Burping a baby is an essential part of feeding that parents should know how to do. Burping helps to release air trapped in a baby’s stomach, making them more comfortable and freeing up room in their tummy so they can settle in and feed longer. If you’re a new parent, you may be wondering how to burp your baby. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Different Burping Positions
There are several ways to burp your baby, so you should experiment to find the one that’s most comfortable and effective for you and your baby.
Burp Your Baby on Your Chest or Shoulder
This is the most common burping position. Start by putting a cloth over your shoulder to protect your clothes from spit-up. Hold your baby against your chest so their chin is resting on your shoulder. Support their bottom with one hand and gently pat or rub their back with the other. If your baby has more head and neck control, hold them higher up on your shoulder so your shoulder presses lightly on their belly, creating gentle pressure that will draw out the burp. Make sure your baby is breathing comfortably and isn’t slumped over too far. A quick peek in the mirror to check their head placement can be helpful.
Burp Your Baby While They’re Sitting on Your Lap
Put a cloth bib on your baby or a cloth over your lap to catch any spit-up. Sit your baby on your lap facing away from you or to the side. Use one hand to support their body, the palm of your hand supporting their chest while your fingers gently support their chin and jaw. Lean your baby slightly forward and gently pat or rub their back with your other hand.
Burp Your Baby Face-Down Across Your Lap
Put a cloth over your lap to catch any spit-up. Lay your baby face down on your legs so they’re lying across your knees, perpendicular to your body. Support their chin and jaw with one hand. Make sure your baby’s head isn’t lower than the rest of their body so blood doesn’t rush to their head. Pat or rub their back with your other hand.
Tips for Burping Your Baby
Regardless of which position you use, here are some general tips for burping your baby:
- Make sure their back is straight, not curled over.
- Use firm but gentle pressure.
- Try circular motions, too.
- If you’re bottle-feeding, you may find that certain types of bottles help your baby swallow less air and reduce the need to burp.
- If your baby tends to spit up a lot, you may want to avoid positions that put added pressure on your baby’s tummy during burping (high on your shoulder or lying face down across your lap, for example).
When Do Babies Need to Be Burped?
Some babies need to burp during every feeding, while others rarely need to burp at all. One good strategy is to take a burping break after every 2 or 3 ounces if you’re bottle-feeding, or when your baby switches breasts if you’re breastfeeding. If your baby seems uncomfortable while feeding – they’re squirmy, or they pull away and start crying, arch their back, or pull up their legs – it may be because they have some air in their tummy. This is a good time to give burping a try.
If you don’t burp your baby when they need it, air will take up the room they need to fill with breast milk or formula. (Their tummies are small!) Trapped air can make a baby gassy or spit up often. It can also cause a vicious cycle – if your baby is unhappy because they need to burp, they may cry and swallow more air, making them need to burp even more.
Burping can also be beneficial for babies who spit up often or have gassy tummies or symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
That said, there’s no rule that babies have to burp during every feeding. If your baby rarely burps and falls blissfully asleep after feeding, you may not need to burp them. In fact, some babies may not need to be routinely burped.
“If your baby is a good eater – is gaining weight well – and doesn’t seem affected by gassiness or reflux, then skipping the burping sessions altogether is reasonable,” explains Liz Donner, M.D., a pediatric hospitalist in Orlando, Florida.
When to stop burping your baby
As babies get older, their digestive systems become more mature, and they may learn to eat without swallowing a lot of air. This may happen around the time they start solid food, at around 4 to 6 months. There’s nothing wrong with continuing to burp your baby after this time, though, if you think they still need some help.
How long do you have to burp a baby?
Some babies burp easily and others need a little (or a lot of) help. Most will let out a burp within a few moments, but others may take longer and need more coaxing.
You can stop burping your baby when they seem comfortable and no longer need to burp. This is usually when they’re around 4 to 6 months old, and after they have started eating solid foods.
If your baby doesn’t burp after a few minutes of trying, you can resume feeding. Some babies simply don’t need to burp every time.
Tips for successful burping
Here are some tips for making burping easier and more effective:
- Try different positions: Experiment with different burping positions to find the one that’s most comfortable and effective for you and your baby. Some babies may prefer being burped on your chest or shoulder, while others may prefer sitting on your lap or lying across your lap.
- Be gentle: Use firm but gentle pressure when patting or rubbing your baby’s back. Avoid pounding or slapping their back, which can be painful and may not be effective.
- Use circular motions: Try rubbing your baby’s back in a circular motion to help move trapped air up and out.
- Pay attention to your baby’s cues: Watch for signs that your baby needs to burp, such as squirming, fussiness, or pulling away from the breast or bottle.
- Keep a burp cloth handy: Place a burp cloth over your shoulder or lap to catch any spit-up or dribbles.
- Don’t overdo it: Remember that not all babies need to burp after every feeding. Follow your baby’s cues and only burp them
