Burping Newborns: When And Why It's Important After Feeding

Burping a newborn is a common practice, but is it necessary after every feeding? When a baby swallows air during feeding, it can become trapped in the stomach and cause discomfort. This is where burping comes in – it helps to release these gas bubbles and relieve any pain. While some babies may need to be burped during their feed, others may only need it after, and some may not need much help at all. There are various techniques and positions to try, such as holding the baby upright with their head on your shoulder and patting their back, or sitting them on your lap and supporting their chin and chest while patting their back. While burping is generally considered beneficial, there is limited research on the topic, and it is not a common practice in all parts of the world.

Why do newborns need to be burped?

When a baby swallows air during feeding, that air can become trapped in their stomach, causing discomfort and a feeling of fullness. Burping helps to release these gas bubbles up the oesophagus and out of the mouth. This can prevent spitting up and reduce crying.

How to Burp Your Baby

There are three common burping positions: over the shoulder, sitting on your lap, and lying on your lap.

For the over-the-shoulder burping method:

• Stand or sit comfortably, slightly reclining.
• Hold your baby under their bottom for support, making sure they are upright and facing behind you.
• Place a soft cloth against their chin to absorb any spit-up.
• Pat or rub their back gently.

For the lap-sitting burping method:

• Place your baby sideways on your lap, with their chest leaning slightly forward.
• Position your hand under their chin (not throat) to support their head and chest.
• Pat their back across the shoulder blades to burp them.

For the lying-down method:

• Lay your baby facedown across your knees or lap on their belly and support their head with your lap, arm, or hand.
• Ensure their head is slightly higher than the rest of their body.
• Firmly rub and pat their back.

When to Burp Your Baby

There are no strict rules on when to burp your baby. Some babies need to be burped during their feed, while others need it after. Look for signs of discomfort, such as crying, an arched back, or clenched fists, and take a burping break if needed.

Tips for Relieving Gas

If your baby is still gassy after burping, try other techniques to get the gas moving. You can give your baby an infant massage, push their legs back and forth in a bicycling motion, or lay them on their stomach while awake. Additionally, examine the cause of the excess gas, such as certain foods in your diet if you are breastfeeding or ingredients in their formula.

When to burp a newborn

Burping a baby is an important part of feeding. When a baby swallows, air bubbles can become trapped in their stomach and cause discomfort. Burping helps to release these air bubbles and relieve the pain. It also helps to prevent spitting up.

There are no hard and fast rules about when to burp a newborn. Some babies need to be burped during their feed, while others need to be burped after. It is recommended to burp your baby regularly, during and after feedings, even if they don't show signs of discomfort. Look for clues—if your baby seems uncomfortable while feeding, take a little burping break. If they seem fine, wait until they've finished.

If you are breastfeeding, burp your baby before switching breasts. If you are bottle-feeding, burp between every 2 to 3 ounces for newborns up to about 6 months old. If your baby is feeding well and actively sucking and swallowing, you don't need to stop for a burp. Wait until they stop on their own, and then burp them.

If your baby doesn't burp after a few minutes, change their position and try burping for another few minutes before feeding again. Always burp your baby when feeding time is over. To help prevent milk from coming back up, keep your baby upright after feeding for 10 to 15 minutes, or longer if your baby spits up or has gastroesophageal reflux (GER).

Signs Your Baby Needs to Burp

Your baby might be uncomfortable if they have trapped gas that would be relieved by burping. They might exhibit the following behaviours:

• Crying
• Arched back
• Drawing legs into the tummy
• Clenching fists

How to Burp Your Baby

The three most common burping positions are over your shoulder, sitting on your lap, and lying on your lap.

For the over-the-shoulder burping method:

• Stand or sit comfortably, slightly reclining.
• Hold your baby under their bottom for support.
• Make sure they're upright and facing behind you with their chin resting on a soft cloth to absorb any spit-up.
• Tap or rub the fingertips of your free hand across your baby's shoulder blades.
• Pat your baby on the back, gently, for a minute or so.

For the lap-sitting burping method:

• Place your baby sideways on your lap, with their chest leaning slightly forward.
• Position your hand under their chin (not their throat) to support their chest and head.
• Pat their back across the shoulder blades to burp them.

For the lying down method:

• Lay your baby facedown across your knees on their belly and support their head with your lap, arm, or hand.
• Make sure their head is slightly higher than the rest of their body.
• Firmly rub and pat their back.

