When your newborn is wailing through the nights it can feel like you’re trapped in a nightmare. All you want to do is help them, but they can’t tell you what’s wrong.

Often in the first few weeks of life, newborns will have trouble with gas. Their little bodies are starting to kick into gear and that usually comes with some pain as their digestive systems start working. Many moms report the worst gas issues between weeks 3-9.

For my son, it was week 3 like clockwork. So here are some of the most popular gas relief tips to try and my rating of what worked or didn’t for me.

 5 gas relief tips for newborns 

1. The Windi: This is a gross little device you stick up your baby’s bum if their gas is really bad. The idea is these little disposable tubes help release the gas build up by creating an opening for it to, well, whistle through. Yes, it does work to release the pressure but be warned to do it over a fresh diaper as there can be, ahem, some leakage with use. Also make sure to use a little olive oil on the tube to help it be less invasive for the baby.

   Verdict: Gross but effective. 4/5

2. Gripe Water: This is a liquid you feed to your baby to help settle their stomach and assist with gas relief. The baby should feel relief 10-15 minutes after consuming the small amount of the liquid. Now yes, this worked for me but I also found it very scary to use. Apparently with some babies, the slickness of the liquid can make it hard for them to breathe for a few breaths and let me tell you, that was terrifying. I’d recommend using this only as a last resort.

   Verdict: Effective but terrifying. 2/5

3. Baby probiotic drops: These drops are given to your baby once a day and the idea is they introduce good probiotics into the baby’s new digestive system to assist with gut health. This was by far the least difficult option to use and my son liked getting his drops. However, I didn’t notice much difference between when he took them and when he didn’t. I’d say there’s no harm in trying these, but for us at least, they were not a magic bullet.

   Verdict: Nice in theory. 3/5

4. Change the mom’s diet: If your baby is really having a hard time, it might be because your diet. Some babies can’t handle dairy in their milk, for example. Others need their mom’s to be gluten-free or soy-free. This one can be a hard change for the mom, especially after 9 months of an already restrictive diet. Check with your health care provider about what you may need to exclude from your diet and how to reintroduce foods slowly to see if they impact your little one.

   Verdict: Effective but I miss cheese. 4/5

5. Change the bottle you’re using: Another contributor to gas could be the bottle you’re using for feeding if you’re doing top ups. Some bottles actually put more air into the baby when they drink than others, which can impact their gassiness and burp schedule. Check out special sloped nipples or an anti-colic bottle like Dr. Brown’s if you think the bottle might be the culprit. I found the Como Tomo bottles made all the difference for us.

   Verdict: Easy to change but a lot of bottles out there to try. 5/5

6. Is it hunger or gas?: It might seems counterproductive to fight digestion issues with more food, but the solution that worked best for me was actually a bigger bottle before bed. I started to wonder if what I thought was gas was actually hunger and focused more on feeding him larger amounts before bed with a bottle that worked for him (we tried many). Adding a 2 oz top up bottle before I put him down made a world of difference. I’ll never know if it was gas or hunger, but this trick did have an impact.

   Verdict: More milk, more sleep so why not try? 5/5

 It can feel overwhelming

Not being able to help your child when they’re in pain is the worst feeling a new parent can deal with. But take comfort in the knowledge that the gassy period does end and your baby will figure things out. In the meantime, be kind to yourself and comfort your little one as best you can. This too shall pass.