What Can I Do About My Baby's Fussy Tummy?
Tummy troubles are a big topic around here. If you feel like your baby has a fussy tummy, you are not alone! Their bodies are new to digesting breastmilk or formula and it’s going to take time for their little digestive systems to get the hang of it! They might even make little grunting noises during the day or night while this process is happening. And that’s okay! (Listen to my podcast episode on this here!)⠀⠀⠀⠀
So, how can we help our babies be more comfortable while their body develops?⠀
3 Tips to Help With Digestion⠀
Burp. Burp. Burp. Burp. During the first few months, if my baby isn’t eating or sleeping, I’m burping them. Little bubbles get stuck all the time and the more they burp, the more comfortable they are. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Pump their legs in and out while they are laying on their back so they curl in a little ball and then release. This helps get some movement in their tummy and relieves gas and constipation.
If your baby is spitting up a lot, you can keep them propped up for at least 30 minutes after each feed. This will give their tummy time to settle before laying down. If you think they have acid reflux, see this post on acid reflux. We have lots of experience with it over here!
Constipation Causing Tummy Troubles
If you are dealing with constipation, that is a little different!
I’ll never forget the first time my baby was constipated. The poor girl was pushing so hard with no luck, and there was a lot of crying from both of us. She couldn’t get comfortable so it was also affecting her sleep.
Luckily my pediatrician helped me through it and taught me that babies’ tummies are always growing and adjusting, and constipation can be normal during these adjustment periods. He also gave me some tips and tricks that have been super helpful:
5 Tips to Relieve Constipation
Pump your baby’s legs up and down to create movement.
Give a gentle tummy massage.
Give your baby a warm bath. This helps relax the muscles and can often stimulate a bowel movement.
If given permission from your pediatrician, add 1oz of pear juice to baby’s bottle. The sugars help soften the stool, making it easier to pass.
If given permission from your pediatrician, add 1 tsp. of Miralax to baby’s bottle. This also softens the stool and is very gentle, but my pediatrician recommends pear juice first.
Again, please talk to your pediatrician and ask what they think is best for YOUR baby. These are simply some tips and tricks that have worked miracles for all four of my babies.
Hopefully at least one of these helps your baby get comfortable and back to sleeping in no time!