Suggestions For Gas Relief

Hi

My girls have both had really bad gas today. One of mine seems to have a problem with it frequently. Other than burping, I haven't tried much to treat/prevent it. They are breastfed. How common is it for something in my diet to have suddenly bothered them? What are the common culprits (I am going to try cutting out dairy this week). Have you tried the OTC gas drops? Do they help? Is the dose written on the label? Any other suggestions?

Thanks! I hate to see them so uncomfortable.

Suzanne

 

Mylicon Gas Drops worked for us, however, recently I have been reading posts about some people using "gripe water" from the health food stores.

 

Gas drops didn't work for us. There are also "Colic Tablets" (I found them at Wal-Mart) but those didn't work for us either. Tried a peppermint disk dropped into 2 oz of water and swirled until the water turned pink, them removing the disk and feeding them that ... didn't work. Haven't tried Gripe Water (I couldn't find it but would have tried it if I could!)

What worked for us was pacifiers, white noise, warm receiving blankets and time. We were anti-paci until about 7 weeks when the colic got so terrible I tried a Soothie (they hated the Nuk) and it calmed them down ... down when they start squirming and hurting and you know they are having tummy issues, the pacifier soothes them and helps them get through it, along with holding them and cuddling. The warm receiving blanket on their tummy helped too.

And time ... they are still very gassy babies but nowhere near what they were at 2 months. You won't notice it but all of a sudden your babies will start to sleep easier, not be so fussy/colicky at night, not be so gassy during the day.

 

We gave Reagan Fennel Seed Tea for gas at that age. Honestly, my Ped was not happy about it, but it helped quite a bit, and I wasn't too worried about it being bad for her, because in Germany (where my mother is originally from) they market it for babies to help with gas. It is supposed to relax the intestines which makes it easier to pass gas. It helped her a lot. She used to get up a couple times a night screaming. After a couple days of giving her a small bottle (4 oz ) of tea every evening, she stopped almost completely. I continued it for a couple of months, and once we started solids weaned her off it. After that the only time she had problems is when I introduced certain new foods (usually high fiber ones like broccoli).

 

We used Little Remedies Little Tummies (I think that's what it was called). It was way cheaper than Mylicon and gave the same results. If you use some kind of OTC remedy, they key is to get the gas while it's still in the tummy. Once it moves into the intestinal tract, the meds won't work. That's what they claim on the packaging.

I know people who use bottles that they would put it right in the bottle and get rid of bubbles right away. We never did that, but you can sure she how the bubbles go away immediately if you see it done.

We also used, and still use, Soothies pacifiers, lots of burping throughout feeding, elevated sleeping, etc.

Good luck

 

I would wrap up Sean in a blanket, then bounce his tummy on my knee, or hold him in the "Colic Carry" (Head near your elbow, laying tummy down along the length of your arm with the heel of your palm in his tummy.) Some babies are gassier than others though, so don't blame yourself too much.

 

I can't remember where I found it (and it's driving me nuts b/c I'm almost out) but we found the Gerber brand of gas drops to work like magic!! Zoe had gas sooooo bad when she was about that age, and it was almost instant that she would calm down after getting her "drops".

 

the gas relief drops were a godsend for us for about the first 3 months. I definately recommend them.

 

the gas relief drops were a godsend for us for about the first 3 months. I definately recommend them.

 

My Jack was on Zantac and Reglan for his reflux (and gas) and we also put Mylicon drops in his bottles.

An old wives tale around here, that supposedly works is to boil an onion in water, and then (once the water cools down) give them an ounce or so... that is suppose to cure it! I never tried it, but my MIL and SIL swore by it.

 

We would rub their belly clockwise. Also, we would take our fingers and 'walk' them across their belly from left to right. It is supposed to get things moving in there. We went to an infant massage calss and that is what they suggested.

 

Ok I thought my mom was weird when she wanted to use Aceite Manzanilla (Chamomille oil) on Samantha when she had gas pains but it really does work. You rub it on their tummies & on their lower backs and it always lets the gas out one way or another...

xox
Mariel