Symptom Spotlight: Gas in Toddlers

Gas in toddlers is normal, but it can become uncomfortable and disrupt good sleeping and eating habits. Read on to learn more about gas in toddlers and what dietary factors may help with gas relief for toddlers.

What is gas in toddlers?

Gas in toddlers is an accumulation of air in the digestive system, but there is no consensus on what may be normal or abnormal. Accumulated gas is released by either traveling up or down, that is, as a burp or as flatulence. Toddler gas pain is usually a result of a functional disorder, meaning there is no specific, identifiable cause.

What are the symptoms of gas in toddlers?

It’s normal to have some gas, especially for little ones, but it should not cause discomfort and ought to be passed easily. Excessive gas in babies that is not passed easily may be associated with a distended tummy, abdominal pain, excess flatulence and burping, and constipation.

What are the causes of gas in toddlers?

Air accumulation in the digestive system is mainly due to swallowing air. For toddlers, this could be from eating, drinking a bottle, and/or crying. Additionally, gas may be created in the large intestine when bacteria break down undigested foods. Dietary triggers that are specific to each individual, along with common foods that are not readily digested, are more likely to create gas.

What are the solutions for gas in toddlers?

Although gas in toddlers is functional for most and not harmful, it’s important to work with your health professional to rule out other, more serious causes of their symptoms. It’s normal for toddlers to have some gas, but if it’s becoming uncomfortable, it may warrant taking a look at diet and the possibility of a food trigger.

Diet may play a significant role in toddler gas relief. Foods that tend to create more gas in the large intestine may include high-fiber foods such as whole grains and bran, sweeteners in processed foods like high fructose corn syrup, carbonated soda, and vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, and beans. You can eliminate these foods from their diet, one at a time, to see if they may be contributing to your toddler’s gas pain.

Identifying and removing other possible food triggers may also be helpful; these may vary from child to child. A good place to start is to keep a 7-day diet diary. Take note of symptoms and foods in order to see a potential relationship. If cow milk seems to be contributing to gas in your little one, try swapping it out for easier to digest goat milk foods*. If you’d like to see if Kabrita Goat Milk Formula* is right for your family, check out our Special Offer.

*Not suitable for children with cow milk protein allergy

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