Baby gas: causes and what actually helps
Why babies swallow air, the pediatrician-backed bicycle-leg trick, feeding fixes, and what the evidence says about gas drops and probiotics.
In short
Baby gas is normal. It usually comes from swallowing extra air during feeding, crying, or pacifier use — not from something you're doing wrong. The bicycle-leg move can help release trapped gas. To do it, gently pedal your baby's legs while they lie on their back. Slowing bottle feeds or mixing formula gently can also cut how much air your baby swallows. Gas drops (simethicone) don't have strong evidence behind them. Call your pediatrician right away if gas comes with stopped pooping or eating, or black or bloody poop. Also call for vomiting, a fever over 100.4°F (38°C), or inconsolable fussiness. Signs of an allergic reaction need a call too.
Sourced from Cleveland Clinic, HealthyChildren.org (AAP), NCBI/PMC (BMC Pediatrics systematic review) · Updated August 15, 2026
If your baby has been squirming, arching, and grunting after a feeding, you might be lying awake wondering if something is wrong. Take a breath. Infant gas is one of the most common, most normal parts of the newborn months. Cleveland Clinic explains that gas is a normal bodily function, usually caused by swallowing extra air. Babies take in that air while feeding from a bottle or breast, while crying, or while sucking on a pacifier. In other words, the very things that keep your baby fed and comforted often bring in a little extra air too.
This guide covers what actually helps, based on guidance from Cleveland Clinic and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). It also covers what current research says about probiotics for colicky crying. We'll walk through the specific warning signs that mean it's time to stop troubleshooting at home and call your pediatrician.
Why does my baby swallow so much air?
Every baby swallows some air during the day. It isn't a sign that you're doing anything wrong. According to Cleveland Clinic, gas is a normal bodily function usually caused by swallowing extra air. That air commonly comes in during bottle-feeding, breastfeeding, crying jags, or a stretch of contented pacifier sucking.
Feeding and comfort-sucking happen many times a day in the newborn stage. So it makes sense that gas is a near-constant companion during this season. It's not a sign that something is wrong with how your baby eats or how you're feeding them.
What's the bicycle-leg trick, and does it work?
When your baby is squirming with trapped gas, one of the simplest tools is also one of the most widely recommended by pediatric experts. Cleveland Clinic describes it. Lay your baby on their back and move their legs in gentle circular motions, as if pedaling a bicycle. HealthyChildren.org, the AAP's parenting site, offers the same guidance. It describes the bicycling motion as a form of baby massage that can help release trapped gas.
Why does this simple move help? Cleveland Clinic notes some babies haven't yet learned to coordinate the muscles used for pushing out gas or stool. So they end up clenching even while straining and crying to get it out. Gently bicycling the legs — and flexing them up toward the belly — works with those muscles instead of against them. That gives trapped gas an easier path out.
Can I tweak feeding to cut down on gas?
If your baby is bottle-fed, a few tweaks to how you prepare and give the bottle can cut down on swallowed air. HealthyChildren.org points out that mixing powdered formula with more shaking adds more air bubbles to the bottle. That extra air can end up as extra swallowed air, and extra gas, for your baby. Mixing gently instead of shaking vigorously is a small change that can make a real difference.
The speed of the feed matters too. HealthyChildren.org recommends slowing the flow of liquid from the bottle into your baby's mouth. Try different bottles and nipples until you find a combination that lets your baby feed at a slower pace. That combination shouldn't force your baby to gulp down extra air with their milk.
Do gas drops actually work?
It's tempting to reach for simethicone (a common gas-relief ingredient) drops the moment your baby seems uncomfortable. But the evidence for them is thinner than you'd expect. The AAP states there isn't clear evidence that simethicone drops are worth their cost and effort. For colic specifically, the AAP notes studies suggest simethicone doesn't help. That's part of why pediatricians increasingly advise against using it.
If you've been reaching for gas drops out of habit, raise this with your pediatrician before continuing. That's especially worth doing given the cost and effort of using them regularly.
Do probiotics help with colic?
Probiotics, particularly the strain Lactobacillus reuteri (a specific type of beneficial bacteria), have gotten a lot of attention as a potential colic remedy. The research here is more encouraging, though still incomplete. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that Lactobacillus reuteri may effectively treat crying in exclusively breastfed infants with colic. But the same review notes the evidence for formula-fed infants remains unresolved. So the research doesn't yet support the same conclusion for every baby.
