5 More Tips For Relieving Your Baby's Gas Pains

One of the most consistent issues parents face with their new babies is the discomfort that gas can cause. That is why I am revisiting this topic. For a new baby, gas is inevitable. For the first couple months the digestive system is still adapting to both processing nutrients and expelling waste. The issues that cause gas pain are related to both slow movement of waste through the bowels, and difficulty digesting. Even when your baby is only eating breast milk or formula the simple process of breaking down the nutrients can be hard on your little sugar-pop. So here are five more things you can try.

1. Warm peppermint and fennel compress.
To make a compress  wrap a some fresh peppermint and fennel with a soft piece of cotton cloth and soak in warm with water for about two minutes. After soaking, squeeze out the excess water and place the warm damp compress on your little darling's lower abdomen. To finish, wrap a cloth around your baby and the compress to make sure it won't move. Leave the compress on for about 20 minutes, re-moistening it with a bit of the same warm water that you soaked it in to begin with about every five minutes or so. The scent is calming and the herbal properties of fennel and peppermint have been used to assist in digestion for hundreds of years. Using a compress is a very good natural way to help your sweet little bubble blower absorb a bit of the herbal benefits gently, and in a way that doesn't give her tummy more new substances to digest.

2. Give a supplemental bottle of water.
One thing that your baby can ingest that does not cause gas is water. Water is not digested in the same way as other foods, and so causes no gas by itself. Also water can dilute other fluids making it harder for gas bubbles to form. Although he may not drink much, just a little bit goes a long way. Water can also stimulate the bowels to move, which is very helpful. It is important to note that you should not replace a feeding with a bottle of water, since there is no nutritional value, but a little extra water after a feeding can do wonders for a little tooter who is prone to gas trouble.

3. Swaddle with your infants legs folded.
When your infant has trouble with gas, one sign is when she pushes her legs straight out. This is an instinctual reaction to abdominal pain and is meant to help push off anything that might be pushing on her belly. However, pushing the legs out straight actually tightens your little giggler's behind muscles, which doesn't help matters move along.When your infants legs are wrapped up in a folded "criss-cross-applesauce" style in front of her, the instinctual tightening of the abdomen in response to gas pain is much more helpful. To do this type of swaddle, wrap the arms as you normally would, normally, then fold the legs up and crossed. While holding the legs with one hand bring the bottom section of the blanket up and tuck it into the front of the swaddle. It is also important to remember that all swaddling should either leave your baby's legs free to kick about or have them wrapped up near the body with the knees apart to prevent hip dysplaisia which can sometimes result from straight-leg swaddling.

4. Tummy time across your thighs.
Sometimes the gentle pressure of regular tummy time is not enough to relax your infant's abdomen. Or your little pipsqueek may just dislike regular tummy time, and the combination of the pain and the position may make the situation worse. In these cases, laying your baby across your thighs, with their head on one thigh, and their tummy on the other is a great thing to try. Not only is contact with you soothing, but as your baby lays on your lap, you can gently bounce the leg that his tummy is resting on very lightly. Let his legs hang down as you do this and softly stroke and pat his back. The combination of your warmth, the gentle pressure, and the position of the legs is often a near magical combination for producing the relief your baby needs.

5. A foot massage.
For babies that have a continuing problem of gas I like to suggest trying a reflexology massage. Reflexology is the art of stimulating areas on the feet and/or ears to affect other areas of the body. It is similar to acupressure, but the way it is applied has more room for error. The area of your baby's feet that is associated with the bowels is in the center of the bottom of the foot  between the arch and the ball of the heel. As your baby lays on her back hold her feet up and gently rub this area in a soft circular motion for a few minutes. This gas relieving reflexology method can be done a few times during the day. I like to do it just before the morning feeding, just before the later afternoon nap, and just before the bedtime feeding. The reason I do it before feedings and before sleep is because the way that reflexology works is not immediate. Reflexology is designed to treat the underlying issues (in this case movement of waste through the bowels, and efficient digestion), not to relieve the immediate symptoms.

Though there is no cure-all perfect remedy that will work for every baby, these tips have come in very handy for me over the years. Some babies are more prone to gas and gas-related pain than others, but the nice thing about babies is that they outgrow these kinds of things eventually. It is very important for you as a parent to remember to try and stay calm and gentle in these frustrating times. Keep trying new things until you find something that works, and then enjoy the silence as long as you can. The only thing as intense as a the feeling of frustration when a baby cries is the feeling of relief when they finally stop. If you have found these tips helpful, please forward them to any new or expecting parents you know. Questions and comments are always welcome. Happy parenting!

