Treating Gassy Colic
- Jul 6
- 3 min read
Updated: 9 hours ago
Getting burps out
Step 1 in helping gassy colic is to make sure you're getting all the burps out. To do this, make sure you are doing different burping techniques. You can complete a decent burping routine in 5 minutes. Don't spend too much time on one position... if nothing comes up in a minute or so, move to the next position. Even if you get a burp out, continue through your routine as there may be more to come.
Start with standard over the shoulder techniques then try these variations:
Over Your Hand
Puts a little pressure under the stomach
Wiggle Waggle
Opens up area under the ribs and stretches diaphragm
Side Stretching
Helps gas pockets to escape (no audio - just watch carefully)
Wiggly Fingers
Moves miilk around - hopefully deep gas pockets can escape
Getting gas in the colon and lower digestive tract to release
Step 2 in helping gassy colic is to shake up / mobilise the abdominal area. We want to help gas escape out the bottom end. Try these deep stimulating massage and agitation techniqes for 5 minutes,
1. The "Clockwise Clearance" Valve Sweep
The Concept: The human colon moves waste in a specific direction: up the right side of the belly, across the middle, and down the left.
The Move: Lay the baby on their back. Use the flat palm of your hand to trace a slow, warm circle clockwise around the belly button (always starting at the baby’s bottom right hip, moving up to the ribs, and down to the left hip).
Why it works: This mechanically pushes trapped air pockets toward the descending colon and rectum, mirroring the natural peristalsis waves of the digestive tract.
2. The "I Love U" Gas Evacuation Technique
The Concept: A targeted abdominal massage sequence that empties the colon loops in reverse order to clear the exit pathway first.
The Move:
"I": Stroke (pushing in gently) straight down the left side of the baby's belly (your right) to clear the final stretch of the colon.
"L": Stroke across the top of the belly from babies right side to left, then down the left side.
"U": Stroke up the right side, across the top, and down the left side (doing an upside down U).
Why it works: Clearing the lower colon first ("I") ensures that when you push gas from the upper regions ("L" and "U"), it does not hit a structural bottleneck.
3. The "Bicycle-Pump" Compression
The Concept: Using alternating leg movements to physically compress the ascending and descending sides of the colon.
The Move: Lay the baby on their back. Hold their ankles gently. Alternatingly pump one knee up deeply into the belly while the other leg extends straight out, switching rhythmically like riding a bicycle.
Why it works: The alternating pressure mechanically forces deep pockets of intestinal gas upward and out through the bowel loops.
Window Wipers
Gently moves colon and intestinal area to release kinks and gas
Ileo Caecal Valve StimulationI
Gently loosens main valve between small and large intestines
Belly Wobble
Gently loosens central abdominal area
Diaphragm Release
Unlock gas trapped below the diaphragm
Bicycle Pumping
Gently squeezing and opening the abdominal area to get gas moving
Symptomatic Medications:
When taking medicines, always talk to a health professional first.
To help with burps, try gas drops containing Simethicone. Examples are Infacol, Wind-eze, WindSettlers, ColicCalm and many others.
For gas trapped lower down, gripe water and herbal concoctions might help - most contain bicarbonate soda, chamomile, dill, ginger, fennel, etc. Examples are Telament, Woodwards, Mommys Bliss and many others.
If baby has been on antibiotics, you might want to try a probiotic.
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