How do II know if baby needs gas drops/Gripe water?

Question

I’m a ftm and honestly don’t know what I’m doing. Sometimes my baby buddy 3weeks seems so uncomfortable (crying, head tossing side to side, won’t latch right away) when nursing, particularly on my right boob. I also see him become unsettled when sleeping and he’ll kick his legs to his stomach and whimper or make small noises. 
He also has started to spit up lately. Not every time, but occasionally. Almost as if he’s eaten too much.
He wants to nurse all the tine when he’s awake. He does have plenty of diapers so I’m not worried about that. But when he’s awake and not nursing, he often cries as if he’s uncomfortable. Again not all the time, but often. 
Could it be gas?

Answer

That mostly sounds pretty normal to me. Is he farting a lot? The main signs of trapped gas are lots of grunting/crying and back arching. 
I have a very heavy letdown and all of my kids struggled to varies degrees with gas because of it. I would give them gas drops when they were farting a lot and grunting/arching their back while crying. 
I've never noticed gripe water being helpful with gas or spitting up in any of my kids. But that stuff is magic for hiccups. For 2 of my 3, it would instantaneously get rid of hiccups. I only gave it when the hiccups were making them angry, though. My middle son was never bothered by hiccups so he never used it. But my new one is pretty temperamental and hiccups can make him angry pretty fast depending on his mood.

Answer

Our daughter's pediatrician doesn't recommend gripe water. He recommends Mylicon drops. She's been fussy and gassy. Hopefully the Mylicon drops will help.

Answer

Depending on where you are you could try infacol? (UK based here). Both my kids would fall asleep drinking (bottle fed), struggle to wind (could try for an hour with nothing) and ‘bunch up’ as in pretty much curl up in a ball and keep bringing their legs up. I never tried gripe water or anything as infacol has worked brilliant for us

Answer

What time is this happening and how long is it lasting? It could be colic/purple crying and not actually gas (we recently figured this out with my daughter). It's normal between 3 weeks and 4 months of age. My son had gas really bad at about 3-5 weeks and it was awful but gripe water etc didn't help him, he just had to learn how to burp/fart more 😂

Answer

He’ll often fall asleep while nursing