If you have to deal with a gassy baby, I feel your pain. One of the hardest things about being a mum is feeling helpless when your child appears to be suffering, and gas can be absolutely brutal for babies.

So how can you keep your little one comfortable and happy?

Last year, I surveyed mums on social media about how they deal with gassy babies, and there were a lot of great suggestions. Let’s take a look at each one and see how they stack up!

1. Anti-colic bottles

These are designed to reduce the amount of air babies swallow during feedings, slowing their food intake and reducing gas bubbles in their little tummies. Some have vents, while others use clever angles and other features. Using these in place of your usual bottles can really help address gas and overfeeding. A lot of mums specifically recommended Suavinex Zero in my informal poll. These were the very same bottles I used with my youngest, Nina, and I like to think they made a bit of a difference!

2. Bicycle legs

To do bicycle legs, all you have to do is lay your little one down on their back and move their legs like they’re riding a bicycle. This seems to help get quite a bit of gas out, and it’s also kind of fun! You could also try putting them in a squatting position. As you probably recall from labour and delivery, this is the ideal position for pushing, so it might just help them push out some of that pesky gas!

3. Massages

Massaging your baby’s tummy can really help get things moving in there. Rub your thumbs gently in circular motions just under their rib cage to help gas bubbles make their way through their intestines. Some mums have reported to have had success using a drop of chamomile oil for the massage because inhaling its aroma can relax the mind and body – so it may help you as well as your baby!  Do ask for advice from your baby’s paediatrician before applying any essential oils on your child.

4. Colic drops

There are a lot of different colic drops on the market. Some contain simethicone, which can break up bigger gas bubbles into smaller ones to help babies pass them more comfortably. This is the active ingredient in Infacol, which a lot of mums named as one of their go-to remedies for colic. This was my go-to with both of my babies. Other colic drops contain probiotics, which is a different approach to colic that I’ll discuss below.

5. Chamomile tea

Most gassy baby remedies are geared toward the babies themselves, but this is one you can try! Drinking chamomile tea is a traditional remedy for gastrointestinal issues like gas and flatulence, and you may pass on some of these benefits to your baby if you drink it and you’re breastfeeding.

6. Bay leaf tea

There haven’t been a lot of in-depth studies on this one, but boiling bay leaf to make a tea and adding a tiny pinch of sugar before giving it to a baby is something a lot of our mums and grandmothers used with great success to deal with a gassy baby – perhaps your own mum even gave it to you! Now this is a tricky one, because adding sugar to anything for a baby is not recommended, so again, I would ask for advice on this one.

7. Probiotics

For a more modern remedy, probiotics – which are basically “good” bacteria – promote gut health for all ages, and there is some evidence they can ease colic and improve digestion in babies, among other benefits. In fact, it works so well for so many people that there are lots of probiotic drops and powders made specifically for babies on the market now. Your child’s paediatrician will be able to guide you here.

The good news about colic? (I know, you’re probably laughing at me trying to use “good” and “colic” in the same sentence, but bear with me.) It really will go away on its own in a few weeks or months. They may feel like the longest weeks or months of your life, but it will get better.

Hang in there, and don’t be afraid to ask someone to hold your baby when you feel overwhelmed and need to go somewhere quiet for a bit. Your whole life probably revolves around your little one right now, and rightfully so, but you really do need to take care of yourself, too!