When your baby has gas pain, it’s normal to want to help them so they don’t continue to feel uncomfortable. However, it’s important to be careful about what you give your baby for pain relief and how much you offer them.
Can babies overdose on gas drops? It is not likely that your baby will overdose on gas drops. The active ingredients are generally safe, though taking too much can cause unpleasant side effects. It’s important to follow the guidelines on any medication you give your child to ensure the best result.
It’s important to know what ingredients baby gas drops contain and when they aren’t effectively helping your child.
Baby Gas Drops Safety, Dosage & Active Ingredient
Gas drops are a safe option when your baby has pain related to digestive issues. Gas drops can offer fast relief that will calm your little one.
Are Gas Drops for Newborns Safe?
Gas drops that say they work for newborns should be safe for them to take. Gas is an especially big issue in the early weeks of your child’s life, so gas drops are made with this in mind.
The ingredients used should help your child be more comfortable without any negative side effects.
Baby Gas Drops Side Effects
Though side effects are rare, your baby can experience loose stool when using gas drops. If your child has a major allergic reaction that leads to breathing problems, swollen lips, or a rash, get medical help, though this is very unlikely to happen.
Baby Gas Drops Active Ingredient
The active ingredient in baby gas drops is simethicone. Considered an anti-foaming agent, it helps break up gas bubbles that keep your child in pain.
Baby Gas Drops Dosage
Your doctor may give you specific directions on how often to use gas drops for your child. However, if you are simply using them on your own, you should follow the dosage directions that come with the drops.
Most recommend not using more than 12 doses in a 24-hour period. Use the cup or dropper provided to measure the correct dose each time you need to use the drops.
Perhaps keep a pen and paper beside the drops so that you can record exactly when you dosed your baby and avoid accidentally giving too much.
Simethicone Overdose
Simethicone overdose is not likely, but if your baby does get too much, you may notice a few things. Diarrhea and more tummy trouble may occur. Your child may also have a headache that makes him extra fussy.
Simethicone does not absorb into the bloodstream, so the effects of ingesting too much are likely to just affect the digestive tract and result in nothing more serious like full-body symptoms.
If you know your child has taken too much simethicone, contact your doctor or poison control.
What To Do in Case of Overdose
Calling poison control in the case of an overdose is recommended. Though simethicone won’t usually cause problems, you can call for support to give you peace of mind and ensure your child is okay.
When Should I Give My Baby Gas Drops?
When you notice your child is having gas pain, you can give him gas drops. Some parents even offer gas drops to their baby before a feeding to try to alleviate problems before they start.
However, many parents wait until after a feeding. This helps them know for sure their child has gas so they don’t give them drops unnecessarily.
Do You Give Gas Drops Before or After Feeding?
You can give gas drops before or after feeding unless your doctor has given you specific instructions on when they should be given.
Do Baby Gas Drops Work Instantly?
Gas drops work within minutes in most cases, so your baby won’t have to suffer through gas pain for long.
Signs of Gas Pains in Babies
When your child is upset and you don’t know why, gas pain may be the culprit. Look for these common signs of gas pain.
- Knees pulled to chest
- Baby is inconsolable and may cry until his face is red
- Squirming
- Resists eating
- Has trouble sleeping
Baby Screaming in Pain From Gas
Gas pain is hard for babies to manage, and they can’t tell you what is going on so they tend to simply scream. Gas-pain screams sound like painful screams because they tend to be acute and excessive.
Your baby will likely turn red from all the screaming, and he will squirm so you won’t know whether to hold him or put him down.
The screaming and crying can actually make your child’s gas pain worse because it causes a baby to suck in air. This can cause gas or exacerbate the situation.
Positions To Relieve Gas in Babies
Certain positions are better for relieving your child’s gas pain than other positions. Try the following if your baby is struggling with gas pain.
- Keep your baby’s head above his stomach during and after feedings. This may relieve gas pain or keep it from developing in the first place.
- Put your baby on his back and push his knees to his chest. Try moving your child’s legs in a bicycle motion to further move gas.
- Hold your baby on your arm facing down. Make sure you are holding him securely and gently pat the baby’s back.
- While your baby may not love tummy time at first, it is a good position for moving gas. Put your child on the floor on his tummy and supervise him. Let him kick his legs and work his muscles for a bit to see if it helps relieve his pain.
How To Get Rid of Baby Gas Fast
There are many ways you can help your baby get rid of gas pain quickly.
- Push your baby’s knees to his chest or move them in a bicycle motion to move gas.
- Burp your baby.
- Put your baby on his tummy so he can move his legs and tighten and release his stomach muscles.
- Massage your baby’s belly.
- Try swaddling your baby to see if it helps him calm down.
Breastfed Baby Gas Relief
Whether your baby is breastfed or formula-fed, most gas-relief techniques are the same. A couple that apply to breastfed babies that might not apply to formula-fed babies include:
- Track your meals to see if your child is reacting to something being passed through your milk.
- Make sure your child’s latch is secure so he’s not taking in excess air while feeding.
- Burp your baby after every feeding.
- Make sure your milk letdown is not too overwhelming for your baby to handle
Gripe Water vs. Gas Drops
While gas drops contain ingredients meant to help eliminate gas bubbles, gripe water has ingredients meant for tummy soothing that are completely different.
Water, herbs, dill seed oil, and sodium bicarbonate are in gripe water, and these are supposed to help calm an inconsolable child by offering relief from stomach pain.
You can choose either option for a baby with gas, but know that gripe water has side effects if too much is consumed. Alkalosis, a condition that affects a child’s blood, can occur if too much gripe water is given.
How To Prevent Baby Gas
Babies will get gas in those early months of life, but there are a few things you can do to help lessen the severity.
First of all, try to keep your baby from crying excessively. I know, it’s harder than it sounds, but preventing long crying episodes means your child won’t be sucking in so much extra air.
Pay attention to your baby’s signs, and don’t overfeed him. Track what you eat if you are breastfeeding so you can change your diet if necessary. Try switching formulas to see if your child reacts better to a different type.
Burp your baby after every meal, and try to bounce him to help get out burps that are stuck.
When Do Babies Outgrow Gas Pains?
Though every baby is different, you can look forward to fewer gas pains for your baby when they hit four to six months.
By that point, their digestive system is working pretty well, and they also aren’t sucking in as much air when they are eating. This can lead to less gas pain.
Related Questions:
Can You Overfeed a Baby Formula?
You can overfeed a baby with formula, but it’s extremely rare. Your child will show signs when he is hungry, and he will also make it clear when he is full.
The mistake parents make when giving a child formula is to look at how much is in the bottle instead of watching their baby’s signs.
The baby does not have to empty the bottle after every feeding as long as he is growing and hydrated. Forcing him can lead to overfeeding.
Can Newborns Eat Too Much?
It’s possible for newborns to eat too much, but it doesn’t happen often since babies tend to only eat until they are full.
When they show signs that they are no longer hungry, like pulling away from the breast or bottle, honor the request. Otherwise, your baby may overeat and then have trouble digesting all of the milk or formula.
Do Gas Drops Make Baby Sleepy?
Gas drops themselves should not make your child sleepy. There is nothing in them that causes drowsiness.
However, your child may sleep more after taking gas drops if they help alleviate gas. Without gas pain, your baby may actually be comfortable enough to sleep longer, and that’s good news for everyone!
In Closing
Gas drops should only be used as directed, but they are generally a safe way to help your baby with digestive issues.
Kristy is the mother of four, including identical twins. With a background in education and research, she is constantly learning more about parenting and raising multiples. When she has spare time, she enjoys hiking into the woods with a great book to take a break.