Postpartum guide with a gassy baby: practical ways to soothe your newborn and care for yourself
Welcoming a new baby is joyful—and exhausting. If your newborn seems gassy or uncomfortable, it can add stress to an already intense postpartum period. The good news: gas is very common in the first months as babies’ digestive systems mature. With a few targeted strategies, you can usually ease your baby’s discomfort and protect your own recovery and mental health along the way.
What “gassy” looks like—and what’s normal
Babies swallow air while feeding and crying. Their intestines are still learning to move milk and air efficiently, so you may see grunting, a firm belly, pulling legs up, passing gas, or brief fussy spells—especially in the late afternoon or evening. Many healthy babies have a daily fussy period in the first 6–8 weeks, peaking around week 6 and improving by 3–4 months (often called “colic” when the crying is prolonged) (Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, AAP) https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Colic.aspx
Gas by itself is rarely a sign of illness. Focus on overall well-being: steady weight gain, periods of calm alertness, wet diapers, and consolability are reassuring signs.
Red flags: when to call your pediatrician
Contact your baby’s clinician promptly if you see any of the following: fever of 100.4°F/38°C or higher (rectal) in a baby under 3 months; projectile vomiting or vomiting green (bile); blood in stool; persistent poor feeding or fewer wet diapers; extreme lethargy; a very distended, tense abdomen; inconsolable crying for hours with signs of illness; rash with illness; or if your instincts say something is not right (Source: AAP) https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Colic.aspx
Quick relief: step-by-step ways to help a gassy baby
Try these gentle, repeatable techniques. Use one or a combination, and stop if your baby resists.
1) Mid-feed and end-of-feed burping. Halfway through and at the end of each feeding, pause to burp. Three reliable positions: over the shoulder with baby’s tummy against you; sitting on your lap with one hand supporting chin and chest while you gently rub or pat the back; or lying tummy-down across your lap while you rub the back. Give it a minute; small bubbles count (Source: AAP HealthyChildren “Burping Your Baby”) https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Burping-Your-Baby.aspx
2) Bicycle legs and tummy massage. Lay baby on their back when awake. Hold ankles and gently move legs in a bicycle motion for 30–60 seconds. Then use warm hands to make gentle, clockwise circles around the belly (follow the path of the colon) for 30 seconds. Repeat a few cycles.
3) Warmth and a bath. A warm bath or placing a warm (not hot) washcloth on the abdomen can relax muscles and help gas move.
4) Tummy time. Several brief sessions daily help strengthen core muscles and may ease gas. Tummy time must be supervised and only when awake. Always place your baby on their back for sleep (Source: AAP Safe Sleep and Tummy Time) https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/Tummy-Time-is-Important.aspx and https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/a-parents-guide-to-safe-sleep.aspx
5) The calming “S’s.” Swaddle (arms snug, hips flexed), hold baby on their side or tummy only when awake and supervised, add steady shushing or white noise, and gentle swinging or rhythmic rocking, then offer a pacifier for sucking. These can reduce crying episodes and help babies settle. Always transition to back-sleeping in a safe crib or bassinet (Source: AAP crying/soothing guidance) https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Soothing-a-Crying-Baby.aspx
Feeding tweaks that make a big difference
Because most infant gas is related to swallowed air, small changes in feeding technique can help quickly.
Breastfeeding: Aim for a deep latch. Baby’s mouth should cover more of the areola below the nipple than above, with lips flanged outward and audible swallowing without clicking. If you hear frequent clicking, see milk leaking, or have nipple pain, ask for latch help from a lactation consultant (IBCLC). Try positions where baby’s head and torso are in a straight line and slightly elevated. If you have a fast letdown or very full breasts, hand express or pump 1–2 minutes before latching, and nurse in a more reclined position so baby can better manage flow. Pause to burp when baby pulls off or gets squirmy (Source: AAP and lactation best practices) https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/default.aspx
Bottle-feeding breast milk or formula: Use paced-bottle feeding to reduce air intake and overfeeding. Steps: hold baby fairly upright; hold the bottle nearly horizontal so milk fills just the nipple; touch the nipple to baby’s upper lip to encourage a wide, deep latch; let baby draw the nipple in; allow short pauses every few swallows by tipping the bottle down; switch sides halfway through. Choose a slow-flow nipple that matches your baby’s pace—milk should drip, not stream, when inverted. Pause to burp mid-feed (Source: La Leche League on paced-feeding) https://www.laleche.org.uk/paced-bottle-feeding/
Avoid overfeeding. Watch baby’s cues more than the ounces. Signs of satiety include relaxed hands, turning away, and slower sucking. For formula, follow preparation instructions exactly and do not enlarge nipple holes.
Maternal diet and formula choices: what helps—and what usually doesn’t
For breastfed babies, most maternal foods do not cause infant gas. The classic “gassy” foods (beans, broccoli, onions) don’t pass gas into milk. However, a small number of babies are sensitive to cow’s milk protein. If your baby has gas plus other signs—blood or mucus in stool, eczema, persistent fussiness, vomiting, or poor weight gain—talk to your pediatrician about a 2–4 week trial of eliminating dairy (and sometimes soy) from the maternal diet, with guidance to ensure your nutrition remains adequate. Reintroduction can help confirm whether dairy was the issue (Source: Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Protocol on Allergic Proctocolitis) https://www.bfmed.org/assets/ABM%20Protocol%2024.pdf
If you use formula and suspect cow’s milk protein allergy, your clinician may recommend a trial of an extensively hydrolyzed formula (or amino acid–based formula for more severe cases). Do not switch formulas repeatedly without guidance; give each medically indicated trial 2–3 weeks unless symptoms are severe (Source: AAFP review of infantile colic and formula trials) https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2015/1001/p577.html
What typically doesn’t help: eliminating random foods without a clear pattern; herbal “gripe water” or teas (not proven and sometimes problematic); or thickening feeds unless advised by your clinician (Source: AAFP) https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2015/1001/p577.html
What about gas drops and probiotics?
