Burping Newborns After Breastfeeding: What, Why, And How?

Burping a newborn is an important part of feeding. When a baby swallows, air bubbles can become trapped in their tummy, causing discomfort and making them feel full before they are. This can lead to crankiness and irritability. Burping your baby helps to relieve this trapped air and make them more comfortable. While there are no hard-and-fast rules about when to burp your baby, it is generally recommended to take a burping break during feeding if they seem uncomfortable, or after feeding. Breastfed babies typically need less burping than formula-fed babies, as they tend to swallow less air, but this can vary from baby to baby.

Why do newborns need to be burped?

When a baby eats, it's common for them to swallow a lot of air. This air then travels to the stomach, where it creates air bubbles, filling the baby's abdomen. These air bubbles can cause discomfort and give the baby a feeling of fullness before they have finished their feed. As the baby remains hungry but feels uncomfortably full, they can become irritable and fussy. Burping your baby helps to release this air and relieve the pain. It also frees up space in their tummy, allowing them to settle in and feed for longer.

Burping is a key part of a baby's feeding routine and can help to prevent spitting up. It is particularly important for newborns as they have less control over their bodies and may need help releasing gas. However, it is important to note that not all babies are the same, and some may not need frequent burping or any burping at all. Over time, parents can learn to recognise their baby's signals and figure out what works best for them.

Techniques for burping a baby

There are several techniques that can be used to burp a baby:

• Holding the baby against your chest or over your shoulder, supporting their abdomen and gently patting or rubbing their back.
• Sitting the baby on your lap, facing away from you, and supporting their chin and chest with one hand while patting or rubbing their back with the other.
• Laying the baby face down across your lap, supporting their head and gently patting or rubbing their back.

When to burp a newborn

Burping a newborn is an important part of feeding. When a baby swallows, air bubbles can become trapped in their tummy, causing discomfort and making them feel full before they are. Burping helps to release this air and prevent spitting up.

There are no hard and fast rules about when to burp a newborn. Some babies need to be burped during a feed, while others need it after. Some babies rarely need to be burped at all, while others need it during and after every feed. You will soon get to know your baby's needs.

If your baby seems uncomfortable during feeding, try taking a burping break. Look out for signs such as squirming, pulling away, crying, arching their back, or pulling up their legs. These could be indications that they have air in their tummy and need to be burped.

If your baby is bottle-fed, it's a good idea to take a burping break after every 2-3 ounces (60-90 millilitres). If your baby is breastfed, you can try burping them when they switch breasts. Always burp your baby at the end of feeding time.

If your baby has gastroesophageal reflux (GER) or seems fussy during feeding, try burping them every ounce during bottle-feeding or every 5 minutes during breastfeeding.

If your baby doesn't burp after a few minutes of trying, change their position and try again. You can also try pulling their knees up to their chest or gently massaging their abdomen.

How to Burp a Newborn

There are several methods you can use to burp your baby:

• Over your shoulder: Hold your baby upright with their chin resting on your shoulder. Support their head and shoulder with one hand and gently pat or rub their back with the other.
• Sitting on your lap: Sit your baby on your lap facing away from you. Place one hand flat against their chest to support their chin and jaw (avoid putting pressure on the throat). Gently lean them forward and pat or rub their back with your other hand.
• Lying across your lap: Lie your baby face down across your lap. Support their chin (again, avoid putting pressure on the throat) and gently pat or rub their back.

How to burp a newborn

When a baby is feeding, they can swallow air bubbles, which become trapped in their tummy and cause discomfort. Burping allows your baby to remove this gas and relieve the 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 burping during their feed, while others need it after. If your baby seems uncomfortable while feeding, try taking a burping break. If they seem fine, wait until they've finished.

Signs of Trapped Gas

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

There are a few different positions you can try to burp your baby. It's a good idea to try them all and see which works best for you and your baby.

• Over your shoulder: Hold your baby upright with their head resting on your shoulder. Support their head and shoulder with one hand and gently rub and pat their back with the other. You could also try holding them higher up on your shoulder so that your shoulder puts gentle pressure on their belly, encouraging them to burp.
• Sitting on your lap: Sit your baby on your lap facing away from you. Place one hand flat against their chest to support their chin and chest. Be careful not to put any pressure on their throat. With your free hand, gently rub or pat their back.
• Lying across your lap: Lie your baby across your lap, face down. Support their chin (again, be careful not to put pressure on the throat area) and gently rub or pat their back with your free hand.

What to Do if Your Baby Won't Burp

If your baby is still showing signs of trapped wind, try lying them on their back and gently massaging their tummy. You can also move their legs in a bicycle motion. If this doesn't work, speak to a healthcare professional for advice.

Signs a newborn needs to be burped

Burping a baby is an important part of the feeding routine. When a baby swallows, air bubbles can become trapped in their stomach, causing discomfort and fullness. Burping allows the baby to relieve the pain and create more space in their tummy for milk.

A baby might need to be burped if they show signs of trapped wind or gas. This could include:

• Crying
• An arched back
• Drawing their legs into their tummy or pulling their legs up to their belly
• Clenching their fists
• Squirming
• Pulling away and crying during feeding
• Being fussy or gassy
• Spitting up often
• Having symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

If a baby is showing any of these signs, it may be a good idea to take a burping break. It is recommended to burp a baby regularly during and after feedings, even if they don't seem uncomfortable.

How long to burp a newborn for

It is important to burp a newborn after breastfeeding to relieve them of the extra air they swallow while feeding. This makes them more comfortable and prevents spitting up. While there are no rules on when to burp a baby, some babies need burping during their feed, while others need it after.

You don't need to spend a lot of time burping a newborn. A couple of minutes should be enough to get a burp or two up and make them feel comfortable. If your baby hasn't burped after a few minutes and seems fussy, try a different position. If they still seem uncomfortable, lay them down on their back for a minute. Gently rub their tummy and/or bicycle their legs. Then pick them up and try to burp them again.

If you've tried burping your baby for a few minutes and nothing is happening, it's fine to stop. Your baby may not have any air trapped that needs to come up. However, if you know your baby generally takes longer to burp, keep trying. Taking the time to ensure your baby has released all the air bubbles will make them happier and help them rest better.

• Over your shoulder: With the baby's chin resting on your shoulder, support their head and shoulder with one hand and gently rub and pat their back. Walking around or rocking gently may also help.
• Sitting on your lap: Sit the baby on your lap facing away from you. Place the palm of your hand flat against their chest and support their chin and jaw without putting any pressure on the throat area. Lean the baby slightly forward and gently rub or pat their back with your other hand.
• Lying across your lap: Lie the baby across your lap, face down. Support their chin without putting any pressure on the throat area and gently rub or pat their back.

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