How To Burp A Baby

If your baby seems unsettled or grizzly, they might need to get rid of some excess air.

This might be your first time to burp a baby but don’t worry, you’ll be an expert in no time.

This article will tell you everything you need to know about burping babies, whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle-feeding.

Keep reading to find out how to burp your baby easily.

Why do I need to burp my baby?

When your baby swallows milk during feeds, he might also take in air bubbles.

These bubbles of air can become trapped in his tummy and causes him to feel uncomfortable.

Burping or winding your infant releases these air bubbles and helps to ease any discomfort.

Not all babies need to be burped, and some can burp without help.

If your infant seems to be struggling with gas, keep reading to find out everything you need to know about burping your baby.

How do I know if my baby needs to burp?

There are no one-size-fits-all rules when it comes to burping your baby. You’ll need to look for clues that burping the baby will help. Some babies need to be burped during feeds, but others will be ok until they have finished feeding.

As you get to know your infant, you’ll begin to recognize the signs he needs to be burped. If your little one seems uncomfortable during a feed, try burping him.

If he seems happy during the feed, you can wait until he has finished feeding.

Possible signs babies have trapped wind are:

1. Being unsettled
2. An arched back
3. Clenched fists
4. Crying
5. Pulling their legs up towards their tummy.

Signs baby needs to burp

During a feed, you might notice your infant is pulling away or squirming in discomfort. This can be a sign he needs to be burped. Pause the feed so you can try burping baby.

If your infant grimaces or looks uncomfortable when you lay him down, this is another sign he has trapped gas.

How to burp a baby

First of all, support your baby’s chest and head and make sure his back is straight (not curled up). You might find it easier to hold your baby on your shoulder, so he’s well supported while you burp him.

Once you have him in a comfortable position, gently rub or pat his back.

This usually helps babies to bring up any air bubbles.

Burping a baby on your lap

Some parents prefer to use the burping over the lap technique.

To do this, you lay your baby – tummy down and face down – across your lap, and use your hand to support his head and neck. Use your other hand to gently rub or pat his back.

Alternatively, you might want to burp your baby while he’s sitting on your lap.

Hold your baby in a sitting position on your lap and lean him against the palm of your hand to support his head and neck. With the other hand, gently rub and pat his back.

Is it ok to put baby to sleep without burping?

This will depend on your baby. Some babies need help to get burps out and others don’t. Rather than risk a grizzly infant later, it makes sense to try to burp your baby after each feed.

Burping baby when sleeping

Don’t worry, you don’t have to wake your sleeping baby infant to burp him. You can do it while he’s asleep. Genius, right?

Put your sleeping baby into an upright position against your chest. You can also gently place him against your shoulder. Make sure his head is well supported, and then rub or gently pat his back.

The great thing about this position is babies can stay in it for the rest of their nap, and you get to smell their dreamy newborn scent.

Now you can grab the TV remote or a book and relax for a little bit.

How long does it take to burp a baby?

It should only take a couple of minutes to burp your infant. If he doesn’t burp, try alternating different positions to see if that helps. You’ll probably find a position that works best for both of you.

If you’ve tried the positions listed above and your baby still hasn’t burped, try again later. Your baby might not need to burp right now, so try after the next feed.

Burping baby with reflux

You can wind an infant who has reflux by following the steps listed above.

If your infant has reflux, you might need to burp him more frequently. Holding your baby upright during and after feeds can help reduce the symptoms.

Symptoms of reflux include:

• Bringing up breast milk or formula during or after feeds
• Hiccuping or coughing during feeds
• Being unsettled during feeds
• Swallowing or gulping after feeding
• Crying and not settling.

Speak to your healthcare provider if you think your child might be suffering from reflux.

Want to learn more about reflux? Read this informative article answering 10 commonly asked questions about reflux.

Burping a baby with hiccups

Hiccups can be a sign your baby has swallowed air bubbles and might need help to bring them up.

Luckily, you can burp him as you usually would, even if he has hiccups.

Rub or gently pat his back while holding him in an upright position, such as over your shoulder, to help work the bubbles out.

How to burp a baby who won’t burp

Not all babies need help to burp. If, after a few minutes, your baby hasn’t burped, he might not need to at this time.

