Your baby pulls up their legs, goes red in the face and squirms after feeds. Wind is a common reason for discomfort in the first months, as babies swallow air and their digestive system matures. These baby gas relief techniques can ease the discomfort, and most babies grow out of it by around 4 to 6 months.
Quick answer: baby gas relief
- Burp during and after feeds.
- Feed upright and check the latch or teat flow to reduce swallowed air.
- Try tummy massage and bicycle legs between feeds.
- Tummy time while awake can help move wind along.
Signs of wind
- fussing or crying during or after feeds
- pulling legs up to the tummy
- a hard or bloated tummy
- burping and passing wind often
- squirming during sleep
Feeding tips
- Hold your baby upright during feeds. See baby feeding positions.
- Check the latch: a deep latch means less air. See a good breastfeeding latch.
- Use paced bottle feeding and the right teat flow.
- Feed before your baby is very hungry, to avoid gulping.
- Let formula settle after shaking, to reduce bubbles.
Soothing techniques
- Burping: over the shoulder, sitting on your lap or across your knees.
- Tummy massage: gentle clockwise circles around the belly button.
- Bicycle legs: lay your baby on their back and gently move their legs in a cycling motion.
- The colic hold: lay your baby tummy-down along your forearm.
- A warm bath to relax the tummy muscles.
Do gas drops help?
Simethicone drops are widely sold, but studies have not shown that they work better than placebo for colic. Ask your pharmacist before using them. Probiotic drops may help some breastfed babies with colic; talk to your doctor.
If your baby cries for hours every day, see the colic survival guide.
When to talk to your doctor
- vomiting, especially green or forceful vomit: seek urgent help
- blood in the poo, or a swollen, hard tummy
- fever, poor feeding or fewer wet nappies
- crying that sounds like pain and does not settle
- poor weight gain
Frequently asked questions
Does my diet cause my baby’s wind?
Usually not. Only cut foods out if your doctor suggests it, for example for suspected cow’s milk protein allergy.
Do anti-colic bottles help?
Some vented bottles reduce air intake. Feeding position and pace matter most.
When does wind get better?
Most babies are much more comfortable by 4 to 6 months.
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Sources
- NHS: Colic; Wind and burping
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: Infant Gas
- Cochrane Review: Simethicone and probiotics for infant colic
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you are worried about your baby, talk to your doctor or health visitor.