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When your stomach is upset, you can describe how you’re feeling verbally – and then type it verbatim into your search bar. But when your baby’s stomach feels off, it’s up to you use pick up on their cues (or use their tummy as a crystal ball) to figure out what’s going on with them and how to help. When in doubt, it’s likely gas, colic, or constipation. Here’s how to tell the difference.
Gas
Babies’ digestive systems are still developing when they’re born, so they tend to be especially gassy – wouldn’t it be amazing if we all had that excuse? All jokes aside, it’s completely natural that babies swallow air while feeding and that this air combines with bacteria in the digestive tract to produce gas. That’s why we burp babies after feeding them! It’s only when a baby is fussier than they usually are, arching, squirming, or super relieved after passing gas that you might want to step in.
If your baby falls into the category above, it’s a great idea to check in with your pediatrician to confirm that gas is what you’re dealing with and to find out if there are any dietary causes. Burping your baby during and after feeding can relieve some of their gas, as can making sure the nipple of a bottle is filled with milk before giving it to your baby to decrease the amount of air ingested, if you’re bottle feeding. Another great way to help your baby stay comfortable is to try gas drops, like Mommy’s Bliss Gas Relief, which help to break up the bubbles in babies’ tiny tummies, so that they don’t bubble up later as uncomfortable gas.
Colic
If you’re lucky enough not to know what colic looks like, we are so jealous of you. Colic is when an otherwise healthy baby cries as frequently as three hours a day for more than three days a week. It can last around three weeks or a little more. No one likes to see a baby upset – colic can leave the whole family in tears!
The first step in dealing with colic is to check in with your pediatrician to make sure that what your baby is experiencing is indeed colic. There are a ton of established ways to calm a colicky baby and ease their discomfort, like swaddling, swaying, and using white (or pink!) noise. People have soothed babies with Gripe Water for hundred of years. We like Mommy’s Bliss Gripe Water because it’s made with ginger and fennel to ease babies’ tummy trouble and fussiness. Though colic may seem to go on…forever, it usually resolves itself by the time a baby is 3-4 months old.
Constipation
You may or may not be a huge fan of talking about poop now, but once your family grows to include this new addition, talking about it will become part of your daily life. As you become intimately aware of your baby’s poop timing and consistency, it’ll be easier to spot constipation. Just like adults, babies poop on their own schedules. Some do it multiple times a day and others do it every few days. If your baby seems uncomfortable from straining to poop or is pooping in small, hard balls, they might be constipated.
Because there are so many reasons why a baby can be constipated, like switching between breastmilk and formula. It’s never a bad idea to check in with your pediatrician who can help you determine how to best manage your baby’s constipation. Since your baby’s digestive system isn’t fully developed until about six months, probiotics like Mommy’s Bliss Probiotic Drops can help support your newborns gut as it matures. Adding this bacteria to your baby’s gut can ease a lot of these tummy issues. For babies six months and older, Constipation Ease with prune juice can help get things moving quickly too.
With enough practice, you can identify the signs and symptoms of your baby’s tummy trouble and get them feeling more comfortable in no time. Having the right tools make a huge difference. Tap below to shop Mommy’s Bliss digestive line, so you can get back to bliss.
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