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.

Touching and massaging your baby’s tummy can help relieve gas. Imagine a clock on your baby’s tummy, starting at 7 or 8 o’clock and moving from left to right. One hand follows the other in a half clock wise motion, gently pressing and sliding your hands in a clockwise motion. Paddling will also help relive the ballooning pressure inside the abdomen.

Babies love a good massage. Starting at the top of baby’s tummy and using a gentle clockwise motion, gently press and slide your hands in a circle, moving towards 8 o’clock on your baby’s clock.

If your little one’s gas is making them fussy, a soothing massage can do the trick. Start by putting your baby on his back and putting a soft blanket under his butt. Then, place your hands on either side of his tummy with your fingertips pointed upward. Gently slide your palms from 7 or 8 o’clock to around 2 or 3 o’clock in an hourglass shape, pressing and sliding them in a clockwise motion. Close your eyes and enjoy!

Paddling is done using your hands and fingers to gently work the abdominal area in a gentle clockwise motion. One hand follows the other. Begin at 7 o’clock and move in half-circles from left to right, alternating hands every few seconds. Paddle for about 5 minutes on each side.

How To Massage Baby Tummy To Poop

Stomach strokes that massage the belly are designed to encourage trapped air to move. The goal is to move gas and other matter in the intestines towards the bowels.

Many of the stomach strokes suggested for gas begin at the lower right of your baby’s belly (where the large intestine begins) and end at the lower left of your baby’s belly (where the colon begins). When looking at your baby, this means moving from your left to right.

Some of the infant stomach massage techniques listed in the book “Infant Massage: A Handbook for Loving Parents” by Vimala McClure include:

• Hands of a Clock. 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. Using the long, broad, pinky-side of your hands horizontally across your baby’s belly, gently press in near the rib cage and slide down the length of baby’s tummy. One hand follows the other.
• Fulling. Lay your two thumbs flat across your baby’s belly, above the belly button. Gently pressing in, slide the thumbs away from each other.
• I Love You. Starting on the right side of your baby’s belly button, trace the letter I. Follow it by tracing the letter L, sideways, starting at the top left corner of baby’s belly, moving across and down the right side. Finish with an inverted U shape, starting at the bottom left corner of baby’s belly and tracing up, then across the torso above the belly button, and back down the right side. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to tell your baby how much you love them during this, too!
• Moonwalking. Starting just above the belly button on the left side, gently walk and slide your pointer and middle fingers across baby’s torso to the right side.

Baby foot massage for gas

Proponents of foot reflexology say the practice can improve conditions like gas and indigestion, but scientific evidence is lackingTrusted Source. Again, it’s best to talk to your pediatrician as a precaution before beginning any at-home remedy like reflexology.

If your doctor says it’s okay to give it a go, consider the pressure point for the stomach and intestines that’s located around the upper middle of the foot, just below the pad. Gently stroking this area of your baby’s foot may bring some gas relief.

Baby massage for colic

There is no single known cause of colic. While gas has been suggested as one of the possible causes, treatments aimed at reducing gas do not always lessen colic symptoms.

The Mayo Clinic suggests massage as a possible soothing method for colicky babies, but notes that no soothing method is guaranteed to help all babies or work every time.

Parents of a colicky baby should be prepared to rely on a wide range of soothing measures, and this may include baby massage if you so choose.

If you notice that your little one’s burps include excessive spit-up or projectile vomit, or if your baby seems to be in pain during or following feeds, consult their doctor.

Your pediatrician can rule out other possible causes for the discomfort including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and suggest other treatments as necessary.

Other tips for managing gas

If massage doesn’t seem to be working for your little one or you’re looking for some additional comfort measures, there are plenty of things you can try to help manage and prevent gas:

• Bicycle your child’s legs in the air while they lie on their back. This may help move gas through the system and encourage a poop if your little one is constipated.
• Gently twist baby’s legs and hips from side to side, which may help move things along the digestive track.
• Spend some extra time burping your baby during feeds to help air escape early in the digestive process.
• If you’re bottle-feeding, check the nipple flow. If the flow is too fast, your child may be gulping air when they drink.
• Change bottle brands. Though no one brand is perfect for eliminating gas, there may be one that works better at reducing gas for your baby.
• Switch to a ready-made version of your baby’s powdered formula. Though if you don’t note any change, you can go back to the (less expensive) powdered version.

Some caregivers report that over-the-counter medications like gripe water or gas drops help their babies with gas. Make sure to check with your child’s doctor before going this route.

Takeaway

Gas can be unpleasant for babies and their parents. There is nothing harder than seeing your little one in distress, but don’t give up hope!

Massage may help them move gas through their digestive system, and there’s nothing like a parent’s touch to comfort a child.

Foot Massage For Colic Baby

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.