Gas And Bloating In Babies And Young Children
“is Your Child Bothered By Excessive Gas And Bloating In Their Tummy?”
Continuing with our theme of tummy upset in babies and young children, today we are going to discuss excessive gas and bloating.
Gas is normally created in the small intestine as a by-product of food digestion and also from sucking air in through the mouth.
But excessive gas and bloating is not normal and can cause your child to be very fussy and uncomfortable as you probably already know.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/02.11.2014.gas.and.bloating.bi-1.m4v image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/gas.and_.bloating.jpg width=500 height=305 /]There are a few things that can account for this and one is over-stimulation of the nerves that go to the small intestine.
This is very common in newborns, infants and young children and in this case chiropractic care proves to be very helpful.
The spinal adjustments tend to calm and relax the nerves helping to soothe the small intestine.
Another cause is lactose intolerance. Individuals who are lactose intolerant will experience excessive gas, bloating, abdominal pain and cramping 1 to 2 hours after eating dairy products.
So in this case feeding your child cow’s milk may not be appropriate and the only way to know for sure is to eliminate it from their diet.
In breast-fed babies however, it may be something in the mother’s diet. Certain foods in the mother’s diet can result in excessive gas production in their babies and here is a detailed list of what to watch out for:
Veggies – artichokes, asparagus, beans, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, lentils, onions, peas, potatoes, radishes, green peepers and turnips.
Fruits – apples, apricots, bananas, oranges, peaches, pears, prunes and raisins.
Dairy products – milk, cheese, ice cream and all processed foods containing milk or milk products.
Whole grains – barley, flax seed, oat bran and wheat.
Snack foods – sugar-free candies and gum, sunflower seeds and poppy seeds.
Drinks – sodas and other carbonated drinks, fruit drinks and fruit juices.
These would need to be eliminated from the mother’s diet 1 by 1 until you determine which food or food group is causing the problem in your child.
Another thing that parents need to be aware of is the brain-gut axis.
This a protective mechanism where the nerves in the stomach react when one becomes excited or scared.
This is what is referred to in adults as a ‘gut-feeling ‘, and in sensitive and over-stressed children it can lead to increased gassiness, bloating and abdominal discomfort.
We will learn more about tummy troubles again next time but if you have any immediate questions about this topic or any other health concerns you may have or your family may have, please call us right away.
Remember that consultations are always free of charge and family appointments are always available.
Our phone number is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can contact us via email from our home page.
Life Chiropractic … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.