One of the things that make a child cry for long periods of time is gas.. Learn about the causes of gases in infants and children and ways to get rid of them
One of the most common problems that mothers face is colic and gas in children, which makes the infant or young children cry for long periods without sleeping well. In infants and children, emphasizing the need to consult a doctor so that the appropriate treatment can be prescribed.
One of the most common problems that mothers face is colic and gas in children, which makes the infant or young children cry for long periods without sleeping well. In infants and children, emphasizing the need to consult a doctor so that the appropriate treatment can be prescribed.
1-The mother takes some types of medicines that contain lactose, which affect the baby through breastfeeding.
2-Feeding the child incorrectly, causing air to enter the child's stomach and causing bloating.
3-The child’s swallowing of air and its accumulation in the infant’s stomach leads to bloating and colic.
4-The mother takes some types of medicines that contain lactose, which affect the baby through breastfeeding.
5-Giving the infant a bad type of formula, which is not suitable for the child, causing gas and colic.
6-Older children do not chew food well, and this causes gas and colic.
Ways to get rid of gas in infants and children:
1-In order to get rid of gas and colic, you should gently massage the abdomen or back of the child, which helps to calm the child and get rid of colic.
2-Try to change the way the baby is feeding so that he avoids swallowing air during feeding, so that the level of the baby's head is higher than the level of the abdomen.
3-Care must be taken to burp the child after feeding, in order to expel the excess amount of air swallowed during feeding.
4-Massage the child's abdomen with a little olive oil, which reduces the feeling of colic.
5-Changing the type of formula if it is the cause of gas and colic in the infant.
6-Moving the child's legs in a circular motion, which helps to get rid of excess gas in the child's tummy.
7-A nursing mother should be keen to eat a healthy, balanced diet, which protects the child from exposure to gas.
Newborn baby gas treatment
The American Academy of Pediatrics (English: American Academy of Pediatrics) allowed the use of one drug to treat gases in newborn infants, which is simethicone, which is in the form of oral drops, and in fact this drug may provide moderate gas relief in infants, Some may not respond to the drug at all. As for the principle of action of simethicone, it collects the gases that formed in the infant’s digestive system and facilitates its expulsion from his body. It should be noted the need to adhere to the recommended dose to avoid giving the infant an overdose, and in general there is no special treatment for newborn gases, Therefore, it is advised to avoid over-the-counter medicines because they are not intended for children.
Helping the baby burp to get rid of gas
It is possible to get rid of abdominal gas for a newborn baby by helping him burp during and after breastfeeding. It is one of the best ways to get rid of gas, and it is important to take the appropriate opportunity to do so, and it is important that this not be done by stopping the infant from breastfeeding; Because stopping him from breastfeeding against his will may lead to his annoyance and crying, which introduces an additional amount of air into his body. It is better to do this when feeding slowly or when he stops breastfeeding a little. It is worth noting that there are certain positions that are recommended to help the child burp, as The mother can choose the most comfortable position for her child from among these options and then adopt it, and the following is an explanation of these positions
1-Lay the infant on the lap face down, with his head fixed and kept higher than his chest, then gently pat his back.
2-sit up straight and hold the baby on the chest; So that his chin rests on the mother's shoulder, with the need to support him or fix it with the mother's hand, then gently raise it on his back.
3-Placing the infant on the mother's knee or lap, and using one hand to support the infant's head and chest; By fixing the palm of the hand on his chest and at the same time using the same hand to support his chin, then using the other hand to gently pat his back, with the need to be careful not to catch him by the throat.
