Your baby's painful gas and stomach cramping could have any number of causes. But one of the most common culprits is food or formula. Figuring out exactly what it is and what to do about it can be a frustrating job. Enlist the help of your pediatrician to help you as you try to determine the problem food or foods and what you can do about your baby's indigestion or gas.
Formula
A common problem for infants is an allergy to cow's milk in formula. Symptoms can include hives, vomiting, eczema, stomach pain, diaper rash that won't go away and spitting up. Consult your pediatrician before you change your baby's formula. If your baby is lactose intolerant, which is characterized by a problem with breaking down lactose in milk, a switch to soy formula may be in order. However, if your baby is truly allergic to milk, she may also be allergic to soy-based formulas.
Breastmilk
It is unlikely that your infant's stomach troubles are caused by your breast milk, but he may be sensitive to a specific food or foods that you are eating. What you eat, your baby gets in your breast milk. MedLine Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, suggests trying to eliminate chocolate and caffeine from your diet. If that doesn't improve your baby's condition, eliminate dairy and nuts, because these are foods that often bother babies when transmitted through breast milk. Some cruciferous vegetables like broccoli can also cause problems for sensitive babies, as can peppers and spicy foods.
Baby Foods
While baby foods are deliberately designed to avoid nuts, dairy and other common allergens, your baby will start to eat table foods when she gets older. Some of these foods may be allergens. To minimize any problems, introduce one food at a time and give yourself a few days to spot any reaction before introducing another food. It also may be helpful to keep a food log.
When to Consult Your Pediatrician
Even as you try to address the problem yourself, consult your pediatrician. Your pediatrician can conduct tests if necessary to try to determine a cause of your infant's pain. This can confirm if it's something's she's eating or something else. A baby's stomach pain may be unrelated to diet. She may be constipated or have an intestinal illness. These conditions can also be treated, which should give your baby some relief.
