How to Settle a Baby's Upset Stomach

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

It can be heartbreaking to see your baby experience any kind of discomfort, but rest assured that an upset stomach will often settle and go away on its own. In the meantime, you can make your baby more comfortable until it passes. Colic, even though its causes are not fully understood, is often the cause of stomach pain. At other times, it might be a basic upset stomach or tummy ache. Regardless, we’ll walk you through everything you can do to help alleviate your baby’s upset stomach.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Treating Colic

PDF download Download Article
  1. Warming up your baby will relax her body, and provide relief to a tense and cramped stomach. To warm your baby, put her in a blanket.Curl up with your baby to provide your body heat. [1]
    • A warm bath may also help calm her tummy.
  2. Try massaging your baby's tummy in a circular motion, clockwise, to relieve pain and pressure in his gastrointestinal tract. You can use baby oil, warmed up between your hands. A massage improves blood circulation in the baby's stomach, which can help calm colic. [2]
    Advertisement
  3. You can help your baby do bicycling exercises that will prompt the acceleration of digestion and bowel movements. Be very gentle with your baby and do the exercise on a soft surface.
    • Place your baby on her back.
    • Take her legs and gently move them in a bicycling motion.
    • Continue this exercise for a few minutes to achieve the full effect of the exercise.
  4. Laying your baby on his tummy can allow gas to escape more easily. Only do this when your baby is already old enough to roll over on his tummy and support his head.
    • Letting him spend some time in this position will help relieve pressure caused by trapped gas.
    • Only this when you are with your baby, and don't put your baby to sleep on his tummy.
  5. Sometimes this will be enough to put pressure on her stomach and keep it warm. Some of the positions include: [3]
    • Football hold — have the baby balanced along your arm and move gently back and forth.
    • Nestled on your chest — with her stomach on your chest, and head under your chin.
  6. Put your baby in his car seat and go for a short drive. The rhythmic movements and humming of the car will settle your baby. If you do not have a car, you can try singing a song or playing quiet music, moving your baby with rhythmic movements.
    7. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Preventing an Upset Stomach

PDF download Download Article
  1. Also try shorter periods between feedings. Sometimes if the baby isn’t as hungry, she will eat more slowly, making it less likely that she will get air in with the milk. Air bubbles are often a culprit of colic, and slower feedings more often can help alleviate them. [4]
  2. Be mindful of your eating habits and avoid substances in your food that can be excreted through your milk and adversely affect your baby's stomach. Stay away from anything that can cause bloating and gas.. You might also want to try avoiding the following foods to see if it helps: [5]
    • Caffeine
    • Alcohol
    • Dairy products
    • Cabbage
    • Beans
    • Peas
    • Green beans
    • Mushrooms
    • Soy
    • Spicy foods
    • Oranges
    • Strawberries
    • Cauliflower
  3. See if you can identify what might have caused the problem. If it hurts your stomach, chances are it will also hurt your baby’s.
  4. Whether you breastfeed or use a bottle, there is a possibility in both methods for your baby to get air bubbles in his stomach, causing discomfort. Closely observe your baby when her is feeding to see if her is feeding properly. [6]
    • Make sure your baby is making a tight seal with his lips and not swallowing air.
    • Swallowing air can cause gas and abdominal pain.
    • If you think your baby's bottle is producing a lot of air, try changing the nipple, with a hole that has a size appropriate for your baby. Or try different types of bottles. The bottles with the bag inside may cause the baby to swallow less air.
    • Make sure to keep your baby upright when feeding, and don't allow a baby to take a bottle in bed or when lying down.
  5. This should happen each time you feed your infant. Burp your baby to allow air to escape from her stomach and relieve pressure in the stomach. You can do this by lifting your baby and gently but firmly tapping her on the back. [7]
  6. It might be an ingredient in the formula that is affecting your baby’s stomach. As with breastmilk, different babies react differently to ingredients, and some of those in formula may cause your baby to become bloated or gassy.
    • Talk to your doctor before changing formulas, as most of the time the formula is not the problem.
  7. It might be something different — with babies it’s so difficult to tell what might be bothering them. Your pediatrician should have some ideas about what might be ailing your baby.
    8. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Treating a Stomach Virus

