Is it normal for children to have intestinal gas?
Intestinal gas is a perfectly normal occurrence in children and in adults. (We grown-ups pass, on average, 2 liters of gas a day, and it can be as high as 8 liters a day.) In most cases, it isn't a cause for concern, unless your child is experiencing more than minor discomfort and complaining a lot.
How can my child get relief from gas pain?
Typically, a child with gas has bloating, pain, or burning in his belly, and frequent burping or flatulence. He may also feel a bit of nausea. It most likely only happens once in a while – for example, after he's overindulged at a birthday party.
But it's also possible that particular foods or eating habits are to blame. The best thing you can do in that case is to try to eliminate or manage the offending food or habit that's triggering your child's gas.
When your child does have uncomfortable gas pain, you can give him an over-the-counter ant-gas medicine (such as a simethicone product). These are safe for children of all ages.
Heartburn and indigestion often accompany gas and cause abdominal pain. If your child is dealing with these, and your child is at least 6 months old, you can try an antacid (which neutralizes stomach acid). Look for an antacid that doesn't contain aluminum, as antacids with aluminum aren't recommended for children.
Ask your pharmacist to help you find an anti-gas medication or antacid that's appropriate for your child.
What could be causing my child's gas?
Several factors could cause your child to have more gas or indigestion than usual:
Roaming around during meals
Many time-crunched parents find themselves doing anything they can think of to get their kids to eat right – including letting them meander around house, watch television, or even roughhouse during meals.
"When kids roam and play while they eat, they can get excited and trap air in their intestinal tracts during mealtime," says Michael Hart, director of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at Carilion Clinic Children's Hospital in Roanoke, Virginia, and a professor of pediatrics at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.
If your child is a roamer, she probably eats fast or gulps so that chewing won't impede her playing. That also increases air consumption and isn't good for digestion. And if she has meals while watching television, she might ignore her body's signals that she's full and overeat.
Encourage your child to sit at the table with you during meals, chew her food well, and take her time when eating. Reassure her that she'll have time to play after the meal.
Eating a lot of high-fiber foods, like cereal, or fatty foods, like French fries
Some children's guts are sensitive to fiber or fat. Take note of which types of foods bring on your child's bouts of gastrointestinal distress and try limiting them. You might also discuss his diet with his doctor, who may have other suggestions.
Ingesting a particular protein in formula or breast milk
If your baby is breastfeeding and having gas pains, she may have an intolerance to a protein in Mom's diet – meaning she has trouble digesting it, resulting in gas and bloating. Elimination of the offending food (such as dairy products) may help.
If your baby is formula-fed and seems to be having gas pains, it's possible that she has an intolerance to the cow's milk protein in the formula. If that's the case, her doctor can recommend a hypoallergenic option.
Eating certain vegetables
Like adults, children can develop additional gas when they eat foods like beans, broccoli, and cauliflower. If your child eats these healthy foods, that's a good thing. Just make sure you don't overload him with too many gas-inducing veggies at consecutive meals.
Drinking a lot of juice
In general, parents misunderstand the benefits of giving kids juice. If your child is drinking more than a glass a day, it might be causing him to have a little extra gas.
Some children have a hard time digesting the fructose and sucrose in juice. As a result, it can bring on gas, even diarrhea. Drinking too much juice can also make a child feel too full to eat nutritious foods at mealtime. Plus, it bathes the teeth in sugar.
Ideally, a child under the age of 3 won't drink any juice or soda, says Hart. At most, he should drink no more than one 4-ounce glass of juice a day. Once he's 3 years and older, limit him to one 6- to 8-ounce glass a day.
To avoid cavities and obesity, Hart explains, it's preferable to for children to drink only water and milk.
For more help choosing healthy beverages for your child, see our slideshow on the best and worst drinks for thirsty kids.
Drinking a lot of soda
Carbonated drinks like soda contain phosphoric acid, which can cause excessive gas and indigestion. Soda also tends to make children feel full, so they don't drink the necessary milk and water they should or get all the nutrients they need throughout the day. Try to eliminate soda from your child's diet or at least limit it to special occasions.
Not drinking enough water
Drinking water won't eliminate your child's gas problem, but it will help improve any constipation or difficulty she might have passing stools. (Constipation often coincides with gas and abdominal discomfort.)
Make sure your child has several glasses of water each day in addition to the milk or juice you give her.
Could it be something more serious?
If you find yourself treating your child several times a day for more than three consecutive days, or his gas is severe or coincides with other symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or fever, call your doctor.
Your child might have a more serious condition such as inflammatory bowel disease, appendicitis, a food allergy, or lactose intolerance. An illness such as gastroenteritis, strep throat, or a urinary tract infection can also cause abdominal pain, as can constipation.
Source: Michael Hart, M.D., director of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at Carilion Clinic Children's Hospital and professor of pediatrics at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in Roanoke, Virginia