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Expert Q&A:
How can I help my 4-week-old, who has gas?

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Linda Jonides
Answered by Linda Jonides R.N., C.P.N.P.
"I have worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner (P.N.P.) for over 30 years," says Linda Jonides. "I continue to thoroughly enjoy forming new relationships with parents and newborns and working with them through infancy, childhood, and adolescence."

Linda Jonides is a pediatric nurse practitioner in a private pediatric practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She received her Diploma in Nursing and Certificate as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from The Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is a past recipient of the Michigan PNP of the Year Award. She has a B.S. in Nursing from Eastern Michigan University. She has published articles and lectured on childhood obesity, infant colic, role of the P.N.P., growth and development issues, and infectious diseases. She was an author of "Clinical Insights Column," published biannually in the Journal of Pediatric Health Care for nine years. Jonides is past president of NAPNAP. Currently, she is a steering group work member of NAPNAP's HEAT (healthy eating and activity together) project. One outcome of this group's work is the clinical practice guideline, "Identifying and Preventing Overweight in Childhood," that was published as a supplement to the March/April '06 issue of the Journal of Pediatric Health Care.

Ms. Jonides has been married to John, a university professor, since 1971.
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Question


How can I help my 4-week-old, who has gas?

Answer


Gas is a common cause of fussiness in young babies, especially during the first few months of life. This is caused by swallowing air during feedings and is a normal product of digestion. It occurs in both breastfed and bottle-fed babies.

It's good that you are burping him often, as that's very important. You might even try to get a burp out before you start a feeding. And there's no one right way to burp a baby-do whatever works best for you.

Sometimes gas is relieved by changing the baby's position; for example, putting him on his tummy for awhile (not to sleep of course!). In fact, laying him on his tummy on something warm, such as a warm towel, will make him feel better. Also, you might offer even a few sips of water after a feeding, as sometimes that helps babies burp or pass the gas more readily. If the gas seems to be getting worse as time goes on, be sure to discuss it with your health care provider.

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Member comments

Is it ok to use the gas relief drops on a 9 day old infant?

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