Does your baby suffer from bad wind?

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Tummy pain in babies can be upsetting for all involved and often it’s difficult to diagnose the cause.

Gas can be a common issue for many bubs, as their digestive systems are still developing and adjusting to new foods and variety in their diets. Encouraging bub to burp after a meal is a well-known strategy to avoid excess gas being trapped, but if the pain and irritation is persistent, your littlie may be troubled by something else…

Gulping air with food
If you’re breastfeeding make sure your baby has good attachment and if you’re bottle-feeding ensure the teat fits properly, as both will help to avoid excess air being swallowed and trapped. Try to keep bub calm, as excitement can make her swallow more air and increase gas. If your baby is hiccupping excessively after meals, she may need to slow down. When it comes to feeding your baby solid foods, encourage her to eat slowly and make sure she has swallowed the previous mouthful before offering another.

Struggling with sugar
Lactose intolerance occurs in bubs who lack sufficient amounts of the enzyme ‘lactase’, which breaks down the sugar lactose, found in breastmilk, formula and cows’ milk. Temporary or ‘secondary’ lactose intolerance can occur after illness as your tot’s digestive system repairs itself. Once your child is better, the symptoms will generally subside within days.

Lactose is an important part of an infant’s diet, assisting with calcium and iron absorption, keeping the immune system healthy, and needed for growth and development. Many babies who are assumed to be lactose intolerant may actually just be experiencing lactose overload. This more often occurs in bigger bubs who feed frequently for short amounts of time before mum’s breasts are emptied.

During breastfeeding, the first milk contains higher amounts of lactose, which is digested quickly, while the last or hind milk is digested more slowly as it contains higher amounts of fat. Encourage your baby to finish feeding on one breast before moving on to the second, and try not to make feeds too frequent if you can. Rest assured, the quantity of lactose in breastmilk will not be altered by dairy foods in your diet, so there’s no reason to cut this food group out.

For babies having formula feeds, there are a range of formula choices with varying amounts of lactose. Speak to your healthcare professional for expert advice on what might be best for your bub.

With solid foods, if a medical professional establishes that your baby can’t cope with dairy milk, you can try offering yoghurt as it’s usually better tolerated (due to the presence of healthy bacteria, which break down the lactose within the yoghurt). Hard cheese is also good, as it doesn’t contain lactose. Keep serving sizes of milk and custard small, or opt for a calcium-fortified milk alternative, checking first with your doctor that it contains enough nourishment for your bub. Also remember that while cows’ milk can be used when preparing food for bub, it’s best to wait until she’s 12 months before offering it as simply a drink.

Trying new foods
If your baby’s tummy trouble coincides with the introduction of solid foods, it may simply be that the foods are new and her tummy is getting used to digesting and absorbing them. In some cases it can be related to a group of foods that pass undigested through the digestive system and instead ferment with natural, harmless bacteria in the bowel to cause wind and bloating. If the gas isn’t expelled easily, it can become trapped in the intestines or bowel, causing pain and discomfort. This is not an allergy as it doesn’t involve the immune system. It’s classed as food intolerance and as your baby grows, she’ll likely become more tolerant to these foods.

Large servings of wheat, rye, onion and garlic can be a culprit for tummy troubles and our typical gaseous vegetables such cabbage, cauliflower, asparagus, broccoli, peas and mushrooms can also be an issue for some little tummies. If you can relate your child’s symptoms to these foods, you may be better to opt for others such as potato, sweet potato, zucchini and carrot. Large servings of lentils and legumes can be an issue for some as well, with rinsed, tinned varieties often better tolerated.

If you find your little one seems unsettled after eating fruit, you may find a smaller serving of banana, berries, grapes, kiwifruit or orange may be better tolerated. Keep portion sizes small with a couple of hours between servings, and avoid juices. Also when it comes to drinks, absolutely avoid giving your baby or young child soft drink. Not only can it be a major contributor to gas and bloating, but it contains maximum kilojoules, sometimes caffeine and absolutely no nutritive value.

Being blocked up
The leftover fibre and undigested foods in your child’s diet need to be expelled, otherwise bacteria naturally occurring in the gut continue to thrive on the stool matter there. For this reason, constipation can cause symptoms of bloating and gas.

Constipation is rare in breastfed babies, however it can occur in formula-fed bubs. This can most often be linked to formula being made up to be too concentrated, which can result in hard, dry stools. Also, weaning can be a time where babies become more susceptible to constipation, as their little bodies adjust to not relying solely on breastmilk or formula. It may just take some time to adjust to new foods, however soft and ripe pears or a small serving of stewed prunes can help to soften stools. Movement and warmth can also help, so get your baby’s legs moving by ‘cycling’ them gently as she lies on her back, or massage her in a warm bath. It’s always a good idea to chat to your doctor or health nurse too, if you think your child is constipated.

Something else?
If your bub’s stomach upset is sudden, severe and accompanied by diarrhoea, she may have a tummy bug. Lack of appetite and fluids can lead to dehydration, so keep a close eye on her intake. Continue to breastfeed or formula-feed as normal and your doctor can provide more information about oral rehydration if this is needed.

Although rare, occasionally allergies can cause bowel issues in babies and young children. This is often accompanied by other symptoms such as diarrhoea or loose, bloody stools and severe irritability. If your little one is showing these symptoms, check in with your GP.

A final word
It’s never recommended to exclude foods long-term from your baby’s diet, as nutritional deficiencies can occur. If you think that your baby may be reacting to a food or something that you’re eating if you’re breastfeeding, speak to your GP, health nurse or local accredited practising dietitian. Keeping a food and symptoms diary prior to your appointment may help to identify problem foods.