5 Digestive Problems In Babies And Ways To Cope With Them I BabyChakra

Sudeshna Chakravarti

Author | 799 Articles

Digestive problems in babies are fairly common. This is because your baby’s digestive system isn’t fully mature and they react quickly to certain factors like swallowing excess air while feeding or the mother’s diet.

Despite their frequency, parents may find it challenging to identify these stomach issues, as babies may have a number of symptoms like spitting up food, lack of appetite, and constipation. These digestive problems may cause discomfort and pain in your little one, and you may also notice fussiness or unusual crying in them.

One of the ways you can help your little one is by recognising the symptoms and administering appropriate treatment measures. To make things easier, we have discussed the most common digestive problems experienced by babies, and helpful tips to soothe them. Read on to know more.

5 Common Digestive Problems In Babies

Digestive problems in babies are mostly caused due to their underdeveloped stomach and resolve as they grow older / Image credit: Freepik

Acid Reflux

Acid or gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is the involuntary passing of gastric contents into the oesphogaus or food pipe. Babies are susceptible to reflux due to their immature gastroesophageal junction, but don’t worry; this condition gets better as they grow older.

When to see the doctor?

If you notice any of the following symptoms, then immediately consult your child’s paediatrician.

If your baby is refusing to feed or has a reduced appetite.
If you hear a rattling sound in your baby’s chest and back.
If your baby has lost weight.
If your baby has trouble breathing during feeding.
If your baby’s vomit is reddish or green in colour.

What you can do?

Feed your baby in smaller amounts and feed them often to manage acid reflux. Also, hold your baby upright in your arms for at least 30 minutes after every feed. Lastly, make sure to burp your baby after feeding them.

Gas

Excess air swallowed by your baby while crying or feeding can cause gas to trap in their tummy, leading to pain and discomfort. This condition can be managed better as your baby grows older and learns to crawl or walk slowly, as these movements help pass gas easily.

When to see the doctor?

While this condition usually resolves independently, if your baby seems distressed or uncomfortable, you can consider making an appointment with their paediatrician. The doctor might suggest some helpful measures to soothe your little one’s pain quickly.

What you can do?

You can give your baby a gentle massage and apply a tummy relief roll-on to soothe their discomfort. Use BabChakra’s natural tummy relief roll-on, which is formulated with plant-based ingredients like nutmeg oil, peppermint oil, and coconut oil that reduce muscle cramps and relieve gas. Besides this, you can also try bicycling your baby’s legs to help release the gas.

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Vomiting

Hold your baby upright after feeding and burp them to prevent vomiting / Image credit: Freepik

Vomiting is characterised by the forceful expulsion of gastric contents through the mouth and nose. The most common reasons for vomiting in babies include rapid feeding, overfeeding, or swallowing excess air while feeding. You may notice your little one spit up small amounts of food during or after feeding, or when you burp them. Frequent vomiting may also indicate an underlying gastrointestinal disorder.

When to see the doctor?

In some cases, vomiting may lead to dehydration in babies. You should consult a paediatrician in the following situations.

If your baby is vomiting frequently.
If there are traces of blood in your baby’s vomit.
If vomiting is followed by inactivity or lethargy.
If your baby displays signs of distress after vomiting.

What you can do?

You can try soothing your baby by holding them upright and giving them sufficient breast milk or formula to prevent dehydration. In addition to this, try to keep your little one cool and comfortable so that extra fluid is not lost from their body due to sweating.

Diarrhoea

It is common for newborns to have loose and pasty stools, often after feeding. However, in case of diarrhoea, your little one will pass watery and loose stools for four or more times within 24 hours. Diarrhoea may deplete the essential water and salt content in your baby’s body and hence requires special attention.

When to see the doctor?

Diarrhoea may also cause severe dehydration in your baby. You should consult your little one’s doctor under the following circumstances.

If your baby has a high fever.
If your baby has a dry mouth.
If your baby isn’t urinating.
If your baby is crying but you don’t notice any tears.
If you notice mucus or blood stains in your baby’s stool.

What you can do?

Continue breastfeeding your baby to keep them hydrated. If your baby is on solids, give them easy-to-digest and bland foods like cereal, mashed bananas, and toast. Avoid giving your baby any over-the-counter medicine, and consult your doctor to know whether giving them electrolytes is safe.

Also, keep an eye out for diaper rashes, as frequent stools may irritate your baby’s bum, and lead to itchy and inflamed skin. If this happens, make sure to use BabyChakra’s natural diaper rash cream, made with moringa oil, calendula oil, and chamomile oil to heal and calm your baby’s skin and soothe the affected areas.

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Colic

This is a benign condition in babies, which is associated with inconsolable crying in an otherwise healthy infant. While the exact cause of colic remains unknown, it is often linked to digestive problems. This is because, in most cases, infants with colic stop crying after they pass gas or stool.

When to see the doctor?

If you notice any of the following symptoms, consult your baby’s paediatrician immediately.

If you are not able to soothe your crying baby.
If your baby is refusing to feed.
If your baby continues to cry in a high-pitched voice.

What you can do?

A mum’s diet might affect the symptoms of colic in babies. Hence, if you are breastfeeding, avoid consuming foods that are associated with colic in babies, such as caffeine, dairy products, and nuts. You should also avoid overfeeding, or feeding your baby rapidly.

Conclusion

Digestive problems in babies are common but don’t worry, these conditions resolve once your little one’s tummy matures fully. You can try massaging their stomach, burping them, or giving them adequate tummy time to relieve their discomfort. However, if you notice that these digestive problems occur frequently, consult your child’s doctor, as it can otherwise interfere with their healthy development and growth.