Accidentally Gave Baby Double Dose of Gas Drops | What To Do

| Reviewed By Sarah Schulze, MSN, APRN, CPNP

Please do not worry. It is unlikely that your baby will experience harm from being given too much gas drops.

The active ingredient, simethicone, is generally safe, though taking too much can cause unpleasant side effects, such as loose stools.

Call Poison Control to ease your fears if concerned. 1-800-222-1222

MedicineNet explains:

“Orally administered simethicone is not absorbed systemically and there are no known reports of overdose.

In case of overdose, discontinue simethicone and report to Poison Control if you experience any symptoms.”

What To Do in Case of Gas Drop Overdose

Call poison control in the case of any overdose (1-800-222-1222). 

Though simethicone, the active ingredient in gas drops, won’t usually cause problems, you can call for support to give you peace of mind and ensure your child is okay.

Simethicone Overdose

Simethicone overdose is not likely, but if your baby does get too much, you may notice a few mild symptoms.

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 without producing serious full-body symptoms.

If you know your child has had too much simethicone, contact your doctor or poison control to address your concerns.

A few years ago, after a late-night feeding session, I accidentally gave both my babies a double dose of gas drops.

It was dark, the house was quiet, I was very sleepy, and I made a mistake.

As I was screwing the cap back on the bottle, I realized in horror what I had done.

A quick call to Poison Control calmed my fears, and thankfully, my twins showed no adverse effects at all. 

The point of the story? All parents occasionally make a mistake. Learn from your mistakes, and move on.

Rest assured that too many gas drops won’t likely cause any harm. 

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.

Gas Drops for Newborns: Safety

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.

Simethicone is considered an anti-foaming agent, which 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.

When To Give Your 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.

An up-close look at a screaming baby.

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. 

Drugs.com recommends administering gas drops “after meals and at bedtime as needed” not to exceed 240 milligrams per day for infants under 2 years of age.

How Quickly Baby Gas Drops Work

Gas drops work within minutes in most cases, so your baby won’t have to suffer through gas pain for long.

At most, they might take up to 30 minutes for full effects to occur.

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 painful 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 your baby to suck in air.

This can cause gas or exacerbate the situation.

How To Get Rid of Baby Gas Fast

There are many ways you can help your baby get rid of gas pain quickly. 

  1. Push your baby’s knees to his chest or move them in a bicycle motion to move gas.
  2. Burp your baby.
  3. Put your baby on his tummy so he can move his legs and tighten and release his stomach muscles.
  4. Massage your baby’s belly.
  5. Try swaddling your baby to see if it helps him calm down.

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 (always supervise, of course). Let him kick his legs and work his muscles for a bit to see if it helps relieve his pain.

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.
A screaming baby dressed in a white outfit and a white hat.

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.

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.

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!

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 aren’t sucking in as much air when they are eating. This can lead to less gas pain.