Finding a comfortable sleeping position for a baby can be a challenge, especially for those who suffer from gas pains. Whether your little one is dealing with colic, reflux, or just plain old excessive wind, it can make sleep difficult for everyone. Thankfully, there are a few sleeping positions that can help make your baby more comfortable and reduce their gas symptoms.
From lying flat on their back to hold your baby upright, here are the five best sleeping position for babies with gas and some helpful tips on how to get rid of baby gas fast. With these tips and positions to relieve gas in babies, you can help your baby get the restful sleep they need, while also minimizing their gas and improving their overall comfort.
What Causes Gas in Babies
Babies are prone to gas issues for many reasons, however, the main cause is due to them ingesting air while feeding. The sucking action required to breastfeed or drink from a bottle causes the baby’s diaphragm to move upwards, creating a vacuum effect and sucking air into the digestive tract. Babies are most susceptible to this when feeding from the side or lying on their back.
During the day, when your baby is awake and feeding, baby swallows excess air and burp it out, but when your baby is sleeping, all that trapped air can be painful and cause excessive gas. Additionally, sleeping on their stomach can cause your baby to make excess saliva and dribble, which can lead to a wet and uncomfortable sleep. The constant build-up of saliva can even make it difficult for your baby to feed when they’re awake.
Another common causes of gas in babies is the fact that they’re transitioning from breast milk/formula to solids. As your baby is transitioning to a diet that includes solids, they’ll start to produce different digestive enzymes and acids. This can cause gas-related discomfort , but it’s also completely normal and will go away as your baby gets older and their body fully transitions.
Another cause of gas in babies is the fact that they have an immature digestive system and a small intestine, which means that they don’t have to eat much to feel full. This can cause your baby to get too full too fast with just a small amount of food, which can lead to discomfort and gas.
How Can the Sleeping Position Help?
The sleeping position has a huge impact on your baby’s overall comfort and the amount of gas that they have. Gassy baby can have trouble falling asleep because they are uncomfortable. If they are very uncomfortable, they’ll stay awake much longer than they normally would, which can lead to a vicious sleep cycle. It’s important to watch out for signs of discomfort and do what you can to reduce your baby’s discomfort so they can fall asleep quickly.
When it comes to the sleeping position, one of the best ways to help your baby avoid gas and discomfort is to put them on their back. According to American Academy of Pediatrics, babies who are put to sleep on their backs have a reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome and are less likely to get gas and discomfort as a result of a poor sleeping position.
There are many benefits of sleeping positions for babies with gas –
- It’s easier to monitor your baby’s breathing- When your baby is on their back, it’s easy to spot if they start to experience difficulty breathing. If your baby is on their stomach, it can be difficult to tell if they are in distress, especially if they’re asleep. This is important, as it can make the difference between life and death in some cases.
- Less risk of SIDS – While there is no cure for colic, there are things you can do to minimize the symptoms. One thing that can help is to change your baby’s sleeping position. When your baby sleeps on their back, it helps reduce their risk of SIDS. This is because the position makes it harder for them to draw their legs up towards their tummy, which can create a situation where their legs become trapped and restricts the flow of oxygen to their lungs.
- Helps improve digestive issues – Along with reducing your baby’s risk of colic and other digestive issues, changing their sleeping position can also help improve their overall digestion.
- Helps reduce the risk of reflux – If your baby is sleeping on their stomach, it can help reduce their risk of reflux. This is especially important for babies who are 6 months old or younger.
5 Best sleeping position for babies with gas
As new parents, there is nothing more important than the comfort of your baby. Unfortunately, babies can suffer from gas, which can cause discomfort and make it difficult for them to sleep. Fortunately, there are some best sleeping position for gas that can help colicky baby to settle down and rest more comfortably.
It is also important to note that some babies might have a medical condition like food allergies especially milk protein allergy or may be lactose intolerance that could lead to gas-related discomfort. It is advisable to follow the diet prescribed by doctor.
On the Back or Supine position – The most common position and one of safe positions for a baby to sleep in is when you lay them on their back and baby’s head facing upward, it can help minimize the risk of SIDS. This position can also help reduce your baby’s risk of acid reflux, as it keeps their stomach acids from flowing upwards and burning their esophagus. While this position is best for babies who are under 6 months old, it’s also a great position for older babies who suffer from gas. If your baby is suffering from gas troubles and colic, you might want to try placing them on their back immediately after a feed.