If he’s still showing signs of discomfort, though, you might need to try some other baby burping techniques.

Find a safe, comfortable place to lay your baby down so you can gently massage his tummy. If that doesn’t work, try gently moving his legs in a bicycling motion to try to release some of that gassiness and trapped air.

If you’re not having any luck and your baby seems to be in discomfort, ask your healthcare provider for advice.

How to burp your baby fast

Try experimenting with the different positions detailed above to find the one that works fastest for you and your child.

Using an upright position often helps. Most parents use the over-the-shoulder position, as it seems to give babies more room to get the wind out.

Remember, it takes some babies longer to bring air bubbles up.

When to start burping a newborn

You should try to burp your baby whenever he seems to be in discomfort. This could be during or after a feed. Whenever your infant seems unsettled, you should try to burp him.

It might feel daunting to have an unsettled baby and not know why, but try not to worry.

As you get to know your baby, you’ll begin to recognize his cues and you’ll know what he needs.

When to stop burping a newborn

Burping a newborn should only take a couple of minutes, so don’t feel you need to rub his back all day long.

If he seems uncomfortable but isn’t managing to bring any air up, try the techniques listed above to see if they help.

As your baby grows, he’ll find it easier to bring wind up by himself. You might move him to your shoulder and a burp just erupts!

Continue to burp your baby after feeds until he figures out how to bring air bubbles up independently.

What happens if my baby doesn’t burp?

If your baby doesn’t burp, you should try a different position to see if that helps. Try rotating through the various positions until you find the one that works best for your baby.

If he still isn’t burping, and you’ve been trying for more than a few minutes, it could simply mean he don’t have any air bubbles to bring up right now.

If he’s not showing any signs of discomfort, you can stop trying to burp him and try again after the next feed.

How to burp a baby after breastfeeding

If your baby struggles with gas, you might want to burp him during breastfeeds.

You could do this when switching breasts, to help your little one release some of the bubbles of gas trapped in his tummy. Try to burp your baby after each feed.

If you have a strong or overactive letdown, your baby might swallow air at the start of the feed.

If you notice your baby gulping or gasping at the start of the feed, you can remove your baby from the breast until the flow slows down.

Ask a lactation consultant to check your baby’s latch, to make sure your baby is getting the best possible feed.

If your child is struggling with excess air, a lactation consultant will be able to advise you about different breastfeeding positions to try.

How to burp a baby after bottle feeding

You should get into the habit of burping your bottle-fed baby after each 2-3 oz of milk from a bottle. Bottle-fed babies can swallow excess air during feeds, so be sure to burp them after each feed.

The following tips might help:

• Use a slow flow nipple on bottles, to reduce the amount of air your baby swallows during feeds
• Angle the bottle so the teat is full of milk throughout the feed
• Replace nipples that show signs of age, such as a bigger hole.

How to burp a baby easily

As with all aspects of parenting, the ease of the task comes with confidence.

When you first try baby burping, you might feel unsure about whether you are doing it correctly. The more you do it, and the more success you have, the easier it will seem.

There is nothing quite like the pride of helping your adorable little baby let out great big burps.

Burping your baby tricks

Here are some top tips to help you become the burping expert:

• Use a muslin or burp cloth to protect your clothes, so you don’t end up covered in spit-up
• If baby is upright on your lap, lay a muslin or burp cloth over the hand you’re using to support his head. This will ensure any spit-up is contained
• Start with a gentle pat or rub; some babies might need you to use a little more pressure
• Try burping baby mid-feed if they’re starting to fuss.

How to burp a baby easily

As with all aspects of parenting, the ease of the task comes with confidence.

When you first burp your baby, you might feel unsure about whether you are doing it correctly. The more you do it, and the more success you have, the easier it will seem.

There is nothing quite like the pride of helping your adorable little baby let out great big burps.

Burping your baby tricks

Here are some top tips to help you become the burping expert:

• Use a muslin or burp cloth to protect your clothes, so you don’t end up covered in spit-up
• If burping baby upright on your lap, lay a muslin or burp cloth over the hand you’re using to support his head. This will ensure any spit-up is contained
• Start with a gentle pat or rub; some babies might need you to use a little more pressure
• Try a mid-feed burp if your child is starting to fuss.