A gassy, uncomfortable baby is one of the most stressful aspects of newborn parenting. Most gas and reflux is manageable with the right feeding techniques — without medication.
Understanding the Root Causes
Gas in babies comes from two sources: swallowed air during feeding, and gas produced in the gut when bacteria ferment undigested carbohydrates. Most newborn gas is from air swallowing. The lower oesophageal sphincter immaturity causes reflux — milk flows back up from the stomach into the oesophagus.
Breastfeeding Tips for Gas and Reflux
- Ensure a deep latch — lips flanged outward, not sucking on nipple tip
- Try a more upright nursing position — reclined nursing (laid-back breastfeeding) reduces air intake
- Let the baby drain one breast fully before switching — hindmilk is higher in fat and digests slower
- Burp after each side — or even mid-feed if the baby seems gassy
- If oversupply causes forceful letdown, express a little before latching to reduce the initial flow
Bottle Feeding Tips
- Use a slow-flow teat that matches your baby's age — 0-3 month teats for newborns
- Tilt the bottle at 45 degrees so the teat is always full of milk, not air
- Try paced bottle feeding — hold baby upright, pause every 20–30 sucks
- Anti-colic bottles (with venting systems) reduce air intake
- Warm milk to body temperature — cold milk can increase gut cramping
Burping Positions
| Position | How to Do It | Good For |
|---|---|---|
| Upright on shoulder | Baby's chin on your shoulder, pat back gently | General gas |
| Sitting upright | Baby sits on your lap, lean slightly forward, support chin | Heavy spitters |
| Face-down on lap | Baby lies on their tummy across your knees | Trapped wind, colic |
Post-Feed Positioning for Reflux
Keep your baby upright for 20–30 minutes after every feed. This allows gravity to help keep milk in the stomach. Do not put baby immediately flat — especially face-up in a bouncer at a shallow recline, which increases reflux pressure.
When to seek help
If your baby is not gaining weight, screams during feeds, has blood in their vomit, or chokes frequently, see your paediatrician. GORD (reflux disease) does exist in infants and may need treatment.