Can infant gas relief exercises be performed when the newborn is asleep?
Sep 20, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
Introduction
A newborn should not be given gas-relief exercises while sleeping, as it may have adverse effects on their body. These exercises stimulate the baby's abdomen, which can disrupt sleep quality and may cause the baby to cry. When performing gas-relief exercises, parents should ensure that both the room and their hands are warm, and all movements should be gentle. If the baby starts to cry, the procedure should be stopped immediately.
Generally, it is not advisable to perform排气操 (gas-relief exercises) on a newborn while they are asleep, as it may have negative effects on their body. The specific reasons are as follows:
While sleeping, newborns continue to grow and develop, and high-quality sleep is crucial for their well-being. Therefore, it is usually not recommended to disturb a sleeping newborn. Gas-relief exercises involve stimulating the baby's abdomen, which may disrupt their sleep and easily cause crying. For this reason, these exercises should generally not be performed while the newborn is asleep. Since newborns often experience intestinal gas after feeding, parents can perform gas-relief exercises about half an hour after feeding, which tends to yield better results.
When performing gas-relief exercises, ensure the room temperature is comfortable and that your hands are warm—avoid touching the newborn with cold hands. Movements should be gentle and not too forceful to prevent overstimulation and discomfort. It is also important to closely observe the newborn’s reactions; if the baby starts to cry or show signs of distress, stop the exercise immediately and comfort them.
