Gas Pains How to Burst the Bubbles

How to Burst the Bubbles

Babies get it, toddlers get it, school-age kids and teenagers get it. And so do parents. Having gas is part of the human condition. You could call it a great equalizer.

Gas can be caused by swallowed air, gas-producing foods or certain disorders that interfere with the body's ability to absorb food. Whatever its source, air in the gastrointestinal tract must come out--either through burping or by passing gas.

All babies are somewhat gassy, since they tend to suck in air as they breastfeed or drink from a bottle. ''Some babies handle gas without a problem. But others, who may have an immature or spastic gastrointestinal tract, feel uncomfortable as they digest their food,'' notes Michael J. Pettei, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of pediatrics at Albert Einstein School of Medicine of Yeshiva University in New York City, and co-chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition at Schneider Children's Hospital of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, New York.

''A baby should soon grow out of the problem on his own, but during the first few months of life, he may be very uncomfortable. He may draw up his legs and cry inconsolably whenever he feels the gas pain,'' Dr. Pettei says. ''Some people call this condition colic--though not all 'colicky' babies have gastrointestinal problems.''

On occasion, older kids may have gas-related stomach pain that lasts for a couple of minutes. If the pain persists or is prolonged, you should consult your pediatrician, says Abraham Jelin, M.D., assistant chairman of the Department of Pediatrics and director of pediatric gastroenterology at Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York City.

Infants and older children may get relief with some of the following gasreducing tips.

For Infants

Try a different bottle. There are many different baby bottle designs, and there are also different sizes and shapes of nipples. If gas is a problem, try switching bottles, nipples or both. ''Some kids may swallow less air when they drink from the combination of nipple and bottle that's right for them. So experiment with a few different varieties,'' suggests Dr. Pettei.

Feed at a 45-degree angle. Babies should be held semi-upright, at a 45-degree angle, when being fed, says Dr. Jelin. '' Your baby still swallows air in this position, but the air that is swallowed forms an air bubble at the top of the stomach,'' he explains. The advantage to this is twofold: You'll have an easier time burping your baby, and there's less likelihood air will get past the stomach to the intestinal tract where it will cause more discomfort, Dr. Jelin says.

Burp baby in a vertical position. Dr. Jelin recommends that you burp your baby by holding her in an upright position. Lift her so her belly rests against your chest with her head on your shoulder. In that position, gas stays above the liquid in the stomach and is easily burped out. ''Avoid burping your baby in a horizontal position such as across your knees,'' says Dr. Jelin, ''since that makes it easier for gas to pass from the stomach to the small intestine.''

Take a burp break. A baby who is troubled by gas often benefits from being burped halfway through a feeding, says Dr. Pettei. When your baby takes a pause from the bottle or breast, lift her gently to the upright position and see if she'll burp.

Don't feed too much. Encouraging your baby to eat more than he wants can make gas problems worse. ''Let the baby determine how much he wants to eat,'' Dr. Pettei advises, ''since overfeeding will only make him more uncomfortable.''

For Older Children

Slow down the pace at the table. Older kids may have gas pain if they race through their meal and swallow a lot of air, says Eileen Behan, R.D., a registered dietitian and consultant at Sea Coast Family Practice in Exeter, New Hampshire, and author of Microwave Cooking for Your Baby and Child. ''Check out your own eating speed, too,'' suggests Behan. '' Your child may have learned his wolfish mode of eating from you. In that case, it will do everyone good if you deliberately try to slow down and enjoy the meal.''

Scrutinize the veggies. Certain foods are high in complex carbohydrates that are not completely digested in the small bowel. These tend to produce gas. ''Cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage and broccoli are regarded as common offenders because they do cause some people to have a lot of gas,'' Behan says.

''If one or all of these vegetables are gas-pain triggers for your child, he'll start to feel discomfort about two to four hours after eating,'' she says. Using this guideline, you and your child may be able to pinpoint the troublemaker, and cut back on portion size. ''These vegetables are really very nutritious and good for you. So if your child enjoys them, try to cut back rather than cut them out,'' she suggests.

Soak the beans. To reduce gassiness from dried beans, soak them for several hours in a few changes of water before cooking, advises Behan. ''Soaking and rinsing beans does not detract from their protein content,'' she adds.

Drop in with relief. A few drops of an enzyme product called Beano sprinkled on beans just before eating may also help prevent gas, suggests Behan. Beano is available at health food stores and pharmacies.

Avoid sorbitol. Sorbitol, an artificial sweetener found in many sugar-free foods, including some chewing gums and mints, can cause a lot of distension and gas, says Dr. Jelin. If gas pain is a problem for your child, try eliminating foods made with sorbitol from his diet.

Guard against air gulping. ''Anything that causes a child to swallow air may contribute to gas,'' Dr. Jelin says. So your child may need to cut back on chewing gum, sucking on hard candies and drinking carbonated beverages (especially through a straw).

Check out the dairy connection. In older children, gas may also be caused by lactose intolerance, says Dr. Pettei. Children with this condition don't produce enough lactase, the enzyme needed to digest milk sugar ( lactose).

If you think you've spotted a connection between dairy food and your child's symptoms, see your doctor. Lactose intolerance can be diagnosed with a simple breath test. If it's found to be the cause of your child's gas pain, your doctor may recommend limiting dairy products, taking supplemental enzymes or drinking a special kind of milk that contains lactase.