At some point in the first few weeks, most parents find themselves bouncing a baby who’s stiff as a board, red-faced, grunting, and crying so hard it feels personal. You try to feed, burp, rock, sing, and still, the crying keeps going.
That’s when the question hits: Is this just gas… or something more?
Gas is common. Colic is intense. And sometimes, the line between the two gets blurry, fast.
This post will help you sort out the signs, patterns, and relief options without the panic spiral or vague labels.
What’s the Difference Between Gas and Colic?
They can look incredibly similar, both involve crying, discomfort, and exhausted parents. But the root causes (and how long they last) are different.
What Does It Mean When a Baby Is Gassy?
Gas happens when air gets trapped in a baby’s digestive tract. Their gut is still learning to work efficiently, so swallowed air from feeding, crying, or even just adjusting to life outside the womb can build up and cause pressure.
A gassy baby might:
- Fidget and squirm right after a feed
- Let out loud toots and burps
- Settle down once they pass gas or poop
- Show discomfort that comes and goes
Gas is usually short-lived. The crying is uncomfortable but tends to respond to soothing, especially burping, tummy time, or a gentle bicycle-leg motion.
What Is Colic, Really?
Colic is more than fussiness. Pediatricians usually refer to the “Rule of 3s”:
- Crying for more than 3 hours a day
- On 3 or more days a week
- For at least 3 weeks in a row
It’s not a diagnosis of a medical condition, it’s a pattern.
Colicky crying tends to:
- Come at the same time every day, often late afternoon or evening
- Feel intense and relentless — crying that escalates to screaming
- Be inconsolable, even with your go-to calming tricks
- Leave baby physically tense: arched back, clenched fists, legs pulled up
There’s often no clear trigger, baby isn’t hungry, isn’t wet, and isn’t sick. And the crying doesn’t always end when gas is passed.
Quick Look: Gas vs. Colic
| Feature | Gassy Baby | Colicky Baby |
|---|---|---|
| Crying starts | After feeding, during digestion | Same time each day (often evenings) |
| Crying relief | Often improves with burping or pooping | Little or no relief from soothing |
| Baby’s body language | Squirming, knees pulled in, farting | Tense, stiff, back arched, fists tight |
| Duration of episodes | Comes and goes in shorter bursts | Lasts hours at a time |
| Overall mood | Alert and happy between bouts | May seem overwhelmed or agitated |
| Possible causes | Swallowed air, feeding position | Gut immaturity, overstimulation, sensitivities |
Signs Your Baby Is Just Gassy
Gas is incredibly common, especially in the first 8–12 weeks. Babies are learning to eat, swallow, and digest all at once. Their intestines are adapting. Their abdominal muscles are still underdeveloped. All of that makes it easy for gas to build up.
Watch for these signs it’s just gas, not colic:
1. Discomfort Tied to Feeding
If the crying ramps up during or right after a feed, and especially if baby gulps milk quickly or arches during nursing, it’s likely gas-related.
2. Burping Helps (Even a Little)
If your baby lets out a long burp or some gas and then seems calmer, that’s a strong clue.
3. Crying Isn’t Constant
You might notice short bursts of fussiness, especially after meals or when laying baby down, but they calm fairly quickly with movement or a change of position.
4. Belly Feels Bloated or Tense
A firm, rounded belly can mean air is trapped — often alongside squirming, straining, and grunting.
5. Fussing Leads to Farting
The biggest clue: once baby passes gas, their body relaxes and the crying eases. That’s textbook gassy baby behavior.
When It Might Be Colic Instead
Colic doesn’t always make sense. That’s part of what makes it so tough on parents. The crying seems to come out of nowhere and nothing seems to help — not consistently, anyway.
1. There’s a Daily Pattern
If the crying shows up like clockwork — say, every night between 6 and 10 p.m. — and nothing seems to change it, that’s colic’s calling card.
2. Nothing Works (For Long)
Feeding, rocking, swaddling, bouncing, gas drops — you name it, you’ve tried it. Sometimes it helps for a minute, but the crying always returns.
3. Baby Seems Overwhelmed
Colicky babies may cry with their eyes squeezed shut, body stiff, and fists clenched. They’ll kick and flail, then suddenly go limp, then start up again.
4. You’re Not Finding a Cause
You’ve ruled out hunger, dirty diaper, gas, sleep. And still — the crying stretches on.
Colic often isn’t about one issue. It can stem from sensory overload, gut sensitivity, or simply a nervous system that’s not yet ready to self-soothe.
Why Is My Baby So Gassy?
Gas is one of the most common causes of baby discomfort in the first three months. Their tiny digestive systems are new, immature, and still figuring out the rhythm of movement, absorption, and expulsion. Air gets trapped easily, and when it does, your baby lets you know about it.
Here’s what can contribute:
1. Swallowed Air (Aerophagia)
Babies gulp in air when they:
- Cry
- Feed too quickly
- Latch poorly
- Use a fast-flow bottle nipple
Even breastfeeding babies can swallow air if the latch is shallow or milk flow is forceful.
