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My baby is gassy. Is this caused by something in my diet?
By Kelly Bonyata, BS, IBCLC
The idea that certain foods in any mom's diet will cause gas in
her baby is incredibly persistent but is not founded in research.
If certain foods in moms' diets were an overall problem for most
babies, we would expect that cultures that emphasize those foods
would have more gassy and fussy babies, but this does not occur
at all.
This is not to say that certain foods would not bother a particular
baby - this does happen occasionally (and it's more likely with
very young babies). However, there is no list of foods that every
mom should avoid while breastfeeding. In fact, most babies are
fine with any food that mom eats, so there is no reason to
avoid a food unless you notice an obvious reaction in your baby
every time you eat a particular food.
Most babies are gassy from time to time, some more than others.
Gassiness is often worse at night. This is due, on the most part,
to baby's immature digestive system and has nothing to do
with what mom does or eats. Because so many people promote the idea
that food in mom's diet causes gas, many a breastfeeding mom will
immediately assume it is due to something she has eaten if her baby
is gassy.
The list of foods that "might cause gas" is practically endless,
and moms who try to avoid all these foods will (needlessly)
have a *very* limited diet. Formula-feeding moms blame it on a chill,
a draft, the formula type, the formula being too hot or cold, baby
being overdressed, underdressed, jostled too much, etc. Formula-feeding
moms never think it was what the cow ate the day she was milked,
months ago!
- Many young babies have a certain amount of gas and seem to strain
as it is passed or as a bowel movement occurs simply because of
the immaturity of their digestive system. This doesn't always
indicate a problem. Most babies' bodies manage gas more easily
with growth, maturity, and greater activity. As long as your baby
is not overly bothered by the gas or has no other symptoms of
food sensitivity or other problems, then "tincture of time"
is likely the best solution.
- Too much milk too fast, so that baby gulps and chokes and takes
in too much air along with the milk. See forceful
let-down.
- Anything that causes baby to take in too much air may result
in a gassy baby (what goes in must come out!):
- Crying - Babies swallow air when they are crying, so crying
is more likely to be the cause of gas, rather than the
result of gas. Respond to baby's
feeding cues promptly.
- Bottlefeeding - Babies usually swallow more air when drinking
from a bottle. When using bottles, use the slowest-flow nipples
so baby doesn't get overwhelmed with the milk flow. To reduce
air swallowing, keep baby at about a 45 degree angle (rather
than lying down), make sure baby has a good seal on the base
of the nipple, and keep the bottle tilted so the neck &
nipple are filled with milk. There are also varieties of bottles
that aim to reduce air swallowing. Don't let baby suck on an
empty bottle. Burp baby more often if he seems to be swallowing
too much air.
- Overabundant milk supply. See Too
Much Milk?
- Thrush
can cause gassiness in babies.
- Babies who skip several days between stools tend to be gassier.
Older breastfed babies (after the first 6-8 weeks) can go several
days without a stool. Ten days or more is not uncommon! The long
periods between stools in a baby who is obviously thriving is
not a cause for concern if the baby's abdomen remains soft, baby
is content and alert, and the stool is soft and profuse if several
days have gone by.
- Sensitivity to something in mother's diet, including any vitamin/iron
supplements, etc. See Dairy
and other Food Sensitivities in Breastfed Babies. If this
is the reason, you will most likely notice other symptoms, such
as excessive spitting up or vomiting, colic, diarrhea, rash, persistent
congestion or runny nose.
- Anything that baby is eating/drinking other than mother's
milk, including vitamins,
formula, teas, medications or herbs, solids,
juice.
Any substance (other than breastmilk) has a much greater potential
to increase gassiness rather than reduce it.
- Formula
feeding tends to cause more gas and digestive upset for most
babies because it is not specific to the human baby. Formula-fed
babies overall tend to spit up more, be constipated more, have
more gas, be more colicky, have more intestinal illnesses, etc.
Remember, too, that supplementation most always undermines your
milk supply
and may result in premature
weaning.
Breastmilk is made from what passes into mom's blood, not what
is in her stomach or digestive track. Below are a few common questions
that moms have about breastfeeding and gassy babies.
Can drinking carbonated sodas cause gas in baby? No.
For something to pass into your milk, it must first pass into your
bloodstream. It's the carbonation in sodas, etc. that can cause
gas in mom. The bubbles in a carbonated drink cannot pass into your
milk and affect baby. If this could happen, you'd have carbonated
blood and carbonated milk!
If mom is gassy, can that make baby gassy? No. Gas in mom's
body cannot pass into breastmilk.
See also Can a nursing
mother eat this food? which includes a discussion of How
will eating "gassy foods" affect baby?
Time
For most babies, the number one most effective treatment
for gas is TIME. Babies are born with an immature digestive system,
and it needs time to mature. Until this happens, baby is likely
to be gassy no matter what you do. Some babies "wake up"
around 3-4 weeks to all the new GI sensations they are feeling and
get really unhappy about it. If you cannot find an apparent cause
for your baby's gassiness, he probably just needs a little more
time to mature.
Gripe water,
fennel tea or other herbal remedies
Herbal remedies have been used for gassy babies for a countless
number of years. I prefer to avoid using herbal remedies for gas
in young babies. Here are my reasons:
- In a healthy baby, anything other than breastmilk is more likely
to cause problems rather than solve them.
- Giving baby substances other than breastmilk can alter the intestinal
flora and reduce the protective qualities of exclusive breastfeeding,
thus making baby more susceptable to illness and allergies. See
Why Delay Solids?
for more on this.
- Many of these products contain mixtures of herbs or other substances,
thus putting baby more at risk for adverse reactions. Some contain
alcohol, so read labels very carefully.
- Most of these products have not been tested in infants for safety
or effectiveness.
- It is more effective to look at treating the causes,
rather than simply trying to treat the symptoms.
Note: Star
anise has been associated with illness ranging from serious
neurological effects, such as seizures, to vomiting, jitteriness
and rapid eye movement.
Mint tea is sometimes used for gas and gas pains. Peppermint oil
and tea can be dangerous if given directly to babies. Large amounts
of peppermint or spearmint are known to decrease milk supply, and
mint tea is traditionally used for decreasing milk supply - breastfeeding
mothers should avoid drinking mint tea regularly or in large amounts.
Simethicone
drops (Mylicon, Ovol)
This medication is considered quite safe, as it is not absorbed
by the body. It breaks down bubbles of gas trapped in the stomach
and the intestines. Whether this treatment is effective is
a different story, however. In clinical trials, simethicone drops
have been shown to be effective in reducing the total amount of
gas passed. However, they have not been shown to be more
effective than a placebo when the study focused on baby's total
crying time and the severity of colic-like episodes.
So, what
does work? My baby is unhappy and I am too! We don't want
to just wait it out.
Page last modified:
06/09/2005
Written: 10/26/1999