There is a NEW post from NAOMI up today (9/5/14)! Check it out HERE.

5 tips for natural teething remedies.

It happens to every new parent. You just got things settled, your baby is in a great routine, when out of the blue... teething strikes. Yikes! Teething! Whether that image brings up crying babies or painful nursing it's not a pleasant thought. Some types of discomfort that often accompany teething are: fever, diaper rash, facial rash, excessive salivation, upset stomach and, of course, tooth and gum pain.

Now there are as many treatments for the tooth and gum pain as there are stars in the sky (I didn't count, but it looked like it was ballpark). But with all of the concern about problems with plastics, chemicals and choking hazards, it is very difficult to know where to begin looking for safe and effective methods for helping your baby feel better. Here are 5 tried and tested techniques that I trust, which use no harsh chemicals and are completely natural. Today I am including some links to a few sites where you can find the products that I am talking about, these are not solicited or paid endorsements, they are simply sites that I trust to provide quality products. You might also be interested in trying my acupressure point for teething pain.

1. Sterling silver or stainless steel teething rings.

There is a reason that key-rings are the unofficial teething toy of the known universe, babies find the feel of smooth cool metal on their gums unquestionably helpful in reducing inflammation and pain. However, key-rings are full of sharp edges and germ-filled crevices that make them less than ideal for your baby's safety. Substituting a classy and safe sterling silver ring is a great option. I recommend getting at least three, and have two chilling in the refrigerator while your baby chews on one. There are many beautiful designs, some more affordable than others. I personally like the multiple-ring styles.

2. Cool food teething sticks.

Whether you use a refrigerated bagel, carrot, cucumber or celery there is one important safety consideration to keep in mind with this technique. Do not let your baby chew on these things without your supervision. Any kind of food, no matter how soothing and comfortable for your baby to use, will eventually break down, and not always into easy-to-swallow portions either. To play it safe it is a good idea to use a mesh fresh food holder. The carrot is probably the best teething food before your baby has any teeth, but after those chompers pop out, it becomes a risk for choking. I personally like the celery the best, because even when it starts to break down, the thick fibers running the length of the stalk prevent any separating chunks from being too big. I recommend using older, wilted celery (still refrigerated and cold) because it has a more rubbery texture and is less likely to break off into chunks than if it was fresh.

3. Amber bead necklaces.

It is easy to come across criticism for this time-honored natural technique from those who haven't tried it, but if you are looking for a disappointed parent who doesn't believe it is effective after having tried it, you'll have a hard time finding one. The criticism focuses on the fact that the amber beads are choking hazards if separated from the necklace, and that the necklace itself is a choking hazard simply by virtue of the fact that it encircles the baby's neck. I have a solution for these issues though, take your amber necklace or bracelet and wrap it around your baby's ankle. Put a sock on over the beads to hold them in place next to the skin, and away from your baby's mouth. If your baby is at the "taking-off-my-socks-and-sucking-on-my-toes-is-the-funnest- thing-in-the-world" stage, simply put on a pair of footy-pajamas over the socks. You can find beautiful and natural amber necklaces for yourself and your baby here: http://www.amberartisans.com/ . I recommend buying two so one can be warming up in the sun while your baby is wearing the other one. Try to always warm the amber in the sun for an hour or two before letting your baby wear it because this softens the amber and mobilizes the oils that will help sooth your baby's pain.

4. Clove oil.

This natural local anesthetic is very potent and should be used with great care. One drop thoroughly diluted in 1 tsp olive oil should last for at least 8 applications. How you apply it is to take the mixture of olive oil and clove oil and dip a cotton swab into it, then quickly and carefully rub the cotton swab over your baby's gums. The clove oil has a nasty taste to it, so a quick feeding right afterward could help clear your baby's palate. It is very important not to over-use this mixture. It should only be applied about 4-6 times a day, and the best time to use it is at bedtime. A quick application before naps and night time sleep numbs the pain just long enough for your baby to fall asleep more easily.

