Try This Towel Roll Trick to Relieve Baby Gas Before Bedtime

Before we dive into the physical technique, it helps to understand why your little love is struggling. Unlike adults, babies spend the majority of their time lying flat on their backs. While ‘Back to Sleep’ is the gold standard for SIDS prevention, it doesn’t always help with digestion. Gravity isn’t helping those bubbles move ‘down and out.’ Furthermore, babies are ‘obligate mouth breathers’ and often swallow significant amounts of air during crying spells or while gulping down milk.

Common Culprits of Infant Gas

• Immature Digestive Tract: The rhythmic contractions (peristalsis) needed to move waste and gas aren’t fully coordinated yet.
• Lactose Overload: Sometimes, if a baby gets too much ‘foremilk’ (the thinner milk at the start of a breastfeed), the high lactose content can ferment in the gut, causing extra bubbles.
• Air Ingestion: A shallow latch or a bottle nipple that is too fast can lead to ‘aerophagia’—literally, air-eating.
• Overstimulation: Believe it or not, a stressed nervous system can lead to a tight tummy.

By using the towel roll trick, we are essentially changing the pelvic tilt of the baby, which relaxes the abdominal wall and allows the lower intestine to straighten out slightly, making it much easier for gas to pass through the rectum.

This technique is best used during your pre-bedtime routine—perhaps after a warm bath but before the final feeding. It helps ‘clear the pipes’ so that gas doesn’t wake them up twenty minutes after you’ve finally laid them down. Note: This is a supervised comfort technique, not a sleep position. Once the baby is ready for sleep, the towel must be removed.

1. Select Your Tool: Find a small hand towel or a receiving blanket. You want something soft but firm enough to hold its shape.
2. The Roll: Fold the towel in half and roll it into a firm ‘burrito’ shape, about 2 to 3 inches in diameter.
3. The Placement: Lay your baby on a flat, safe surface (like a changing pad or a play mat). Gently lift their legs and slide the towel roll directly underneath their knees.
4. The Angle: Their knees should be bent and slightly higher than their hips. This ‘squatty’ position is the most natural way for the human body to eliminate gas and waste.
5. The Duration: Allow your baby to rest in this position for 10 to 15 minutes. You can use this time to read a story or sing a lullaby.
6. The Bicycle Finish: While the towel is under their knees, gently cycle their legs in a slow, rhythmic motion toward their tummy to further encourage movement.

“The goal isn’t just to stop the crying; it’s to create a physical environment where the baby’s body can do what it needs to do with ease. The towel roll is like a gentle ‘nudge’ for their digestive system.”

Every baby is a unique little soul, and what works for one might not work for another. I always recommend having a ‘menu’ of options. If the towel roll doesn’t produce a satisfying ‘toot’ within a few minutes, you might try one of these other doula-approved methods.

Pro Tip: When performing ‘Bicycle Legs,’ make sure you are pushing the knees up toward the ribcage firmly but gently. It’s the compression of the abdomen that actually moves the gas!

If the towel roll trick is the ‘passive’ way to help, the ‘I Love You’ (ILU) massage is the ‘active’ way. I love teaching this to my clients because it’s a beautiful way to bond with your baby while providing physical therapy. It follows the natural flow of the ascending, transverse, and descending colon.

• The ‘I’: On the baby’s left side (your right), stroke a straight line down from under the ribs to the hip. This is the descending colon.
• The ‘L’: Start at the baby’s right side under the ribs, stroke across to the left side, and then down. This forms an upside-down ‘L’.
• The ‘U’: Start at the baby’s lower right hip, stroke up to the ribs, across the tummy, and down the left side. This forms an upside-down ‘U’.

Repeat this sequence 5 to 10 times. You can use a baby-safe oil like fractionated coconut oil or sunflower oil to make the strokes smoother. Always talk to your baby during this—tell them how much you love them and how you’re helping their tummy feel better. Your calm voice helps lower their cortisol levels, which in turn relaxes their gut.

While we love our tricks and tips, the best way to handle gas is to minimize its production in the first place. This involves looking at how the ‘fuel’ is going in. If you are breastfeeding, check the latch—a ‘clicking’ sound often indicates air is getting in. If you are bottle-feeding, ensure the nipple is always full of milk, not air.

The ‘Paced’ Feeding Checklist

1. Keep Baby Upright: Feed the baby at a 45-degree angle rather than lying flat.
2. Burp Frequently: Don’t wait until the end of the feed. Try to get a burp every 2 to 3 ounces or every time you switch breasts.
3. The ‘Sit and Slump’ Burp: Sit the baby on your lap, supporting their chin (not throat) with your hand, and let them slump forward slightly. This compresses the tummy and forces air up.
4. Check the Flow: If using a bottle, turn it upside down. Milk should drip at about one drop per second. If it’s a stream, it’s too fast!

Remember, mama, sometimes gas is just a result of a growing body. Even with the perfect feeding technique, some babies are just ‘gassy’ by nature. This isn’t a reflection of your care!

As a doula, I always want you to trust your gut. If your baby seems to be in inconsolable pain despite all these tricks, it might be more than just standard gas. It’s important to distinguish between ‘the witching hour’ and medical concerns like GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) or severe colic.

Signs it’s Time to Call the Pediatrician:

• Projectile Vomiting: More than just a standard ‘spit-up.’
• Poor Weight Gain: If gas or reflux is preventing them from keeping enough calories down.
• Inconsolable Crying: Crying that lasts more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks (the Rule of Threes).
• Bloody Stools: This can indicate a milk protein allergy or sensitivity.
• Fever or Lethargy: Always a reason for an immediate call.

You are your baby’s best advocate. If you feel like something isn’t right, don’t be afraid to ask for a second opinion or a lactation consultation. Sometimes a simple change in your diet (if breastfeeding) or a different formula can make a world of difference.