Foods with a high-carbohydrate content release gas in your toddler's digestive system. Ideally, that gas gets expelled through belching or flatulence -- often to your toddler's great amusement. But when there's too much gas to move through his system quickly, it can build up, causing bloating and abdominal pain. Foods like broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, cabbage, baked beans, apples, pears and Brussels sprouts are the most common culprits, according to MayoClinic.com.

Some foods can cause gas because they make your child swallow air. If your toddler is sucking on sugary candies or chewing gum, he'll swallow more frequently, which can cause air to build up in his digestive system. Along the same lines, carbonated beverages release carbon dioxide gas; when your toddler drinks them, some of that gas goes right into the stomach, causing bloating and discomfort.

Sometimes, the problem is that your toddler has an allergy or intolerance to the food he's eating. Dairy products are one of the most common allergy-related causes of gas: Kids whose bodies don't produce enough of the enzyme that digests dairy products end up with gas produced by partially digested lactose. If you notice your child's gas is worse after eating or drinking dairy products, ask your doctor to run an allergy test. Although lactose is the most common culprit, other food allergies can cause gas, too. If gas is a serious problem for your toddler, track his diet to see whether a particular food is a trigger.

In a perfect world, you would never feed your toddler anything that causes him to have gas. In reality, a little gas is probably inevitable. Sometimes you have to make do with a less-than-tummy-soothing meal on a hectic night or find out too late that a particular food is a gas trigger for your child. To minimize the risk, teach your child to eat slowly, chew thoroughly and drink without gulping to reduce the likelihood of developing gas, whatever he is eating.