Let the formula settle Try using warm (but not hot) water, rather than cold or room temperature water, to help the formula dissolve more effectively and produce fewer bubbles.
Is Warm Formula Easier to Digest? Warmed baby formula is easier for babies to digest, as they don't need to use extra energy to warm it up in their tummy. Because of this, many parents have found that warm milk is less likely to cause tummy aches.
It's fine to feed your baby cool or even cold formula. It's all up to your baby's preference – they may prefer it warm, at room temperature, or even chilled, and all of those options are just fine.
Baby's milk or infant formula does not need to be warmed before feeding, but some people like to warm their baby's bottle. If you do decide to warm the bottle, never use a microwave. Microwaves heat milk and food unevenly, resulting in “hot spots” that can burn your baby's mouth and throat.
Let the formula settle
Shaking and blending naturally introduces air bubbles into the mix, which your baby can swallow, resulting in gas. Try using warm (but not hot) water, rather than cold or room temperature water, to help the formula dissolve more effectively and produce fewer bubbles.
It's fine to give your baby room temperature or even cold formula. If your baby prefers warm formula, place a filled bottle in a bowl of warm water or run under warm water. Test the temperature by putting a couple of drops on the back of your hand or wrist. The formula should feel lukewarm — not hot.
At nighttime, there's less movement and the gas can build up and get trapped. Additionally, babies tend to feed close to bedtime, and air introduced during this feed can become trapped. Also, our digestive systems are still very active at night and the results of digestion can be… gas!
Reasons to Heat Formula
Babies often seem to like what they're used to, so if they have been fed warm bottles previously, then cold or room-temperature formula may be less tolerated. Additionally, some babies who are used to breastfeeding (and drinking warm breast milk) may also prefer formula to be warm.
If your baby doesn't burp after a few minutes, change the baby's position and try burping for another few minutes before feeding again. Always burp your baby when feeding time is over.
Gassy babies or those with colic should be fed in the upright position, as this helps cut down on gas and post-pain feeding (see sitting upright and side-lying above). Upright feeding can also help reduce reflux symptoms in babies.
Overfeeding a baby often causes the baby discomfort because he or she can't digest all of the breast milk or formula properly. When fed too much, a baby may also swallow air. This can produce gas, increase discomfort in the belly, and lead to crying.
Tummy time.
Placing a baby on their stomach while awake helps to relieve gas pains. By gently increasing the abdominal pressure, tummy time pushes gas bubbles up and out. Tummy time is also a great way to strengthen the head and neck muscles needed to reach early motor milestones.
Along with changes in bowel movements, like having diarrhea after eating, an increase in gassiness can also be a sign that your baby's formula isn't agreeing with them. This may be accompanied by abdominal bloating and firmness of their belly.
Similac Sensitive* is an easy-to-digest, milk-based infant formula designed for sensitive tummies. It's complete nutrition for fussiness,† gas,† or mild spit-up.
Leave the water to cool in the kettle for no more than 30 minutes. Then it will stay at a temperature of at least 70C. Water at this temperature will kill any harmful bacteria. Remember to let the feed cool before you give it to your baby.
For breastfed babies, gas might be caused by eating too fast, swallowing too much air or digesting certain foods. Babies have immature GI systems and can frequently experience gas because of this. Pains from gas can make your baby fussy, but intestinal gas is not harmful.
Using a pacifier.
“Almost all babies will find some baby gas relief by sucking on a pacifier,” O'Connor says, because the sucking action releases endorphins that will soothe them.
Common causes for baby gas
If your baby is flatulent, there could be many culprits for it. Some of the most common causes of increased gassiness include feeding issues, formula or food intolerance, crying and constipation.
Always add the powder to the water that is in the bottle, not the other way around. Boil the water when needed. For infants under 3 months of age, those who were born prematurely and those who have a weakened immune system, hot water should be used to prepare formula to kill any microbes.
So giving your baby a warm bottle every night may be a little boost of tryptophan and a comforting sleep cue signaling to them that it's time for bed." Plus, it's good for them. "We pediatricians recommend about 16 ounces of milk daily for important nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D, and protein," says Dr. Segura.