Burping Newborns: How Often And What's Normal?

Burping a baby is an important part of feeding. When a baby swallows, air bubbles can become trapped in their stomach, causing discomfort and making them gassy or spit up. To prevent this, parents should burp their baby during or after feeding. There are no rules on when to burp a baby, and it differs from baby to baby. Some babies may need to be burped every 2 to 3 ounces during bottle-feeding, or each time they switch breasts during breastfeeding.

The importance of burping a newborn

Burping a baby is an important part of their feeding routine. When a baby swallows, air bubbles can become trapped in their tummy, causing discomfort. Burping allows the baby to remove some of that air and relieve the pain. It also helps prevent spitting up and frees up room in the tummy so they can settle in and feed longer.

How to burp a newborn

There are no rules on when to burp a baby. Some babies need to be burped during their feed, some after, and some may not need to be burped at all. If your baby seems uncomfortable while feeding—they're squirmy, or they pull away and start crying, arching their back, or pulling up their legs—it may be because they have some air in their tummy, and this is a good time to give burping a try.

• Over the shoulder: Hold your baby upright with their head resting on your shoulder. Pat their back with your other hand. Cupping your hand slightly is gentler than using a flattened palm.
• Sitting on your lap: Sit your baby on your lap, supporting their chin and chest with one hand. Rub or gently pat their back with the other hand.
• Lying across your lap: Rest your baby face down on your lap and gently rub or pat their back. Keep a cloth nearby in case your baby spits up.

What to do if your baby won't burp

If your baby won't burp, try changing their position and burp for another few minutes before feeding again. If they still won't burp, it's okay to move on. If they still seem uncomfortable, try lying them on their back and gently massaging their tummy, or move their legs back and forth as if they're riding a bicycle. If these methods don't work, consult your healthcare provider for advice.

How often to burp a newborn

Burping your baby is an important part of their feeding routine. When your baby swallows, air bubbles can become trapped in their tummy, causing discomfort and making them gassy or spit up. Burping allows your baby to remove some of that gas to relieve the pain and make room in their tummy so they can settle in and feed longer.

There are no hard and fast rules on when to burp your baby. Some babies need to be burped during their feed, some after, and some may not need to be burped at all. You'll soon learn your baby's burping needs. As a general strategy, you can try burping your baby after every 2-3 ounces (60-90 milliliters) if bottle-feeding, or each time your baby switches breasts if breastfeeding. If your baby seems uncomfortable while feeding, take a burping break. Signs of discomfort include fussiness, crying, arching their back, or pulling up their legs.

If your baby doesn't burp after a few minutes, try a different position and burp for another few minutes. You can stop burping once your baby has released a burp or two and seems comfortable. If they're still hungry, they'll eat more and likely need to be burped again. If your baby still seems uncomfortable, lay them down for a minute on their back, gently rub their tummy, and/or move their legs in a bicycling motion.

Most newborns feed every 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 hours and will have one or two breaks to burp during a feed, as well as another burp at the end. As your baby gets older, their digestive system will mature, and they may learn to eat without swallowing a lot of air. This often happens around the time they start solid food at around 4-6 months.

Signs a newborn needs to burp

Burping a baby is a traditional part of feeding, and it's important because it helps to get rid of the air they swallow during feeding, which can make them uncomfortable and gassy. While some babies need to be burped during their feed, others need to be burped after. There are no hard-and-fast rules, but there are some signs you can look out for that indicate your newborn needs to burp.

Crying

If your baby is crying a lot, they may have swallowed air while crying and need help to bring it up. Crying is also a sign of trapped wind, which can be caused by gas and indicate that your baby needs to burp.

Arching their back

Arching the back is another sign of trapped wind, which may mean your baby needs to burp.

Drawing their legs into their tummy

If your baby is pulling their legs up towards their tummy, this could be a sign of trapped wind and that they need to burp.

Clenching their fists

Clenched fists are another indication of trapped wind, which may mean your baby needs to burp.

Fussiness during feeding

If your baby seems fussy or uncomfortable during feeding, this could be a sign that they need to burp. Try stopping the feed, burping your baby, and then resuming feeding.

Techniques to burp a newborn

Over the shoulder

Hold the baby upright with their head resting on your shoulder. Support the head and shoulder area with one hand and gently rub and pat their back with the other. Walking around or sitting in a rocking chair and gently rocking 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, being careful not to put any pressure on the throat area. Lean the baby forward slightly and gently rub or pat their back with your free hand.

Lying across your lap

Lie the baby across your lap, face down. Support their chin (again, without putting pressure on the throat area) and use your free hand to gently rub or pat their back.

Lying on their back

If your baby is still showing signs of trapped gas, try lying them on their back and gently massaging their tummy. You can also try moving their legs back and forth, as if they are riding a bicycle.

General tips

• You don't need to spend a long time burping your baby—a couple of minutes should be enough.
• If one position doesn't work, try another or a combination of different positions.
• Your baby may bring up some milk during burping. This is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. It's a good idea to place a cloth or muslin square under their chin to prevent mess.
• If these tips don’t work, talk to your healthcare provider to advise on alternative options.

What to do if a newborn won't burp

What to Do if Your Newborn Won't Burp

If your newborn won't burp, there are several things you can try. Firstly, understand that burping is important to relieve your baby's gassy tummy and prevent spit-up. If your baby is showing signs of trapped wind, such as crying, an arched back, drawing their legs into their tummy, or clenching their fists, you can try the following:

Try Different Positions

Change your baby's position and try burping for a few minutes before feeding again. Try the "over the shoulder" position, where your baby's chin rests on your shoulder, or the "sitting on your lap" position, where you support their chin and chest with one hand. You can also try laying them across your lap, facing down, and gently patting or rubbing their back.

Apply Upward Pressure

In any of the above positions, gently and firmly apply upward pressure along your baby's back to help release trapped gas.

Lay Them Down and Pick Them Back Up

If your baby won't burp in one position, lay them down for a few seconds and then pick them back up. This movement can help free up gas in the belly.

Massage Their Tummy

If the above methods don't work, try laying your baby on their back and gently massaging their tummy. You can also move their legs back and forth in a bicycle motion to help relieve gas.

Keep Them Upright After Feeding

Keep your baby upright for 10-15 minutes after feeding to prevent milk from coming back up. This is especially important if your baby spits up or has gastroesophageal reflux (GER).

Talk to a Healthcare Professional

If your baby still won't burp and seems uncomfortable, consult your healthcare provider or health visitor for advice on alternative options. They can provide guidance and ensure there are no underlying issues.

Frequently asked questions