How to Help Baby with Gas

Raghunath Thilagar

Author

April 23, 2026 • 5 min read

Health & Wellness

Being a new mom is hard, especially when your baby is upset and you are not sure how to help. According to WebMD, trapped gas can make babies fussy and uncomfortable. Even after burping, infants might still experience bloating and crying. If you are familiar with this, don't worry—most moms go through this regularly. Often, a few simple tricks are all you need to help your baby feel relaxed again.

Baby Gas Relief Assistant

Decision-based guidance for a comfortable baby.

Baby Age (Months)

Primary Symptom

Feeding Type

Not a substitute for medical advice. Consult your pediatrician.

Gas Remedies for Babies at Home

These gentle, natural solutions are safe and can provide quick relief. They are some of the most trusted home remedies that mothers around the world rely on.

1. Hing (Asafoetida) Paste

Hing, also known as Asafoetida, is a traditional kitchen ingredient known for its amazing anti-gas properties. Use it with caution, you can use Hing for babies under six months only externally.

How to use: Take a small pinch of Hing and mix it with lukewarm water to create a thin paste. Gently apply this paste around the baby’s navel (belly button) area, but very carefully it should not be put inside the navel.

Why it works: The warm feeling from the paste and the hing’s medical properties relax the abdominal muscles, allowing trapped gas to move out more easily.

2. The Bicycle Leg Exercise

Physical body movement is one of the fastest ways to help push out the stubborn gas trapped inside.

How to do it: Lay your baby on their back on a soft flat surface. Gently hold both of their ankles and move their legs in a circular motion, as if they are pedaling a small bicycle.

Extra Move: In addition to the above move, you can also gently push both of the knees up towards their stomach and hold for three seconds and release. Do this for 3 - 5 times to help get the trapped gas out.

3. Clockwise Tummy Massage

A gentle massage around the tummy area can comfort a gassy baby. As explained by Healthline, you can physically guide gas through the intestines using specific techniques.

How to do it: Use a few drops of warm coconut oil, olive oil or massage oil you use on your palms. Place your hand on the baby’s belly and move it in a clockwise circle.

Why clockwise? Clockwise is the natural direction of the human digestive tract. Massaging in this direction helps to move waste and gas towards the exit without causing any irritation to the baby.

4. Warm Compress Comfort

Just like heating pads help adults with stomach cramps, gentle warmth can give comfort to a baby's air trapped tummy.

How to do it: Soak a small soft cloth in lukewarm water (not boiling hot water), squeeze the excess water completely and lay the warm cloth over the baby's stomach while they rest on your lap.

Safety Tip: Before placing the cloth over your baby's stomach, check the cloth's temperature on your wrist first to ensure it's not too hot and it's at a comfortable temperature for delicate skin.

5. The "Football Hold" Positioning

Babies lying in the same position for a long time may cause gas trouble. Sometimes changing the way you hold your baby can provide an instant pressure relief.

How to do it: Lay your baby face-down along your forearm, with their head resting near your elbow and their legs dangling on either side of your hand. Use your other hand to gently pat on their back.

Why it works: This position puts a steady, gentle pressure on the tummy which helps the gas move while keeping the baby feeling secure.

Remedy	Best For...	How to Apply
Hing Paste	Fast relief from bloating	Apply a paste of hing and warm water around the navel.
Bicycle Legs	Physically moving trapped air	Gently pedal the baby's legs in a circular motion.
Clockwise Massage	Improving overall digestion	Use warm oil to massage the belly in a clockwise circle.
Warm Compress	Soothing a hard, tight tummy	Place a warm (not hot) damp cloth over the belly.
Football Hold	Calming a crying, fussy baby	Carry the baby face-down along your forearm.
Early Burping	Preventing gas buildup	Burp the baby halfway through their feed.

Tips for Moms: Prevention & Comfort

Burp Frequently: Don't wait for the end of the feeding session to make them burp. As recommended by CHOP, try to burp halfway through a bottle or when switching breasts to get rid of trapped air before it travels deeper.

Angle the Bottle: If you are bottle feeding, hold the bottle at the correct angle so the entire bottle nipple is filled with milk or formula. This prevents the baby from swallowing extra air bubbles.

Check the Latch: If you are breastfeeding, ensure the baby has a deep latch. A poor latch can cause the baby to swallow air along with the milk.

Conclusion: You’ve Got This, Mom!

While it can be very stressful to see your baby in discomfort, remember that gas trouble is a normal part of learning to digest. Most babies naturally outgrow these stomach troubles by the time they are 5 to 6 months old.

By using these gentle and natural remedies like bicycle exercise, hing paste and proper burping you are not just relieving their pain you are also bonding with your little one through touch and care.

When it comes to baby’s health and care, always trust your instincts, stay patient and don't hesitate to reach out to your pediatrician if you feel something isn't right.