On the Side – This is also a great position to help reduce your baby’s risk of reflux. While it’s not as helpful for babies who are prone to SIDS, it’s the best position for babies who have a lot of gas and reflux. The only downside to this position is that it’s harder to monitor a baby’s breathing. If your baby is sleeping on their side, it’s best to have a monitor that can pick up movement and breathing. Ideally, sleeping facing left side is a better position.
On the Stomach– While this is not recommended as a regular position for your baby to sleep in, it can be helpful for babies who have excessive gas and reflux. Sleeping on their stomach allows your baby to make extra saliva, which can help them kick the reflux for a while. The only downside to this position is that it can lead to wet and messy cribs. This is one of the best sleeping position for gas.
In a Baby Swing – The best sleeping position for a baby in a swing is on their back or their side. Swings are helpful for giving your baby a break when you need to get something done, but they can also help with gas and colic. The swinging motion can help soothe your baby and ease their symptoms. If your baby is already sleeping in a swing, don’t worry, it’s not dangerous. However, if your baby has yet to experience the benefits of sleeping in a swing, it’s best to try it in their sleeping position. A swing can be helpful for babies who have colic and excessive gas.
In a Baby Sling – If your baby is fussy and uncomfortable, they can often be calmed by wearing them in a sling. This position is one of the best positions to relieve gas in babies. The position of being held upright can help reduce your baby’s symptoms, as it can help prevent them from ingesting a lot of air. Babies who are fussy and who have colic or gas can often be calmed by wearing them on your chest or in an ergonomic baby carrier. If you’re breastfeeding, don’t worry, you can breastfeed your baby while in the carrier.
Tips to Improve Your Baby’s Comfort
As you can see, there are many benefits of sleeping positions for babies with gas. There are also a few simple tips on how to get rid of baby gas fast. These tips include –
Burping your baby often – Bottle-fed babies may need to be burped more often than those who are breastfed. While some babies are fussier than others, it can be helpful to keep track of your baby’s feedings to see if they’re taking in too much air while drinking.
Feeding your baby in an upright position: While you don’t want to feed your baby in a completely upright position, it can be helpful to have your baby sitting up a bit while breastfeeding or drinking from a bottle. This can help minimize your baby’s intake of air and help reduce their gas and colic symptoms. This is one of the best best sleeping position for babies with gas.
Using gas drops -There are many different brands of gas drops that can help soothe your baby’s digestive system. Find one that works best for your baby and use it as directed.
Making sure your baby is hydrated – Excessive gas can lead to dehydration, so it’s important to keep your baby hydrated. For best results, use filtered water when making formula or breastfeeding.
Make sure that your baby isn’t full or overfed. If your baby is gassy, there’s a good chance that they’re full or overfed. It’s a good idea to wait a little bit between feedings to make sure that your baby isn’t overfed and has a chance to digest their food.
Change your baby’s position. If your baby is gassy and they’re in a position that’s keeping them gassy, it’s a good idea to move them to different positions that are good for baby’s digestive system
Try some tummy time – Some babies are gassy because they haven’t had a chance to move around and stretch their muscles out. For fussy baby, you can put them on their tummy for a few minutes at a time to help them get some movement out. Try to add some exercises as a part of bedtime routine.
Try some over the counter medications. If your baby is really gassy, you can try some over the counter medications to help them calm down and feel more comfortable. Gripe water has been recommended over the years for colic baby. Just make sure that you’re using the right dosage for your baby’s age.
Talk to your doctor. If your baby is consistently gassy, it’s a good idea to seek medical advice to make sure that there aren’t any underlying issues.
Conclusion
The sleeping position has a huge impact on your baby’s overall comfort and the amount of gas that they have. Babies with gas can have trouble falling asleep because they are uncomfortable. When it comes to the best sleeping position for gas, one of the best ways to help your baby avoid gas and discomfort is to put them on their back. The back position is by far the best position for babies who have just started eating solids. If your baby is gassy, try out some of the tips above to help your baby feel more comfortable and fall asleep faster.
I would stay connected and keep you updated with parenting tips, pregnancy guides, creative ideas, easy crafts, and Free Printables. Subscribe to Colossalumbrella to get new ideas delivered to your inbox. Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram.
Disclaimer – This website has affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you purchase through affiliate links. However, the product recommendations are based on my genuine opinions.
4 thoughts on “5 Best Sleeping Position for Babies With Gas”
Comments are closed.