Question

A 70-day-old infant is experiencing frequent farting, with up to dozens of farts in an hour. The parents are worried whether this indicates poor gastrointestinal function in the child.

Answer

If the infant is on formula milk, it is recommended to try switching to moderately hydrolyzed formula or extensively hydrolyzed formula for a period of time, then gradually transition back to regular formula after the symptoms of excessive gas production have subsided. If the infant has started on complementary foods, recent attention should be given to the introduction of complementary foods, focusing mainly on starch-based foods and avoiding the introduction of foods high in protein as much as possible. Once the infant’s intestinal function returns to normal, resume normal diet. Additionally, it may also be due to weak gastrointestinal motility. Since the child is still very young, it is not recommended to use medication unless there is excessive defecation. Parents can adjust the child’s diet, such as reducing the amount of food consumed per meal and increasing the number of meals, adopting a small and frequent feeding method, which can help gradually improve the child’s farting problem.