The gas problem in kids is common and rarely requires any major clinical treatment. In most cases, home care and natural remedies may provide relief from gas and the uneasiness associated with it. However, one should consult their pediatrician if their toddler seems to experience frequent and excruciating gas pain.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS RELATED TO GAS
- Uneasiness and increased discomfort.
- Increased Burping
- Difficulty in passing stool or stool in blood
- Pulling of legs towards the tummy.
- Fussiness and colic even after proper feeding.
- Clenching his or her fist repeatedly.
- Frequent squirming.
CAUSES OF GAS
- The major reason for gas is air swallowing in the stomach. Everyone swallows small amounts of air while talking, eating, and drinking. However, eating or drinking too often causes, even more, air intake. Chewing food in a relaxed manner as possible can significantly reduce the amount of swallowed air.
- Crying also introduces the amount of air. If your toddler cries often the air bubbles are trapped in their stomach and further passed on to the intestine. Gas pain can also be a direct result of air swallowed during crying.
- Babies’ digestive systems are still developing and hence the baby would still be learning how to process food and pass stool, resulting in excess gas being formed. Toddlers also have gas problems due to the underdeveloped bacterial flora in the intestine.
HOME REMEDIES TO TREAT GAS IN BABIES
WARM WATER
Warm water can ease the stomach pain of your little one. This remedy can expel gas from their stomach. Make sure you burp the baby. You can also add cumin seed to the water for better results.
BREASTFEEDING
While breastfeeding your little one, keep the baby’s head and neck at an angle so that they are higher than the tummy. This will ensure that milk goes down to the stomach and the air comes up. The same rules apply while bottle feeding.
OIL MASSAGE
Massaging your little one’s stomach with some oil may also help release the gas, providing relief from some comfort. However, do not exert too much pressure on your stomach while massaging.
ASAFOETIDA AND GHEE ON STOMACH
Mix 1 tsp of hing and 1 tsp of ghee. Heat it in the pan till lukewarm. Apply this mixture toddler’s tummy 4 to 5 times a day till he gets some relief. This particularly helps in stomach pain relief.
THE MIXTURE OF JEERA AND WATER
In one liter of water add jeera heat the mixture and pour it into a bottle. Ask your child to sip throughout the day. This will help in better digestion.
GINGER AND HING
Take fresh ginger, hing, and a dash of rock salt. Pour water into the mixture. Boil it and transfer the contents to a bottle. Ask your kid to drink sip by sip.
AVOID FRUIT JUICE AND CARBONATED DRINKS
Give your child a variety of fresh fruits instead of letting them have fruit juices and aerated beverages.
