Help - My 5 Week Old Is GASSY

Updated on September 17, 2009
J.M. asks from Garland, TX
8 answers

Any suggestions on how to relieve my gassy baby? I am breastfeeding about every 3 hours and burping in between switching breasts - but he is so gassy and uncomfortable. Please help.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

We used the GasX drops and my baby proceeded to projectile vomit every time we used them (only twice) - so I talked to our pediatrician and he said to throw them away and burp him more often during feedings. I have also eliminated dairy and we haven't had any problems.

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.T.

answers from Dallas on

I used the Target brand gas drops. My pediatrician said it was the same as the name brand drops and it is only $3.50 a bottle. My pediatrician said I could put them in every bottle. It worked wonders.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.M.

answers from Dallas on

J.,

The most common early allergies are dairy, wheat and peanuts. One of the most common is dairy and I suggest completely removing that from your diet for a week and see how your son's symptoms change. If nothing changes, go to the next item. keeping a journal of everything you eat can also be an extraordinary help in figuring this out!

It is best to avoid the food that your son is sensitive to in order to help him most in his development. Would you rather have a hurting tummy that gets meds, or a tummy that feels good and healthy?!

Best wishes!
S. M

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.R.

answers from Dallas on

I have used both Gripewater and Mylicon (store brand is totally the same). The trick i found was to give it to the baby a couple of min BEFORE feeding. Seemed to help better than aftwards after the gas had started. Sorry you're going through this. I know it doesn't make you feel anybetter now, but they do grow out of it as their little digestive systems mature.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.M.

answers from Dallas on

Is he fussing during feedings?? It might be something else. At about 3 wks old, my daughter started fussing during feedings... I thought she was extremely gassy and it was hard to get burps out of her -- like she had stuck burps... so I'd sit there for 20 mins trying to burp her with no luck.
Finally the doc suggested it might be reflux so we had her on Prevacid... no change. Thought she might have a sensitivity to my milk so I tried to eliminate diary from my diet ... no change... I started giving her different formulas -- soy, formula for sensitive digestive systems, etc. no change.... finally went to a Pediatric GI doc and he suggested a swallow study (xray to watch her swallow) -- and it turns out she has problems with swallow coordination and she needed her formula thickened to help her swallow it with better coordination. without it, she was almost taking milk in her lungs (aspirated). Having the milk over her windpipe irritated her.
anyway -- not saying this is what you have ...but the fussiness can be a number of different things. Tell your doctor about it and he/she can help you.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.K.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter has had severe gas, colic, reflux and turns out eventually a milk allergy since birth. What works best for her is to burp very frequently, much more than once or twice per feeding. In the beginning I burped her every few ml using different techniques - over the shoulder and sitting up patting her back. At the end of our feeding we pat her back again for about 10 minutes and gas always still comes out. After I think she has digested her food we do tummy time which also helps get out anything leftover. Unfortunately the gas drops or gripe water didn't work on my daughter. If nothing else works I would definitely recommend seeing a Pediatric Gastroenterologist. We see Dr. Dave in Plano and she is amazing. She is now 4.5 months and as her digestive system matures the issues seem to be resolving.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.C.

answers from Dallas on

My son was a preemie and had terrible issues with reflux and gas, and it broke my heart. When we found Little Remedies' "Tiny Tummies" at Babies R Us, it was a total life saver!!! I swear by those drops! We tried Mylicon which didn't work as fast, didn't work as long, and cost substantially more. Definately try the Tiny Tummies by Little Remedies---it's worth the trip to Babies R Us, since I haven't seen them anywhere else.
I agree that a couple drops before feeding (or if bottle feeding, I'd put a couple drops in the bottle) help better than waiting til he cries.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.

answers from Dallas on

you should try gripe water...it works great and you can find it at health markets or try Mylecon drops, which you can find at most stores(target, walmart, etc) Gripe water is made with all natural ingredients and I have used it with all my kids and it helped immensely with their gassiness. Good luck and congrats on your new baby!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.D.

answers from Dallas on

Gripe Water and for some reason the only gas drops that worked well for both of my boys have been the Little Remedies brand. I have no idea why that is since they're all simethicone. Try one or the other first and see how that goes, you may end up needing both the gripe water and the gas drops but you may only need one remedy. If those don't work, consult the nurses at the pediatrician's office.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches