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Home Remedies for Trapped Wind in Babies

Mary Smith
By Mary Smith. Updated: January 21, 2017
Home Remedies for Trapped Wind in Babies

Have you ever heard of colic? Did you know that trapped wind can cause convulsions and colic? Colic consists of painful abdominal contractions suffered by babies for about 12 weeks after they're born. They mainly have difficulty expelling wind, along with a difficulty in passing stools. It's normal for babies to have wind, as 70-80% of babies suffer from trapped wind and bloating. However, wind, bloating and/or colic can be very unpleasant for your child, so you can use home remedies to soothe your baby. At OneHowTo we give you some home remedies for trapped wind in babies.

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Contents

  1. Application of heat
  2. Abdominal massage
  3. Infusion of medicinal herbs

Application of heat

One way of relieving your baby from wind and bloating is by applying heat as it will stimulate their metabolism. It is very important to control the temperature, as babies have very sensitive skin. If you apply too much heat, it could burn their skin. Here follows a couple of home remedies through the application of heat:

You can provide dry heat to your baby by using a hot-water bottle. You need to fill the bottle with hot water (about 40°) and put it in a fabric bag. Using a sleeve is important as you should never apply a plastic bottle directly, as you could burn your baby. Then place it on their belly. The heat relieves wind and stomach cramps generated by them.

You can also relieve trapped wind in babies by giving them a bath. Sit-down baths are recommended four weeks' after your little one is born and they can even last 20 minutes. They don't need a full bath for it to be beneficial. If you want to relieve your baby's symptoms with a sit-down bath, you should follow these guidelines:

  • Prepare 2 litres of water with chamomile tea.
  • Simmer it for 10 minutes over low heat.
  • Add the mixture to the bath prepared for your baby.
  • Make sure the water is no more than 37 degrees as you could burn them otherwise.
  • Try to cover a good part of their body with water so that they don't get cold while bathing.
Home Remedies for Trapped Wind in Babies - Application of heat
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Abdominal massage

A different way of relieving wind is by giving your baby a soft abdominal massage on their tummy in a circular motion. A massage will relax them and improve their general wellbeing. Studies confirm that massages help babies neurologically and physiologically, so if you want to give them a good massage to counteract wind, you need to:

  • Massage them with one hand.
  • Perform a slow, large circular motion around the navel.
  • Don't press too hard, do it gently.
  • It is important to rotate clockwise. That way, you follow the movement of the stomach to the intestines.
  • The massage should last between 10-20 minutes.
  • You can accompany it with some natural oil to make the massage softer.

In this article, you'll find other methods for relieving wind in babies.

Home Remedies for Trapped Wind in Babies - Abdominal massage

Infusion of medicinal herbs

Infusions of certain medicinal herbs can act as another remedy for wind in babies. You need to be aware that when your baby has wind, this can cause additional discomfort which also must be addressed.

Chamomile is ideal for wind, fennel has anti-inflammatory effects, aniseed acts as a digestive and caraway has an antispasmodic effect. Preparing a tea with these herbs will greatly relieve your little one's wind. You can even make an infusion by mixing different ones together. It is very important to check the temperature before giving your baby an infusion and, above all, consult a paediatrician.

Home Remedies for Trapped Wind in Babies - Infusion of medicinal herbs

If you want to read similar articles to Home Remedies for Trapped Wind in Babies, we recommend you visit our Being a Mom & Dad category.

Tips
  • Consult your paediatrician if you have any question about your baby's health.

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Home Remedies for Trapped Wind in Babies