Signs your baby needs to be burped

Burping your baby is an important part of your baby's feeding routine. When your baby swallows, air bubbles can become trapped in their stomach, causing discomfort and pain. Burping helps to release these gas bubbles and relieve the pain. It also helps to prevent spitting up. Here are some signs that your baby needs to be burped:

• Crying
• An arched back
• Pulling their legs up to their belly
• Drawing legs into the tummy
• Clenching fists
• Fussiness or crankiness during feeding

If your baby exhibits any of these behaviours, they may have trapped gas that needs to be released through burping.

Techniques for Burping Your Baby

There are several techniques you can try to burp your baby:

• Over the shoulder: Hold your baby upright with their head resting on your shoulder. Pat their back with your free hand.
• Sitting on your lap: Sit your baby on your lap, supporting their chin and chest with one hand. Rub or pat their back with your other hand.
• Lying across your lap: Rest your baby facedown on your lap and gently rub or pat their back.

Remember to always use gentle pats or rubs on your baby's back and keep a cloth or burp cloth nearby to catch any spit-up. If your baby doesn't burp after a few minutes, try changing their position or laying them on their back and gently massaging their tummy.

How to burp a newborn

When a baby swallows air during feeding, air bubbles can become trapped in their stomach, causing discomfort and a feeling of fullness. Burping helps to release these gas bubbles and relieve pain. It also helps to prevent spitting up.

When to Burp a Newborn

There are no rules on when to burp a baby. Some babies need to be burped during their feed, while others need to be burped after. Look for clues: if your baby seems uncomfortable while feeding, take a burping break. If they seem fine, wait until they've finished. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends burping your baby regularly during and after feedings, even if they don't show signs of discomfort.

There are three common burping positions: over the shoulder, sitting on your lap, and lying on your lap. Choose the position that's most comfortable and effective for you and your baby.

• Over the shoulder: Stand or sit comfortably, slightly reclining. Hold your baby under their bottom for support, ensuring they are upright and facing behind you with their chin resting on your shoulder or a soft cloth. With your free hand, pat or rub their back gently.
• Sitting on your lap: Place your baby sideways on your lap, facing away from you, with their chest leaning slightly forward. Support their chin and chest with one hand, being careful not to grip the throat. With your other hand, pat or rub their back.
• Lying on your lap: Lay your baby facedown across your lap or knees, supporting their head with your lap, arm, or hand. Make sure their head is slightly higher than their chest. Firmly rub and pat their back.

If your baby doesn't burp after a few minutes, try changing their position or laying them down on their back and gently massaging their tummy. You can also try moving their legs in a bicycle motion.

Tips

• Always support your baby's head and neck, and ensure their tummy and back are straight, not curled up.
• Place a burp cloth, bib, or towel under your baby's chin to catch any spit-up.
• You don't need to spend a long time burping your baby—a couple of minutes should be enough.
• If your baby is bottle-fed, let the bottle settle a bit before feeding to avoid adding air bubbles to the milk.
• If your baby is breastfed, something in your diet may be causing excess gas. Common culprits include dairy, beans, high-fiber foods, and cruciferous vegetables.

What to do if your baby won't burp

It is important to burp your baby as it helps to get rid of the air they swallow during feeding. If your baby won't burp, there are a few things you can try.

Firstly, you can try burping your baby during their feed. If your baby is bottle-fed, try burping them every 2 to 3 ounces (60 to 90 milliliters). If you are breastfeeding, try burping them each time you switch breasts. If your baby is halfway through a feed and seems fussy, stop the session, burp your baby, and then begin feeding again.

If your baby still won't burp, try changing their position and burp them for another few minutes before feeding them again. You can try the over-the-shoulder method, where you hold your baby upright with their head resting on your shoulder and pat their back gently with a cupped hand. Alternatively, you can try the lap-sitting method, where you place your baby sideways on your lap and support their chest and head with one hand while patting their back with the other. You can also try the lying-down method, where you lay your baby facedown across your lap and gently pat or rub their back.

If your baby still won't burp, you can try laying them down on their back and gently massaging their tummy. You can also try moving their legs back and forth in a bicycling motion. If these tips don't work, speak to your healthcare provider for advice.

Remember, it is normal for babies not to burp during or after every feed, especially as they get older and their digestive system matures.

Frequently asked questions