Envision the face on a clock on your baby’s tummy. Start at 7 or 8 o’clock and move from left to right in a half moon shape, gently pressing and sliding your hands in a clockwise motion. One hand follows the other. Paddling.

Press, slide and “paddle” your way down the clock on your baby’s tummy. Start at 7 or 8 o’clock and move from left to right in a half moon shape. Paddling gently increases peristalsis (intestinal movement) which helps relieve gas pains.

When baby has gas, he may cry and feel irritated. You can help relieve your baby’s discomfort with a simple massage. Gently stroke your baby’s tummy starting at 7 or 8 o’clock and moving from left to right in a half-moon shape, sliding your hands in a clockwise motion. One hand follows the other. Keep massaging for about 30 seconds to one minute.

Massaging a fussy baby can be so soothing, especially for colicky infants. To do baby massage for gas, start by gently rubbing your baby’s tummy in small circles clockwise in a sweeping motion. Think about the face on a clock—aim for approximately 7 or 8 o’clock and slowly move from left to right. Slide your hands from 8 to 1, then start again at 7. Go slowly, focusing on the pressure; this should feel calming for you as well!

How To Massage Baby Tummy To Poop

Gas may be a natural element of infant development, but it can still be uncomfortable for babies and frustrating for their parents. While this problem can be difficult to treat, common solutions include burping newborns and holding them upright after feedings.

To help their babies find relief, parents may look to alternate solutions, such as gas drops, gripe water, or herbal supplements. However, these aren’t always effective and can sometimes be harmful in. Performed correctly, infant massage can be a safer option to get gas moving, while also promoting stronger bonding between parents and their babies.

How to Massage Your Baby to Help Relieve Gas

Infant massages focused on gas relief may look a bit different than conventional baby massages. Traditional massage tends to be less focused and involves a lot less pressure. Use the following steps to determine when and how to safely give your baby a massage to relieve gas:

Consult your doctor. If you suspect that your baby has significant health issues prompting gas, check with a doctor before beginning a massage regimen. Depending on the issue, other remedies may prove more effective. Otherwise, your doctor can provide suggestions for administering a safe massage.

Massage at the right time. Avoid massages right after feedings, as these can cause vomiting. Massaging tends to be most effective as a gas preventative measure if your baby is already calm. Many parents prefer to incorporate massages in their babies’ nighttime routine to promote a peaceful atmosphere to help them fall asleep.

Use oil safely. Some parents prefer to massage their babies while using oil, which reduces friction. But, this is not required. Select an edible oil that will be safe if your baby accidentally consumes it. Coconut oil is a great option, but products marketed to infants may also work, depending on the ingredients. Be sure to test it on a small patch of skin to determine whether allergies might be a problem.

Techniques for a safe baby massage. Use some of these techniques when you’re giving your baby a massage:

Paddling. This basic massage uses the sides of the hand, moving them one at a time from your baby’s rib cage to pelvis. As soon as one hand reaches the bottom of the massage area, the other should already be starting to move down from the ribs.
Bicycle legs. A common gas-relieving technique among new parents, bicycle legs look exactly as they sound: your baby will appear to be riding a tiny bike. Place your baby in a reclined position with bent legs. Hold one foot or leg in each hand and create slow vertical circles, bending the knee in and stretching the leg back out, one side at a time. Watch your infant carefully for a response and stop if your baby appears uncomfortable.
“I love you” technique. This massage approach can bring quick relief for a gassy tummy. Use your hand to trace an upside-down letter ‘I’ on the left side of your babies’ belly. Follow with an upside-down ‘L,’ again beginning on the left side of the tummy and moving across. The final step calls for an upside-down ‘U,’ which will cross over your babies’ tummy.
Hands of the clock. Involving strategic, continuous circles, this style of massage moves left to right from your perspective (or for your baby, right to left) to move gas through the intestinal tract and towards the bowel. Use your right hand to massage slowly in a clockwise motion, while your left hand begins at 10 o’clock and moves in a crescent shape until reaching 5 o’clock.

Baby Massage For Constipation Nhs

Babies start experiencing gas a few days or weeks after birth. It usually resolves by itself at six to seven months but may last for longer. A common cause of gassiness in babies is air swallowed while feeding or crying. For breastfed babies, the mother’s diet may also cause gassiness (1). In such cases, tummy massages can help release the trapped gas and relieve the baby.

Read on to learn about some baby massages for gas and other tips to manage gas in babies.

What Are The Symptoms Of Gas In Babies?

The symptoms that may indicate your baby is suffering from gas are as follows 1:

Crying as if in pain
Bloating
Irritability and fussiness
Passing gas

What Massages Will Help Relieve Gas In Babies?