2. Underdeveloped Digestive Muscles
Your baby’s gut is still learning to coordinate peristalsis — the wave-like movements that move food and gas along. Until that matures, pockets of air can get stuck and cause pressure or cramping.
3. Feeding Position and Burping Technique
Feeding baby while they’re reclined can make it easier for gas to get trapped. Similarly, if burping isn’t done thoroughly, that air stays put — or moves further down.
4. Dietary Sensitivities
For some babies, gas is worsened by:
- Cow’s milk protein intolerance (CMPA)
- Formula ingredients that are hard to digest
- Certain foods in a breastfeeding parent’s diet (dairy, soy, cruciferous vegetables)
This doesn’t mean you need to cut everything — but if you’ve ruled out other causes and see mucus in stool, rash, or frequent spit-up, it might be worth discussing with your pediatrician.
5. Crying Itself Creates More Gas
A frustrating cycle:
baby cries → swallows more air → becomes more gassy → cries more.
That’s how gas and colic can start feeding into each other.
What Can I Do for a Gassy Baby?
You can’t always prevent gas, but there’s a lot you can do to help baby move it out — and feel better fast.
💨 Gentle Gas Relief Techniques
Bicycle Legs
Lay baby on their back and gently “pedal” their legs. This can help compress the abdomen and push gas out.
Tummy Time
A little supervised tummy time encourages pressure on the belly — and often leads to those satisfying little farts.
Baby Massage
Use circular motions around the bellybutton in a clockwise direction. Soft, rhythmic pressure can stimulate digestion and relieve tension.
Upright Holding After Feeds
Keep baby upright for 15–30 minutes after a meal to allow bubbles to rise and exit more easily through a burp.
Frequent Burping
Try burping halfway through and after each feed. Experiment with over-the-shoulder, seated on your lap, or tummy-down across your forearm positions.
🍼 Feeding Adjustments That May Help
- Switch to paced bottle feeding to slow down milk intake and reduce air swallowing
- Try an anti-colic bottle if you’re bottle-feeding
- If breastfeeding, experiment with laid-back nursing to help with strong letdown
- Break long feeds into shorter sessions with burp breaks in between
💊 Over-the-Counter Options (Use With Guidance)
- Simethicone gas drops (like Mylicon): Help break gas bubbles into smaller ones, making them easier to pass
- Probiotic drops: Some parents report improvement with daily infant probiotics (like BioGaia), especially if digestive imbalance is suspected
- Gripe water: Herbal remedy used traditionally for colic and gas — evidence is mixed, so use cautiously and check with your pediatrician
What Actually Helps with Colic?
If it’s not gas, or not just gas, you’ll need a different playbook.
Colic isn’t something you fix. It’s something you support your baby through. The goal shifts from “stop the crying” to “comfort through it.”
💤 The 5 S’s (from Happiest Baby on the Block)
These techniques can calm a colicky nervous system:
- Swaddle: Wrap snugly to mimic womb-like security
- Side or Stomach Position: Hold baby on their side or tummy (for soothing, not sleep)
- Shush: Use white noise or a loud, rhythmic “shhh”
- Swing: Rock or bounce — rhythmic motion can soothe the vagus nerve
- Suck: A pacifier, breast, or finger may help regulate tension
🧘♀️ Don’t Forget Your Own Well-being
Colic doesn’t just affect babies — it wears down parents, too. If you’re starting to dread the late afternoons or feel tears rise when your baby’s does, that’s a sign it’s time to create a backup plan.
Try:
- Taking turns with a partner for “witching hour duty”
- Getting 20 minutes outside with baby in a carrier each day
- Playing calming music or podcasts in the background while bouncing
- Calling a friend or relative — even just to narrate the chaos out loud
When to Dig Deeper
Gas and colic are normal, but they shouldn’t completely derail feeding, sleep, or growth. If you’re seeing any of the following, it’s worth a check-in with your pediatrician:
- Weight gain is stalling
- Baby refuses to eat or vomits forcefully
- Poop is mucousy, bloody, or unusually green
- Baby arches and screams during every feed
- The crying doesn’t follow any discernible pattern
- You’re completely out of ideas and running on fumes
Don’t worry about being “dramatic.” If you’re wondering whether to call, that’s reason enough.
Final Thoughts: Whether It’s Gas or Colic, It Will Pass
The newborn phase isn’t quiet. And for some babies, it’s not gentle either.
Gas is messy but manageable. Colic is unpredictable and draining. But neither one lasts forever.
Some babies need a little extra help learning how to live in their bodies. That doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. It just means you’re in the thick of it, and that you’re learning your baby while they learn how to be in the world.
Trust your instincts. Try what works. Let go of what doesn’t. And remember, babies grow, gut systems mature, and even the toughest evenings eventually fade into memory.
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