Simethicone gas drops are considered safe, but studies have not shown consistent benefit over placebo for colic. If you try them, use the labeled dose and discontinue if you see no improvement in a few days (Source: AAFP) https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2015/1001/p577.html
Probiotics may help some breastfed babies with colic. The strain most studied is Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, which has shown reduced crying in several trials of breastfed infants, but not consistently in formula-fed babies. If you are considering probiotics, discuss brand, strain, and dosing with your pediatrician, and reassess after 2–3 weeks (Sources: Cochrane Review summary via AAFP; AAFP) https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2019/0801/p175.html and https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2015/1001/p577.html
Could it be reflux?
Spitting up is very common and usually harmless (“physiologic reflux”). If your baby is otherwise comfortable and growing well, reassurance and feeding-position tweaks are enough. True gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) involves poor weight gain, persistent distress with feeds, or breathing problems, and needs medical assessment. Avoid placing your baby to sleep on an incline; it is not safe and does not reduce reflux (Source: AAP) https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/GERD-Reflux.aspx and https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/a-parents-guide-to-safe-sleep.aspx
Track patterns to gain confidence
For 3–5 days, jot down feeds (time, breast/bottle, approximate amounts), burping attempts, diapers, and fussy periods. Patterns often emerge: a very fast milk letdown, a need for more mid-feed burping, or a daily “witching hour.” Small, targeted adjustments based on this diary can make a big difference.
Postpartum care: your recovery matters, too
Supporting your healing will make soothing your baby easier. Aim for: hydration and easy, frequent snacks; daytime rest when possible; gentle movement like short walks; pelvic floor and core awareness with slow, pain-free progressions; and wound care per your birth (perineal care or incision care). Call your clinician urgently for heavy vaginal bleeding (soaking a pad in an hour), large clots, fever, severe headache, chest pain or shortness of breath, calf pain or swelling, wound redness or drainage, or signs of mastitis (fever, breast redness, severe pain) (Source: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ACOG) https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/postpartum-recovery
Protect your mental health
It is common to feel weepy and overwhelmed in the first 1–2 weeks (“baby blues”). If sadness, anxiety, irritability, or intrusive thoughts persist beyond two weeks, or you struggle to sleep when you have the chance, to eat, or to connect with your baby, you may have postpartum depression or anxiety—both very treatable. Talk to your obstetric or primary care clinician, and reach out to supports. In an emergency or if you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately (Source: CDC on depression after pregnancy; ACOG) https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/depression/index.htm and https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/postpartum-depression
A calm, repeatable routine you can try today
Morning: After the first feed, do 3 minutes of supervised tummy time and a short bicycle-leg session. Keep baby upright on your chest for 10–15 minutes after feeds before laying down on their back to sleep.
Midday: For bottle feeds, practice paced-bottle steps and burp mid-feed and at the end. If breastfeeding, pause to burp when baby slows or squirms, and adjust positions to manage milk flow.
Late afternoon (common fussy time): Swaddle, dim lights, use white noise, and do a slow sway or walk while offering a pacifier. Try the tummy-down hold across your forearm (for soothing while awake), then transition to safe sleep on the back once settled.
Evening: Warm bath, abdominal massage, more bicycling legs. Hand off to a partner for 30–60 minutes so you can shower, nap, or eat.
Build your support team
Ask your pediatrician for a lactation referral if latch or feeding flow seems to trigger gas. Consider a postpartum doula or a trusted family member for a few hours of help. Set up a simple rotating list for meals or chores. Your job is recovery and bonding; everything else can be simplified.
Encouragement for the road ahead
Gassiness and evening fussiness peak in the first weeks and steadily improve as your baby’s digestion and nervous system mature. By leaning on soothing routines, small feeding adjustments, and your support network—and by caring for your own body and mind—you are building calm and confidence day by day. If something isn’t improving or doesn’t feel right, your clinicians are there to help. You and your baby are a team, and you’re doing more beautifully than you think.
Sources
American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org). Colic: What It Is, How to Cope. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Colic.aspx
American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org). Burping Your Baby. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Burping-Your-Baby.aspx
American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org). Soothing a Crying Baby. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Soothing-a-Crying-Baby.aspx
American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org). Tummy Time. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/Tummy-Time-is-Important.aspx
American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org). A Parent’s Guide to Safe Sleep. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/a-parents-guide-to-safe-sleep.aspx
American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org). Reflux (GER and GERD) in Infants. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/GERD-Reflux.aspx
American Academy of Family Physicians. Infantile Colic: Recognition and Treatment (2015). https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2015/1001/p577.html
American Academy of Family Physicians. Probiotics for Infantile Colic (2019). https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2019/0801/p175.html
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. Clinical Protocol #24: Allergic Proctocolitis in the Exclusively Breastfed Infant. https://www.bfmed.org/assets/ABM%20Protocol%2024.pdf
La Leche League GB. Paced Bottle Feeding. https://www.laleche.org.uk/paced-bottle-feeding/
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Postpartum Recovery. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/postpartum-recovery
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Depression After Pregnancy. https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/depression/index.htm