks to take effect. If a mother does not want to cut out dairy, another option is starting acid reflux medications like Pepcid for infants.  
  
  

Acid reflux in newborns peaks at four months. Because their upper body gets stronger and they sit up more with support, they can projectile vomit sometimes. However, acid reflux typically goes away around six months as the stomach muscles continue to get stronger.