Newborn Gas Relief: A Pediatrician's Guide to Soothing a Gassy Baby

Last medically reviewed: July 2026

You can relieve most newborn gas with a few simple steps: burp your baby during and after feeds, try gentle bicycle legs, offer supervised tummy time, and hold your baby upright after each feeding. Slowing feeds to cut down on swallowed air helps too. Newborn gas is normal. It can be uncomfortable, but it is not dangerous, and it gets easier as your baby grows.

In our telehealth visits with newborn families, gas is one of the most common worries parents message us about in the first weeks. The good news is that a few small changes almost always help. Below, we walk through what actually works, what the evidence says about gas drops and gripe water, and the red flags that mean it is time to call the doctor.

Why Do Newborns Get So Gassy?

Newborns are gassy mostly because they swallow air during feeding and crying, and they are still learning to move that gas through and pass it. It is normal, nearly universal, and not a sign that something is wrong.

Every time your baby eats, cries, or sucks on a pacifier, they take in a little air along the way. A baby who is feeding frantically or crying hard swallows even more. All of us make and pass gas, even the littlest babies, so a gassy newborn is usually just a baby being a baby. A still-developing digestive system may play a role too, but swallowed air is the main source in these early weeks.

Babies also tend to be fussiest early on. General fussing and crying often peak around 6 weeks and ease up a lot by 3 to 4 months. This crying curve is not the same as a "gas timeline," but as your baby matures, they do get better at handling gas.

Is It Gas or Colic? How to Tell the Difference

Gas and colic are not the same thing. Gas is trapped air you can often help move. Colic is a pattern of long, hard-to-soothe crying that is not explained by hunger, a dirty diaper, or gas.

Doctors describe colic with the "rule of 3s": crying for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for 3 or more weeks, in a healthy, well-fed baby. The cause of colic is not fully understood, and gas has not been shown to drive it. So if your baby cries for hours no matter what you try, gas relief may not be the answer. Read our colic guide for help with that pattern.

How to Relieve Gas in a Newborn: Techniques That Actually Help

The best ways to relieve newborn gas are gentle, low-risk moves you can do at home: burping, bicycle legs, supervised tummy time, belly massage, and holding your baby upright after feeds. Think of these as supportive measures that help move gas along, not guaranteed fixes.

Most of these tips have not been proven in large studies, but they are safe to try and many parents find them helpful. Here is how to do each one.

Burp During and After Every Feeding

Burping helps release swallowed air before it travels down into the belly. Burp your baby partway through a feed and again at the end. For bottle feeds, pause every 2 to 3 ounces. For nursing, burp when you switch sides.

Hold your baby upright against your chest, support the head and neck, and gently pat or rub the back. Burping is good feeding habit and can reduce swallowed air. It will not stop all fussing, and some babies spit up a bit more after burping, which is normal.

Bicycle Legs

Lay your baby on their back and gently move their legs in a slow bicycling motion. You can also press their knees up toward the belly for a few seconds, then release. This can help move trapped gas along.

Bicycle legs is a favorite tip at children's hospitals like CHOP. It is not a formal AAP recommendation and has not been tested in studies, but it is gentle and low-risk. Stop if your baby seems uncomfortable.

Tummy Time

Short periods of supervised tummy time put gentle pressure on the belly, which some parents find helps with gas. Place your awake baby on their stomach on a firm, flat surface for a few minutes while you stay right there watching.

Tummy time is firmly recommended by the AAP, mainly to build neck and shoulder strength. The gas benefit is a bonus that some hospitals suggest, not a proven effect.

Belly Massage (the "I Love You" Technique)

A gentle belly massage may help some babies pass gas and settle. Using light pressure, stroke your baby's belly in a clockwise direction. Many parents use the "I Love You" (ILU) massage: trace an "I," then an upside-down "L," then an upside-down "U" across the belly.

Massage is the least studied of these tips, and the evidence is weak. Still, it is gentle and many babies enjoy the calm, close contact, so it is a fine, low-risk option to try.

Hold Baby Upright After Feeds

Holding your baby upright for about 20 to 30 minutes after each feed uses gravity to help air rise and escape as a burp. It can also cut down on spit-up. This is one of the few tips the AAP clearly supports.

Keep this to awake, supervised holding only. Do not use a car seat, swing, wedge, or inclined sleeper to prop your baby up for sleep. When it is time to sleep, always place your baby on their back on a firm, flat surface.

Feeding Changes That Reduce Swallowed Air

The best lever against gas is cutting down on swallowed air during feeds. A deep latch, a calm and upright feeding position, a slow-flow nipple kept full of milk, and frequent burping all help your baby take in less air.

Here are simple feeding changes to try:

• Check the latch (breastfeeding). Aim for a deep latch with your baby's lips flared out like a fish. Clicking sounds or dimpled cheeks can mean your baby is pulling in air. A good latch can mean less swallowed air.
• Feed before your baby is frantic. A calm, hungry baby swallows less air than a baby who is crying hard for a feed.
• Keep bottle feeds upright and paced. Hold your baby fairly upright and let them take breaks. Keep the bottle angled so the nipple stays full of milk, not half air.
• Use a slow-flow nipple. A slower flow lets your baby feed at a comfortable pace and gulp less air.
• Consider a vented bottle, but keep expectations low. Some parents find vented or "anti-colic" bottles help. In studies, though, they have not been shown to reduce colic. There is no single brand to recommend.

Do Gas Drops and Gripe Water Work?

This is where honesty matters most, because gas drops and gripe water are very different in safety and in how well they work. The short version: gas drops are safe but probably not very helpful, and gripe water carries real safety concerns on top of thin evidence.

Gas drops (simethicone, the ingredient in brands like Mylicon) are FDA-regulated and considered safe. They are not absorbed into your baby's body. But careful studies have not shown they work better than a placebo for gas or colic.

We can't find definitive evidence to show that the effort and expense of infant gas drops pay off.

American Academy of Pediatrics

Gripe water is a different story. It is sold as a supplement, not a medicine, so it does not go through the same FDA review, and its ingredients vary from brand to brand.

Why Is My Baby Gassier at Night?

Many babies do seem gassier and fussier in the evening. A few things tend to pile up at night: babies often cluster feed, they cry more (which means more swallowed air), and lying down makes trapped gas easier to notice.

This is a normal pattern, not a warning sign. To help your baby settle before sleep, add an extra burp after the last feed, hold your baby upright for a little while, and try some slow bicycle legs before bed. These are the same gentle steps that help during the day.

When Gas Signals Something More: Red Flags to Call the Doctor

Ordinary gas is uncomfortable but not dangerous. Certain symptoms, though, point to something beyond simple gas and need a doctor's attention. Trust your gut: if your baby seems truly sick, get help.

Get care right away if your baby has any of these:

• Forceful or projectile vomiting, or vomit that is bright green. This can signal a blockage in the intestines and needs emergency care.
• Blood or mucus in the stool. Any blood in the stool should be checked. A jelly-like stool with blood and mucus, along with sudden, severe bouts of crying, can be a sign of a bowel emergency called intussusception. Go to the emergency room right away.
• A hard, swollen, tense belly that is painful to touch. This can be a sign of a blockage, especially with green vomit or no stools.

Call or see your pediatrician (not always an emergency) if your baby has:

• Poor weight gain, faltering weight, or trouble feeding or refusing to feed
• Crying you truly cannot soothe, no matter what you try
• Signs of dehydration, such as far fewer wet diapers, no tears when crying, a sunken soft spot, or unusual sleepiness

It also helps to know what is normal. A healthy baby's belly is soft and rounded, and it can look fuller after a feed. The red flag is a belly that is hard, tight, clearly swollen, and painful, especially alongside green vomit, no stool, or a very sleepy baby.

How Blueberry Pediatrics Can Help

Newborn gas is one of those worries that feels much bigger at 2 a.m. than it does in daylight. Blueberry Pediatrics gives you around-the-clock access to pediatricians by message, phone, and video, so you can get a real answer fast instead of guessing.

We sell no gas drops and no bottles, so our only goal is helping your baby feel better. If you are not sure whether it is gas, colic, reflux, or something that needs an in-person visit, we can help you sort it out and tell you exactly what to do next.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I relieve gas in a newborn fast?

Burp your baby during and after feeds, try gentle bicycle legs, offer a few minutes of supervised tummy time, give a light clockwise belly massage, and hold your baby upright after feeding. These are low-risk steps that help move gas along.

What are the best positions to help a baby pass gas?

Holding your baby upright after feeds is one of the best positions, since gravity helps air rise. Supervised tummy time and gentle bicycle legs on the back can help too.

Why is my newborn so gassy at night?

Evenings bring cluster feeding, more crying (which means more swallowed air), and more time lying flat. That combination makes trapped gas easier to notice. Extra burping and an upright hold after the last feed can help.

Is my baby gassy or colicky? What is the difference?

Gas is trapped air you can often help move with simple steps. Colic is a pattern of long, hard-to-soothe crying (more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for 3 or more weeks) in a healthy baby. Gas has not been shown to cause colic.

Do gas drops (simethicone or Mylicon) actually work?

They are considered safe and are not absorbed into your baby's body, but careful studies have not shown they work better than a placebo. It is reasonable to try them and stop if you do not see a clear difference.

Is gripe water safe, and does it work?

Gripe water is an unregulated supplement, its ingredients vary, and the evidence that it works is thin. Some products have had real safety problems, including alcohol and a past contamination recall. Ask your pediatrician before trying it.

How do I stop my baby from swallowing air during feeding?

Aim for a deep latch when breastfeeding, feed before your baby is frantic, keep bottle feeds upright and paced, use a slow-flow nipple, keep the bottle angled so the nipple stays full of milk, and burp often.

When does newborn gas peak and get better?

There is no exact "gas timeline." Babies are often fussiest in the early weeks, with crying that tends to peak around 6 weeks and ease by 3 to 4 months. As your baby grows, they get better at moving gas through.

When should I call the doctor about my baby's gas?

Call right away for forceful or green vomiting, blood or mucus in the stool, or a hard, painful belly. A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby under 3 months is an emergency and needs in-person care. Also call for poor weight gain, feeding trouble, or crying you cannot soothe.

Can breastfeeding or formula cause more gas?

There is no good evidence that one feeding method causes more gas than the other. In breastfed babies, certain foods in a parent's diet may bother some babies, but this is hard to pin down and food is not the only cause of gas.

Sources

• American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. Gas Relief for Babies.
• American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. Colic Relief Tips for Parents.
• American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. Baby Burping, Hiccups & Spit-Up.
• American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. Fever and Your Baby.
• U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed. Simethicone (Infants' Gas Relief Drops) label.
• Metcalf TJ, et al. Simethicone in the Treatment of Infant Colic: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Trial. Pediatrics. 1994;94(1):29-34.
• National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls. Simethicone.
• National Institutes of Health, PMC. Is Gripe Water Baby-Friendly?.
• U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus. Intussusception.
• Cleveland Clinic. Gripe Water for Babies.
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. How to Help a Newborn With Gas.