Simple tweaks to feeding routines can ease tummy troubles and reduce fussiness
Key Points:
- Baby expert reveals five common feeding errors that unintentionally cause gas buildup in infants
- Mistakes include feeding in a reclined position, overfeeding during growth spurts, and shaking formula too vigorously
- Operations manager explains that a baby’s developing digestive system makes them extra sensitive to swallowed air and feeding pace
Gas, fussiness, and tummy discomfort rank among the most common challenges new parents face. While occasional gas is normal for babies, parents may not realize that small, everyday feeding mistakes can make symptoms significantly worse. These unintentional errors often lead to increased air intake or overwhelm a baby’s still-developing digestive system.
Chris Smith, Operations Manager at Formuland, an e-commerce specialist offering premium European baby formulas, sees these challenges firsthand. “It’s common for parents to feel helpless when their baby is uncomfortable, but understanding a few key feeding principles can make a real difference,” Smith explains.
Below, Smith reveals the most common feeding mistakes that contribute to gas in babies and offers practical guidance on how simple adjustments can make feeding smoother and more comfortable for both parent and child.
Why Babies Are Prone to Gas
A baby’s digestive system is still maturing during the first several months of life, which makes them particularly sensitive to how they’re fed.
“When babies swallow air during feeding, or when they take in milk too quickly, that air becomes trapped in their tiny digestive tract,” explains Smith. “Their immature systems struggle to process and expel this excess air efficiently, leading to discomfort, crying, and restless sleep.”
5 Common Feeding Mistakes That Cause Gas
Smith lists the five most common feeding mistakes parents make when feeding their baby that leave them gassy:
1. Feeding in a Reclined or Flat Position
One of the most overlooked contributors to infant gas is positioning. When babies are fed lying flat or in a reclined position, gravity works against them. Milk flows too quickly into their stomach, and they’re more likely to swallow air along with their formula or breast milk.
“The angle at which you hold your baby during feeding matters more than most parents realize,” says Smith. “Keeping your baby’s head elevated above their stomach, ideally at a 30 to 45-degree angle, helps milk flow at a more manageable pace and reduces the amount of air they take in.”
2. Overfeeding During Growth Spurts
Growth spurts trigger increased hunger in babies, and anxious parents often respond by offering more milk more frequently. While it’s important to meet a baby’s nutritional needs, overfeeding can overwhelm their digestive system.
When a baby’s stomach becomes too full, the excess pressure can trap gas and make it harder for them to find relief through burping.
“During growth spurts, babies will naturally want to eat more often, but that doesn’t always mean they need larger volumes per feeding,” Smith notes. “Smaller, more frequent feeds are often gentler on their system.”
3. Shaking Formula Too Vigorously
Preparing formula seems straightforward, but how you mix it makes a significant difference. Vigorous shaking creates countless tiny air bubbles throughout the liquid. When your baby drinks formula filled with these bubbles, they’re essentially drinking air along with their nutrition.
“We recommend gently swirling the bottle in a circular motion rather than shaking it,” advises Smith. “If you do need to shake it, let the bottle sit for a few minutes afterward so the bubbles can settle before feeding.”
4. Feeding When Baby Is Actively Crying
When babies cry, they gulp air. It’s unavoidable. Trying to feed a baby who’s already worked up and crying means they’ll continue gulping air between sucks, filling their stomach with both milk and excess air.
The key is to calm your baby before attempting to feed them. Soothing techniques like gentle rocking, skin-to-skin contact, or a pacifier can help settle them enough that they can feed without the added complication of swallowing air from crying.
5. Not Burping at the Right Intervals
Parents might wait until after a feeding to burp their baby, but by then, air has already traveled deep into the digestive tract. Burping should happen throughout the feeding process, not just at the end.
For bottle-fed babies, pause every two to three ounces to burp. For breastfed babies, burp when switching breasts.
“Think of burping as preventive maintenance rather than damage control,” says Smith. “Frequent, gentle burping during feeds stops gas from building up in the first place.”
Chris Smith, Formuland Operations Manager, commented:
“Reducing gas starts with being mindful during feeding. Keep your baby upright, take your time, and don’t wait for signs of discomfort to start burping. Make it part of the routine from the beginning.
“If your baby seems particularly prone to gas, consider the flow rate of your bottle nipple. A flow that’s too fast can cause them to gulp and swallow air. Similarly, check that the nipple is always full of milk during feeding so they’re not sucking in air from an empty space.
“After feeding, keep your baby upright for at least 15 to 20 minutes. This gives their system time to settle and reduces the likelihood of reflux or trapped gas. Gentle tummy massage or bicycle leg movements can also help move gas through their digestive system more comfortably.”
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About Formuland
Formuland is an e-commerce specialist offering premium European-made baby formulas from certified brands like HiPP, Holle, and Aptamil. They position themselves as a trusted partner for parents seeking authentic, safe, and high-quality infant nutrition. The company offers fast, free shipping for qualifying orders and sources products directly from manufacturers or official distributors to guarantee authenticity. Their extensive range includes organic, goat-milk-based, hypoallergenic, and specialist formulas tailored to meet unique infant needs. As parents themselves, the team at Formuland understands the challenges of finding the right formula. They offer a ‘Baby Satisfaction Guarantee’, a unique program that covers one used item per order with store credit, helping parents confidently discover the perfect fit for their baby.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
