7 Massage Techniques To Soothe A Gassy Baby

Newborns start experiencing gas just a few hours after birth and while it typically resolves by itself, in some cases, it may last longer. The common causes of gas in babies include air swallowed while crying or feeding, an underdeveloped digestive system, and hypersensitivity towards certain types of formula, or possible food allergies. For babies who are breastfeeding, the mother’s diet may also cause gassiness. 

Gas formation can cause discomfort and pain in your baby’s tummy and can turn them fussy. In such a case, you can try certain massage techniques that can release trapped gas from the tummy and soothe your baby. Keep reading to know more about baby massages to relieve gas and other tips to manage this condition in your little bub. 

Symptoms Of Gas In Babies

Passing gas is normal, even in babies. But how do you determine that there is gas trapped inside your baby’s tummy? Watch out for the following symptoms to know if your little one is suffering from gas:

• Bloating
• Crying as if in pain
• Fussiness and irritability
• Passing gas continuously

7 Massages To Help Relieve Gas In Babies

Massaging your baby’s tummy helps move the gas towards the bowel and ease them of gas, constipation, and colic. You may use organic coconut oil for less resistance and proper movements. Check out the following daily tummy and foot massage techniques to help release gas in babies.

Tummy Massages

• Paddling: Use the sides of your palms to make downward strokes on your baby’s stomach from the rib cage to the pelvis. Your hand should follow the other in a continuous motion. 
• Hands of a clock: This massage technique has to be performed in a circular motion. Make the bottom half of a semi-circle with your right hand. Now, make a full circle in a clockwise motion with your left hand. Always make sure to perform this massage clockwise, with the left hand following the right.
• Moonwalking: Using your fingertips walk across your baby’s abdomen from the left side to the right. Do this above the navel area in a pull-push motion and avoid poking.
• Fulling: For this, you need to place your thumb flat on your baby’s stomach and then move them in a push-pull motion to the sides. Do two strokes above and below the navel area, and make one stroke on either side while moving out from the navel. 
• I love you: Use your palms to form an ‘I’ on the left side of your baby’s tummy. Similarly, draw an upside ‘L’ and ‘U’ starting from the left to the right side of the tummy. 
• Circular massage: Massage using baby oil around the navel in a clockwise circular direction with your right hand. Continue this motion while gradually making bigger circles around the stomach. Then, use your left hand to glide across and back on your baby’s tummy.
• Knees up: Hold your baby’s calves and knees gently and push both the legs together towards their tummy. Hold this position for about five seconds and repeat the process 4-5 times.

Foot Massages

You can use reflexology therapy to soothe gas pain in babies. This therapy involves foot massages that effectively improve relaxation and well-being. Moreover, certain studies have determined that reflexology can have a positive impact on a baby’s overall health. However, more solid research is required in this field for homogenous results. Make sure to discuss with your child’s paediatrician to know if you can massage the correct pressure points on your baby’s feet with moderate pressure to help ease gas pain and colic. 

Massage For Colic Relief

Colic is a health condition, where an otherwise healthy baby cries and fusses for unknown reasons for more than three hours. Although the exact cause of colic in babies is still unknown, food intolerance and gas formation are sometimes considered underlying reasons. The good news is that the massaging techniques for gas relief that we described above can be used to soothe colic as well.

Some Other Tips For Managing Gas In Babies

Other than massages, you can try the following tips to manage gas in babies:

• Burp your baby during and after feeding sessions to remove excess air from their system.
• Ensure that less air is swallowed by your baby while feeding. You can do this by trying different bottles that help slow down the milk flow.
• Use a tummy relief roll-on to soothe gas pain. Choose a product that is made with organic and plant-based oils such as hing, ginger, and funnel to soothe discomfort from indigestion, acid reflux, gas, and colic. 
• If you are breastfeeding, then consult your doctor to know whether certain foods that you are consuming are causing gas in your baby. The most common foods that can cause gas in babies include caffeine, dairy products, cabbage, and onions. Ask your doctor if you can continue eating these foods or not.
• If your baby is formula-fed, then hold off on powdered formula for a while and use ready-to-formula instead.

While it’s not uncommon for babies to develop gas, this condition can cause a lot of discomfort in little ones, and therefore, the parents. Learning massage tricks can help soothe gas pain and will also help you console your colicky baby. However, if you have any concerns about your baby’s gas or massaging techniques, its advisable to consult a paediatrician as well.