aerophagia

Some infants suddenly interrupt sucking during feeding, showing irritability, clenched fists, incessant crying, flushed face or pallor. Many parents are bewildered and at a loss. This is medically termed infantile aerophagia. When infants inhale a large amount of air during sucking, the swallowed air accumulates in the lower part of the stomach while milk remains in the upper part. The air cannot be expelled in time and enters the small and large intestines, causing spasmodic contractions of the intestinal wall muscles, resulting in abdominal discomfort or severe abdominal pain.