Breastfeeding tips to reduce gas in the baby
There are many tips that can be followed during the breastfeeding process, as it is one of the methods used for how to get rid of gases for newborns, [3] which we show as follows:
Choosing the right foods for the mother
A breastfeeding mother’s intake of certain foods may increase the infant’s risk of gas,[4] but a 2017 study published in the Korean Journal of Pediatrics stated that women often restrict their diets unnecessarily, so there is no need to avoid any particular food when breastfeeding because most Children will get gas,[5] so it is important to focus on the fact that food is not the only cause of gas formation in the infant, and therefore it is sufficient for the mother to pay attention to foods and drinks that clearly cause the child's discomfort.[6]
Tips on formula feeding to reduce gas in the baby
The causes of gas in newborns who are breastfed vary. Such as the wrong attachment of the infant to the nipple of the milk bottle, or the infant’s body reacting incorrectly to the type of milk provided to him. One of the ways to relieve gas in infants is to follow tips that may help reduce the risk of gas formation in these infants, depending on the possible cause as follows
The type of formula: If the child has a bad reaction to the used milk,[3] it may help to change the type of milk and replace it with another type that is more suitable for the infant, after discussing the matter with the pediatrician, of course, as there are many types specially made for infants who suffer from gas. [6]
Milk preparation: The process of preparing milk may affect the problem of gases,[7] so it is recommended to reduce the shaking of the bottle to reduce the amount of air bubbles that enter the milk, and thus reduce the swallowing of air that turns into gases, and it is also recommended to leave the bottle after preparing the milk before feeding the baby, in order to settle. [6]
Breastfeeding speed: The process of artificially feeding a child should take a time similar to the process of breastfeeding, which usually ranges between 20-60 minutes, as drinking milk quickly may lead to the formation of gases in infants, and to achieve this, it is recommended to use a nipple that contains a small hole appropriate for the age of the infant. 3]
The angle of the feeding bottle: it is recommended to hold the bottle at an angle, so that the nipple is filled with milk, and the air is collected at the end of the bottle,[3] and the use of a nursing pillow may help in this; They contribute to supporting the milk bottle's tilt slightly upward to ensure that there are no air bubbles in the nipple.[2]
Changing the shape of the milk bottle: and most importantly, the correct way to hold the bottle in the way we explained earlier; To ensure that the nipple is filled with milk instead of air, regardless of the shape of the bottle used, but changing the shape of the milk bottle used may contribute to reducing the problem of gas in infants, such as using curved bottles for example. [4]
The position of the child during feeding: The importance of placing the child while feeding from the bottle at a certain angle in which his head is above the level of his stomach, and not allowing him to lie horizontally during feeding, as gravity helps naturally in his digestion. [3]
Other tips to get rid of gas in a child It is common among the general public to use herbs to relieve gas in infants, and it can be said that none of them has been proven to relieve gas, and studies are still ongoing, and here are some other tips followed to relieve gas in newborns: Massage Baby's tummy: It is recommended to gently rub the abdomen area, moving the hand towards or counterclockwise and gently pressing down. The gentle car calms the baby and relieves his pain.[4] Hugging the baby with his face down: After making sure that nothing is covering the baby's face or nose, it is recommended to snuggle him between the arms with his head down and slightly raised, immobilizing or supporting him.[4] Strengthening Abdominal muscles: The abdominal muscles help the infant to raise his head, crawl and walk in the future, in addition to helping them get rid of gases. Therefore, it is recommended to place the infant on his stomach after feeding, taking care to monitor him in the meantime. It is noted the importance of avoiding the child sleeping on his stomach; Because sleeping on the stomach puts children at an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome, it is also worth noting that the infant is not placed on his stomach immediately after feeding, but rather wait for 20-30 minutes after feeding; In addition to sleeping on the stomach immediately after feeding causes some children to vomit, it is also the period of time during which gases begin to form. [8] Swaddling the child: (in English: Swaddling), but not all children enjoy this process. [8] Do some exercises: such as: an exercise in gently pushing the infant’s knees towards his stomach, fixing them for 10 seconds, then releasing the legs and resting them straight, and this is repeated The movement is repeated several times. [8] The bicycle exercise, in which the infant lies on his back, and the mother moves his feet in a movement similar to the movement of riding a bicycle towards his stomach; To help push the trapped air out.[8] Reasons to see a doctor It is possible that gases have accumulated behind the stool, so the doctor can find out the main cause and solve it. Facing difficulty breastfeeding the child, or repeated refusal to breastfeed, and this may indicate a problem in the digestive system, or a sign that he suffers from acid reflux, and both cases require treatment. The baby is not overweight. The appearance of signs of an allergic reaction on the child after trying a new compound or treatment for the problem of gas, although sensitivity here is a rare problem, and among the signs of allergy that may appear on the infant: face swelling. Breathing difficulty. rash. goosebumps. vomiting.
Walking in a nutshell:
- Responsible for 80% of infant household accidents.
Falling through the stairs in particular.
Stumbling on a carpet or mat and turning over on the head.
Facilitating access to, picking up, eating or harming dangerous tools.
Depriving the infant of discovering and experiencing his first step on his own (which is a great achievement for him).
- Causing inconsistency between vision and walking (he does not see his feet while walking).
- Delaying standing and walking by weakening the muscles of the thighs because of accustoming them not to carry the body weight that the treadmill takes care of.
There is no health benefit in treadmill-supported walking.
0 Comments