Dealing With Common Issues In Newborns: Colic, Gas & Reflux

Bringing home a newborn is such an exciting and joyful experience, but it can also come with some unexpected challenges. As a new parent, you might find yourself dealing with things like colic, gas, and reflux. These are pretty common issues in newborns that can make them uncomfortable, and it’s totally normal to feel a bit stressed about how to handle them. 

The good news is that by understanding what’s going on, you can help soothe your little one and make things easier for both of you. Let’s dive into what these issues are, tips for newborn colic relief, newborn gas pain remedies and ways to manage reflux in babies. 

1. What Is Newborn Colic?

If you’ve ever heard stories about babies crying for hours on end, that’s often what people are talking about when they mention colic. Colic is basically when a healthy baby cries a lot more than expected — usually more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, for more than three weeks. Although it’s a common issue in newborns, it can still be incredibly frustrating as no matter what you do, nothing seems to calm your baby down.

Symptoms Of Colic In Newborns

These symptoms of colic will help you know if it really is. 

• Your baby cries intensely, often like they’re in pain.
• The crying tends to happen around the same time each day, often in the late afternoon or evening.
• Your baby might have a red face, clenched fists, or pull their legs up toward their belly while crying.
• No matter what you try, your baby is hard to soothe during these crying spells.

Colic symptoms in breastfed babies and bottle fed newborns are generally similar. Though some parents notice that certain foods in their diet might aggravate their baby’s colic. Common culprits include dairy, caffeine, and spicy foods. If your breastfed baby shows signs of colic, before getting into any colic remedies for newborns – Consider keeping a food diary to see if any patterns emerge that might help in reducing the symptoms.

Causes Of Colic

Although it is a common problem in newborns, no one knows exactly why some babies get colic. But it could be related to their digestive system, an immature nervous system, or just being sensitive to things in their environment. Sometimes, babies react to certain foods in breast milk or formula, which might make them more uncomfortable.

How To Soothe Colic Baby

Try these tips for newborn colic relief. 

• Diet adjustments: If you’re breastfeeding, consider cutting out foods that could be causing gas, like dairy or spicy foods, to see if that helps.
• Swaddling: Try wrapping your baby up snugly in a blanket. It can help them feel secure, almost like they’re back in the womb.
• White noise: Background sounds like a fan or a white noise machine can be surprisingly soothing for babies.
• Gentle rocking: Gently rocking your baby in your arms or in a rocking chair can help calm them down.
• Burping: Make sure to burp your baby frequently during and after feedings to get rid of any trapped air that might be making them uncomfortable.

2. Understanding Newborn Gas

Just like being a new mom, you experience postpartum gas and bloating; baby gas is something that almost all newborns deal with at some point. Since their digestive systems are still getting used to processing food, it’s easy for them to get gassy, which can make them fussy. Let’s understand more about this common issue in newborns. 

Causes Of Gas In Newborns

Some causes of gas explaining why babies get gassy.

• Swallowing air: Babies often swallow air while feeding or when they’re crying, which can lead to gas.
• Developing digestive system: A newborn’s digestive system is still maturing, so they might have a harder time processing milk or formula.
• Food sensitivities: Sometimes, certain ingredients in formula or foods that you eat if you’re breastfeeding can cause gas.

Signs Your Newborn Has Gas

If you notice these signs, there’s likely gas pain in your newborn.

• Fussiness or crying, especially after feedings
• A bloated or firm belly
• Passing gas frequently
• Pulling their legs up toward their tummy

How To Get Rid Of Baby Gas Fast

These 5 best newborn gas pain remedies will help your newborn feel better.

1. Frequent burping: Burp your baby often during and after feedings to help release any trapped air.
2. Feeding position: Hold your baby in a slightly upright position while feeding to reduce the amount of air they swallow.
3. Tummy massage: Gently massaging your baby’s tummy in a circular, clockwise motion can help move gas through their system.
4. Bicycle legs: Lay your baby on their back and gently move their legs in a bicycling motion. This gain pain remedy can help push out gas.
5. Switching bottles or formula: If your baby is formula-fed, you might want to try a different formula that’s easier on their tummy. Some bottles are also designed to reduce the amount of air your baby swallows.

3. Managing Newborn Reflux

Reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux (GER), happens when the contents of your baby’s stomach come back up into their esophagus. It’s a pretty common issue in newborns because the muscle that keeps food in the stomach isn’t fully developed yet.

Signs Of Reflux In Babies

If you see your baby showing these symptoms, know that they might be experiencing reflux.

• Your baby spits up or vomits after feeding
• They might arch their back or cry during or after feedings
• Frequent hiccups or coughing
• Refusing to eat or only eating small amounts
• Trouble gaining weight or losing weight

Why Does Reflux Happen?

The three main causes of reflux in babies includes:

1. Underdeveloped Muscle: The muscle at the bottom of the esophagus that keeps food in the stomach is still maturing, so it doesn’t always close tightly.
2. Overfeeding: If your baby’s stomach gets too full, it can cause reflux.
3. Lying Flat: When your baby lies flat after feeding, gravity can’t help keep the food down, so it’s more likely to come back up.

Top 6 Tips To Reduce Reflux In Newborns

With these remedies for reflux in babies, you can prevent frequent spit-ups and help ease their discomfort.

• Feed smaller amounts: Try feeding your baby smaller amounts more frequently to avoid overfilling their stomach.
• Keep baby upright: Hold your baby upright for 20-30 minutes after feeding to help keep the milk down.
• Burp frequently: Burping your baby during and after feedings can help release any trapped air, which can reduce reflux.
• Elevate the head during sleep: Just like sleep training, it’s important to position your baby correctly. Slightly elevate the head of your baby’s crib to help prevent reflux while they sleep.
• Thicken feedings: In some cases, your pediatrician might suggest adding a little rice cereal to your baby’s bottle to help keep the milk in their stomach.
• Pacifier use: For some babies, sucking on a pacifier can increase saliva production, which can help reduce acid reflux symptoms.

If your baby’s reflux seems severe or is affecting their weight gain, it’s a good idea to talk to your pediatrician about other treatments.

When Should You See A Doctor?

While colic, gas, and reflux are common problems in newborns that can be managed at home, there are times when it’s important to see your pediatrician:

• If your baby’s crying is inconsolable or lasts longer than what’s typical for colic
• If your baby isn’t gaining weight or is losing weight
• If you see blood in your baby’s stool or vomit
• If your baby is refusing to eat or isn’t feeding well
• If your baby shows signs of dehydration, like fewer wet diapers or a dry mouth

Final Thoughts

Dealing with colic, gas, and reflux can be tough, but it’s important to remember that these are common problems in newborns. With some patience and a few tricks, you can help your baby feel more comfortable. And remember, every baby is different—what works for one might not work for another, so don’t be afraid to try different things until you find what helps your little one.

As you get more experience, you’ll start to feel more confident in your ability to soothe your baby, and before you know it, these early challenges will be behind you. Hang in there—you’re doing great!