5. Wooden teething rings sealed with beeswax.

Natural wooden teething rings which have been finished without the use of any harsh chemicals are one of the best things for a baby to chew on. If you place a wooden ring in the refrigerator in a small dish of water, it will stay cool for longer as your baby mauls it. One added benefit of the wooden ring is that you can wear it as a bracelet, and hand it to your baby as needed so that you don't have to spend 10 minutes searching the depths of the diaper bag for it. I do think that after your baby has gotten some teeth this style of teething ring is slightly less safe. Once your baby has teeth she can scrape away at the smooth surface, dig into the wood and possibly get a splinter. If you notice any cracking or scraping, remove or replace the ring right away. The wood used in most wooden teething rings is high quality, and the potential risk is a very small one, but if there is a drawback to this method, that's the only one I could think of.

http://milagrosboutique.com/2007/11/29/non-toxic-maple-teething-ring/

No matter how you choose to help your baby get through the most painful moments of teething, they are going to want to chew on something. Hopefully these natural options can give you some ideas for what will work best for you and your little drool-factory. If you have any questions or comments don't hesitate to leave them, I'd love to hear your thoughts. And for my special Tripi's Tip of the Day check me out on everythingmom.com! Happy parenting!

5 tips for helping relieve baby's gas pains.

With every baby comes the problem of gas, and gas-related pains. For some babies these pains come only once in a great while, for others they are a regular part of their eating and sleeping routine. Gas pains can be identified by a few basic signs like squirming while asleep, sudden crying out (for no apparent reason when you know they shouldn't be hungry yet, and their diaper is clean), pushing the legs straight and stiff, and grunts which end in cries.

Some parents have had success using homeopathic gas remedies, but I have found that their effect is very small if detectable at all and much too expensive to be feasible for daily use. Also, one should be careful with gas drops because they work by consolidating all of the small bubbles in your babies tummy which encourage the gas to be expelled in one big burp rather than traveling through the digestive system. This doesn't always work as planned, if your baby does not burp after a feeding despite gas drops being used the resulting gas pains will be a lot worse than they would have been without them. Gripe water is often a better assistant, but many babies do not respond to it either. These tips and tricks are a few quick easy things you can do to help relieve your baby's discomfort from gas pains.

1. Prop your babies feet up an inch or two while they are sleeping.
This position reduces pressure on the abdomen, and as a result your baby will strain less when pushing to expel gas or gas-causing solids. Many women during pregnancy find this position comfortable for the same reason. I would recommend using something solid like part of a side-sleep support rather than a blanket because there is less of a risk that the baby could find a way to pull it over their face, or wiggle under it.

2. Gently massage around your baby's belly button in a clockwise circular motion.
This is one of the most basic forms of infant massage designed to help move gas and solids through the large intestine, which is the area it most often will get lodged in, causing pain. Other basic infant massage strokes include stroking from the base of your baby's rib cage downward to their hips and walking your fingers from left to right across your baby's tummy over and over again slowly moving from beneath the ribs to the diaper fastenings. If it is warm out, you can massage your baby while in nothing but their diaper using a light water based moisturizer like Avalon Organics Baby Lotion.

3. Place a warm towel low on the belly.
Sometimes a baby can get cramps from straining to move gas and solids through their bowels that are comparable to most menstrual cramps. Placing a warmed towel low on their tummy provides the same kind of relief that a heating pad provides for a grown woman. A warm bath can also be soothing in the same way.

4. Give your baby some tummy-time.
A little pressure on the tummy can be just the thing to help your baby push the irritation out. While your baby is laying on their tummy gentle stroking of the back from shoulder blades down to the hips can also sooth and relax your baby enough that the gas can be naturally expelled with less straining. Tummy time can be uncomfortable just after feeding, so do try to wait at least 15-20 minutes before you try this tip.

5. Play "Toes-On-Your-Nose" with your baby.
This is a home-remedy that has been passed down for generations. While your baby is laying on a comfortably padded and safe surface (like your lap), take their feet in your hands and gently stretch them up toward your baby's face. It is fun to sing or recite a little rhyme while you do this, and you might even elicit a little giggle from an older infant. When your baby is nice and relaxed, they should be able to touch their toes to their nose with very little pressure from you. Do not ever force your baby into a position that they are resisting. Also, be sensitive to their signals, and if they cry and arch away from you the game could be pinching a gas bubble or increasing their discomfort in another way. However if your baby is enjoying the game it can not only relieve gas, but be a sweet bonding-time for the two of you.

Gas pains are inevitable for babies, but for some they can make you both down-right miserable. I've recently added a few more tips for parents to try that can be read here. These tips have given me a helping time and again over the years. I hope you find them useful, please feel free to leave comments and questions or suggestions about these or any of my tips. If you find these tips helpful please do share them with your friends and family, especially those who are expecting a new baby. Thank you for reading!