A variety of reasons can cause your infant to develop gas. Symptoms that she might have gas include crying, a swollen abdomen and her stomach may feel hard when you touch it. If she develops gas often, it could be caused by her bottles or feeding method, especially if she's inhaling a lot of air while feeding. Certain yoga positions and infant exercise techniques can help alleviate some of the gas symptoms she's experiencing.
Knee Lifts
Place your infant on his back on a firm surface. You can use his changing table, the floor, a table or counter top; never leave him unattended if you place him on a table, counter top or changing table. Once he's lying flat on his back, grab him by the ankles and slowly lift his knees to his chest, then bring them back down to a normal position. Lifting his knees to his chest while he's lying on his back helps by applying a small amount of pressure to his tummy. His knees lifted toward his chest allows him to pass gas easier, according to the "Yoga Journal." Repeat the knee lift exercises as often as needed to help relieve gas.
Clockwise Circles
Begin clockwise circles with your baby by placing her on her back, using a firm surface. Once she's in position, grab her knees and raise them to her abdomen. When her legs are bent and her knees are on top of her abdomen --- this should resemble a fetal position --- move both of her knees in a clockwise circle. The pressure of her knees pressing against her abdomen will help move some of the air bubbles down that are trapped in her stomach. The rocking clockwise circle motions will help push the gas out. You can vary the size of the circles to experiment which works best to relieve her gas. Ensure throughout the entire exercise that you have a firm grip on her, especially if she's on a counter top or changing table so that she doesn't accidentally fall off.
Bicycle Legs
He may not be quite old enough to ride a bike, but moving his legs in the same manner can help relieve gas, according to the "Yoga Journal." Place him on his back, draw his knees up and begin to push and pull at alternate legs to mimic a bicycling motion. This technique will help push air bubbles out of his tummy and help force gas out to provide relief. You can vary the speed of how fast he's bicycling, which may especially help if he has a lot of gas, but don't let him peddle too fast. Making his legs bicycle too fast could cause injury as infants have very soft bones.