PDF download Download Article
  1. Check your baby's temperature to see if she has a fever or is experiencing diarrhea or vomiting — other signs of a viral infection. If you are unsure of whether or not your baby has a viral infection, consult with your pediatrician, who will determine if it is a virus and give you advice.
    • Always seek medical attention if a baby under 3 months old has a fever of 100.4 °F or 38.0 °C.
  2. Maintaining your baby's hydration is crucial to help him recover from a viral infection. Vomiting and diarrhea can dehydrate your baby, and you need to combat this by allowing your baby to drink plenty of breastmilk or formula, or water if he is old enough.
    • An oral electrolyte solution, like Pedialyte or Enfalyte, can be offered as well.
  3. If your baby is old enough for food, soup is an excellent way to replenish electrolytes and other nutrients that have been lost through diarrhea and vomit.
    • Feed the soup a little bit at a time, not all at once.
    • Try offering one teaspoon of soup every five minutes.
  4. If your baby is dehydrated, lethargic or very tired, and irritable, take him to the doctor to receive medical attention. [8]
    • You can identify severe dehydration if your baby has a dry mouth, dry and hot skin, a cold sweat, a sunken fontanel (soft spot), no tears when crying, and is not urinating enough. A baby should urinate at least three times in 24 hours or at least once in eight hours.
    • Your doctor will prescribe a means for rapid rehydration or will give him an infusion of fluids through an IV.
    • You may have to pick up a prescription rehydration solution at the pharmacy, before administering it at home.
  5. With the approval of your pediatrician, you can give your baby medication to relieve indigestion and stomach pain. Some medicines you can try are:
    • Mylicon or Tummy Calm drops. Drops such as Mylicon and Tummy Calm are sometimes effective in reducing gas trapped in the digestive system. You can also try a dose of children's acetaminophen if your baby seems to be in pain. Make sure to follow the directions in the product’s packaging, or consult your physician for the correct dosage.
  6. If the symptoms of stomach upset resurface regularly or persist despite your attempts at home remedy, you should seek medical attention for your baby. Watch out also for the following symptoms and call your doctor immediately if your baby shows signs of them: [9]
    • Presence of pus or blood in stool.
    • Black stool.
    • Persistently green stool.
    • Diarrhea and serious abdominal pain.
    • Swollen or hard belly.
    • Dry mouth, lack of tears, dark urine or decreased urine, or lethargy — these are all signs of dehydration.
    • Vomiting that persists for more than 12–24 hours, or diarrhea that persists for more than seven days or is very frequent.
    • Vomiting forcefully, or vomit that is green or has blood in it.
    • High fever. This, when combined with an upset stomach, could be a symptom of several things, which could range from food poisoning to an infection. It is best to bring your baby to a doctor immediately for proper diagnosis and treatment.
    • These symptoms could be indicating something more dangerous than trapped gas, such as food allergies, infection, intestinal blockage, or poisoning.
    • If you think your baby has swallowed something toxic, such as a drug, plant or chemical, and is showing symptoms of poisoning through vomiting and diarrhea, call your national emergency hotline immediately (at 1-800-222-1222 in the United States). [10]
    7. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Helping Older Infants with Stomach Issues

PDF download Download Article
  1. This introduces good gut bacteria that can help correct digestive problems and stomach upset. The stomach contains specific bacterial flora that help it digest food properly. Stomach viruses can disrupt the balance of flora. Yogurt contains bacterial cultures that can restore bacterial balance to a disturbed stomach. [11]
    • Also talk to your doctor about probiotics, which are "good bacteria" that can also be helpful, especially if your baby has diarrhea for more than a few days.
  2. Increase the amount of these foods gradually in her diet, with small portions spread throughout the day. Some of these foods suitable for infants include: [12]
    • Prunes
    • Pears
    • Plums
    • Oat bran
    • Oatmeal cereal
    • Barley cereal
  3. Once an infant starts solid foods, he can also drink some water. Sometimes your baby just needs more fluids to get the food moving through his system. [13]
    • You can give your baby four to eight ounces of water a day.
    4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Treat Neck Rashes for Your Baby
      How to
      Stop Hiccups in Babies and Newborns
      How to
      Assess the Safe Firmness of an Infant Mattress to Prevent Asphyxiation
      How to
      Clean a Circumcision
      How to
      Treat Ringworm in Babies
      How to
      Lift and Carry a Baby
      How to
      Treat Acid Reflux in Newborns
      How to
      Help Relieve Gas in Babies
      How to
      Perform the Heimlich Maneuver on a Baby
      How to
      Clear a Baby's Stuffy Nose
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/fussy-baby/coping-with-colic/10-tips-comforting-colic/
      2. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/basics/infant-and-toddler-health/hlv-20049400
      3. ↑ https://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/fussy-baby/coping-with-colic/10-tips-comforting-colic/
      4. ↑ https://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/fussy-baby/coping-with-colic/10-tips-comforting-colic/
      5. ↑ https://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/childhood-illnesses/abdominal-pain-chronic/
      6. ↑ https://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/fussy-baby/comforting-gassy-baby/
      7. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/burping.html
      8. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dehydration/basics/symptoms/con-20030056
      9. ↑ https://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/childhood-illnesses/abdominal-pain-chronic/
      1. ↑ https://www.poison.org/
      2. ↑ https://www.askdrsears.com/topics/feeding-eating/family-nutrition/yogurt/10-reasons-yogurt-top-health-food/
      3. ↑ https://www.parents.com/baby/health/constipation/foods-that-cause-and-relieve-constipation-in-babies/
      4. ↑ https://www.parents.com/baby/health/constipation/foods-that-cause-and-relieve-constipation-in-babies/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To settle your baby’s upset stomach, try gently massaging their tummy in circular, clockwise motions to relieve pressure on the gastrointestinal tract. If your baby is old enough to support their head, you can also try laying them on their tummy, which will help relieve pressure caused by trapped gas. To prevent an upset tummy, try feeding your baby smaller, more frequent meals, since they’ll be more likely to eat slowly and swallow less air when they’re less hungry. You should also make sure you’re burping your baby every times they eat to expel excess air. If your baby still has an upset stomach, visit the doctor so they diagnose the problem and provide treatment. To learn how to add more fiber to your baby’s diet to increase bowel movements, read more from our Medical co-author.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 100,838 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Heather Gonzalez

        Mar 6, 2017

        "This article was great in giving me the advice that I needed to calm my grandsons belly. It refreshed my mind on ..." more
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement