It is a common condition of newborns usually occurring till two months of life and then resolves as the child grows. Newborn gas causes discomfort in the babies, thus the appetite of the baby is decreased leading to decreased intake of food and weight loss. The child looks lethargic occasionally.

The new born gas is due to breakdown of the breast milk particles (lactose proteins and other nutrients) and food particles which are in excess than usual requirement, in the gastrointestinal tract. This process is called putrefaction. This results in production of gas in the newborns. Other reason can be engulfing air while breastfeeding or bottle feeding. However chance of air trapping is more in bottle fed babies especially if the hole of nipple is too small. It may also occur due to milk intolerance or when babies take breast milk for the first time.

Hyperlactation syndrome is another cause of newborn gas in which large amount of foremilk is delivered to the baby resulting in large amount of gas.

Other rare causes of newborn gas are excessive vegetables intake and overstimulation of child during day time which results in gaseousness at night.

Many remedies are there to address the issue of newborn gas. Top of them is use of Gripe Water.

Gripe water is so effective in treating newborn gas that no other measure is usually required. As most of the parents may know that usually gripe water contains herbs and sodium bicarbonate. Certain ingredients of gripe water like caraway, ginger, peppermint, aloe, blackthorn, lemon balm, glycerin, dill weed oil, cinnamon, clove bud oil, cardamom seed oil and vegetable charcoal helps effectively is digestion of particles in the gastrointestinal tract. Sodium bicarbonate common as baking soda decreases the acidity of stomach. In this way newborn gas is prevented by taking gripe water.