Massaging your baby’s tummy will help move the gas towards the bowel and relieve them of gas, colic, and constipation. You may use massage oil for proper movements and less resistance. Some daily massage techniques that may help release gas from your baby are as follows (2):

1. Tummy massages

Hands of a clock: Perform this massage in a circular motion. Make the bottom half of a semi-circle from your left to right with your right hand. Then make a full circle in clockwise motion with your left hand. Always perform this massage in clockwise direction with the left hand following the right.

Fulling: Place your thumbs flat on your baby’s stomach and move them in a push-pull motion to the sides. Do two strokes above the naval, one stroke on either side moving out from the naval, and two strokes below the naval.
Paddling: With the sides of your palms, make downward strokes on your baby’s stomach from the rib cage to the pelvis. Each hand should follow the other in a continuous motion.

Moonwalking: Use your fingertips to walk across your baby’s abdomen from left to right. Do this above the naval area in a push-pull motion without poking.
I Love You: With your palms, form an ‘I’ on the left side of the baby’s tummy. In the same way, draw an upside-down ‘L’ and ‘U,’ starting from your left to the right.

Knees up: While holding your baby’s calves and knees gently, push both the legs together towards their tummy and hold it there for around five seconds. Repeat the process three to five times.
Circular massage: Using baby oil, massage around the navel in a clockwise circular motion with your right hand. Continue this motion while slowly making bigger circles around the stomach but under the ribs. Then, with your left hand, glide across and back on the baby’s belly (3).

2. Foot massages

Reflexology is a therapy that effectively improves relaxation and wellbeing (4). Furthermore, certain studies on the effects of reflexology on babies suggest that they positively impact their health and wellbeing (5). Even so, more research is required for homogeneous results.

Nonetheless, after discussing with your healthcare provider or pediatrician, you could massage the correct pressure points in your baby’s feet with moderate pressure to help relieve gas and colic.

3. Massages for colic

Colic is a condition where an otherwise healthy baby cries and fusses for unknown reasons for more than three hours (6). To date, the exact cause of colic in babies is unknown, but gas formation or food intolerance are sometimes considered as underlying reasons.

The massaging techniques used to relieve gas can help provide relief from colic as well.

What Are Some Other Tips For Managing Gas In Babies?

Other than massages, the following ways also help to manage gas in babies (7):

Ensure less air is swallowed by your baby while feeding by slowing down the milk flow. Try different types of bottles or nipples to ensure this.
Burp your baby during and after their feeding session to remove excess air from their system.

Lay them flat on their back, hold their legs in your hands, and move them in a bicycling motion. Also, try giving them some tummy time to pressurize the excess gas out of the body.
If certain foods in your diet may be causing gassiness in your breastfed baby, refrain from consuming them. However, consult your doctor before doing so to avoid discontinuing beneficial foods.

If your baby is formula-fed, hold off on powdered formula and use ready-to-feed formula instead.

Watch this video to better understand how to get started with the massages mentioned above.

Available On: YouTube

It is not uncommon for babies to develop gas at a younger age. Gas can cause a lot of discomfort to babies and, therefore, the parents. Learning massage tricks may come in handy while trying to console your crying baby in the middle of the night. Massages may also help calm your colicky baby and help them fall asleep easily. However, you may seek help from your doctor or nurses at the hospital if you have any doubts about your newborn baby’s massage strokes. Be sure always to use a gentle touch when you massage your baby.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I get my gassy baby to sleep?

Massages and other techniques, such as a gentle pat on the baby’s back or tummy massage, can help to relieve gas discomfort and thus help your baby sleep (1).

2. What are the pressure points to relieve gas in babies?

Large Intestine 4 (He Gu), Spleen 6 (San Yin Jiao), and Stomach 36 (Zu San Li) are some pressure points that may help relieve gas in babies (8).

3. Why is gas worse at night for babies?

According to a study, infantile colic caused by factors such as flatulence (gas) that is prevalent during the early night hours may be related to gut immaturity of the baby or breastfeeding (9).

4. Can my baby sleep through gas pains?

Babies can often sleep through gas pains, but if they are restless, they will cry constantly and will be unable to sleep.

It is not uncommon for babies to develop gas at a younger age. Gas can cause a lot of discomfort to babies and, therefore, the parents. Learning massage tricks may come in handy while you are desperately trying to console your crying baby in the middle of the night. Massages may also help calm your colicky baby and help in putting them to sleep with ease. However, you may seek help from your doctor or nurses at the hospital if you have any doubts about your newborn baby’s massage strokes.

How To Do Baby Massage For Gas