On the safety side, there's reassuring news. In the trials reviewed, none of the studies of Lactobacillus reuteri for infant colic reported any adverse side effects. That doesn't mean every probiotic product is automatically right for every baby. It's still worth talking to your pediatrician before starting one. But the existing trial data didn't turn up safety red flags.
When should I call the pediatrician right away?
Most infant gas resolves with time, patience, and the simple techniques above. But gas can sometimes appear alongside symptoms that need medical attention. Cleveland Clinic advises contacting a healthcare provider immediately if, along with gas issues, your baby stops pooping or eating, has black or bloody poop, or is vomiting. Also call right away for a fever over 100.4°F (38°C), fussiness that can't be consoled, or sudden signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, hives, swelling, or trouble breathing.
If you notice any of these signs, don't wait to see if things improve on their own. Call your pediatrician or seek care right away.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for my baby to have a lot of gas?
Yes. According to Cleveland Clinic, gas is a normal bodily function in babies, typically caused by swallowing extra air during bottle-feeding, breastfeeding, crying, or pacifier use. All of that happens many times a day in the newborn months. Having a gassy baby isn't a sign you're doing something wrong.
How do I do the "bicycle legs" trick correctly?
Lay your baby on their back and gently move their legs in circular motions, as if they're pedaling a bicycle. Both Cleveland Clinic and the AAP's HealthyChildren.org recommend this as a form of baby massage to help release trapped gas. You can also gently flex the knees up toward the belly. Some babies haven't yet learned to coordinate the muscles used to push out gas, and this motion can help them along.
Should I give my baby simethicone gas drops?
Talk to your pediatrician before you start. The AAP states there isn't definitive evidence that simethicone drops are worth their cost and effort. It also notes that for colic specifically, studies suggest they don't help. That's part of why more pediatricians are advising against routine use.
Are probiotics like Lactobacillus reuteri a good option for a colicky baby?
The evidence depends on how your baby is fed. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that Lactobacillus reuteri may be effective for crying in exclusively breastfed infants with colic. Evidence for formula-fed infants remains unresolved. Reassuringly, none of the reviewed trials reported adverse side effects. But it's still worth checking with your pediatrician before starting any supplement.
What if my baby's formula prep is making the gas worse?
It might be. HealthyChildren.org notes that more mixing and shaking of powdered formula introduces more air bubbles into the bottle. That can mean more swallowed air and more gas for your baby. Mixing gently and slowing the flow from the bottle can help your baby take in less air while feeding. Try different bottles or nipples to find what works.
Sources
- Infant gas is a normal bodily function typically caused by swallowing extra air, which babies can take in while feeding from a bottle or breast, while crying, or while sucking on a pacifier. — Cleveland Clinic
- A pediatrician-recommended way to help a gassy baby is to lay the infant on their back and move their legs in gentle circular motions as if pedaling a bicycle. — Cleveland Clinic
- The AAP's HealthyChildren.org also recommends laying a baby flat on their back and moving their legs in a bicycling motion as a form of baby massage to help release trapped gas. — HealthyChildren.org (AAP)
- One reason bicycling and flexing a baby's legs to the belly can help is that some babies haven't yet learned to coordinate the muscles used for pushing out gas or stool, so they clench even while straining and crying. — Cleveland Clinic
- When preparing powdered formula, more mixing and shaking incorporates more air bubbles into the bottle, which can lead to more swallowed air and more gas for the baby. — HealthyChildren.org (AAP)
- Slowing the flow of liquid from the bottle into a baby's mouth, including by trying different bottles and nipples, can help the baby swallow less air. — HealthyChildren.org (AAP)
- The AAP states there isn't definitive evidence that simethicone gas drops are worth their cost and effort, and notes that with respect to colic specifically, studies suggest simethicone does not help, which is why pediatricians are increasingly advising against their use. — HealthyChildren.org (AAP)
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri may be an effective treatment for crying in exclusively breastfed infants with colic, but the evidence supporting probiotic use for infant colic or crying in formula-fed infants remains unresolved. — NCBI/PMC (BMC Pediatrics systematic review)
- In the trials reviewed, none of the studies of Lactobacillus reuteri supplementation for infant colic reported any adverse side effects. — NCBI/PMC (BMC Pediatrics systematic review)
- Parents should contact a healthcare provider immediately if, in addition to gas issues, a baby stops pooping or eating, has black or bloody poop, is vomiting, has a fever over 100.4°F (38°C), is unusually fussy and cannot be consoled, or suddenly develops signs of an allergic reaction such as rash, hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing. — Cleveland Clinic
Educational information, not medical advice — always consult your doctor.