From the time babies
are born and for the first few months of life, parents
spend a lot of time getting their wind up. It is thought
that babies take in air with their milk and that small
bubbles of air cause wind in the stomach or bowels which
in turn causes tummy ache. This tummy ache can be quite
distressing for your baby.
You will usually be able to tell if you baby has
wind by the following:
A bluish tinge to the skin especially between the
top lip and the nose
Your baby may be restless and tearful while pulling
the legs up to the tummy
Your baby may look as if he is smiling when he is
actually feeling uncomfortable and what you see is
a grimace
If your baby settles happily after his feed, then
don’t waste time and energy winding him then.
Wait and see what happens – he may become restless
after a few minutes and then you can pick him up,
and either put him upright against your chest or sitting
on your knee while rubbing the back gently.
Other causes of sore tummies in babies are:
Colic – this is the number one cause of sore
tummies and other irritable symptoms in babies. Although
there is no cure for colic, there are plenty of ways
of helping to alleviate the symptoms and your baby
will grow out of it at about 3 to 4 months old.
Gastrosophageal reflux – this is caused when
food backs up into the baby’s throat thereby
irritating the line of his esophagus. It is similar
to heartburn in adults and your doctor will diagnose
and treat this condition.
Gastroenteritis or stomach flu – usually causes
vomiting and diarrhea and is an inflammation of the
stomach and intestines caused by a viral or bacterial
infection. This can be very serious in a young baby
and needs medical attention.
Milk intolerance or allergy – about 1 in 10
babies are allergic or sensitive to cow’s milk
and there is a genetic factor too. It sometimes takes
trial and error to get the right feeding formula as
many babies are also allergic to soy milk.
Changes in diet – when starting solids for the
first time, it is wise to introduce one new food at
a time (with several days in between) so that you
can monitor whether your child is allergic to a particular
food.
Intestinal blockage – the symptoms of this are
vomiting, lethargy, writhing in pain every so often
and even passing blood from the rectum. These symptoms
warrant immediate medical attention.
Although tummy aches are usually a sign of wind,
they can be a sign of something more.
