Support your baby's head and neck, make sure their tummy and back is nice and straight (not curled up), and rub or pat their back gently. You don't need to spend ages burping your baby, a couple of minutes should be enough.
There's no set age to stop burping your baby, but four to six months seems to be the general time frame. “Once your baby is able to move (sit up, rollover) they may not need to be burped,” Dr. Husain begins, “they may even burp themselves as mobilization of air occurs with movement.”
If the baby does not burp after 5 minutes of trying, gently lie them down on their back, either in their crib or on another safe surface, such as a playpen. After a few minutes, carefully pick the baby up and try burping them again. Sometimes, lying down helps move the air bubbles around, making them easier to release.
Some babies may be more prone to gas and discomfort if they go to sleep without being burped, while others may not have any issues. However, if a baby is already asleep and showing no signs of discomfort, it is generally safe to let them sleep without burping.
What's the best position to burp my baby? Support your baby's head and neck, make sure their tummy and back is nice and straight (not curled up), and rub or pat their back gently. You don't need to spend ages burping your baby, a couple of minutes should be enough.
Sit your baby on your lap supporting the chin and chest with one hand. Rub or pat the back with your other hand. Tip: Use repeated, gentle pats on your baby's back. Rest your baby faced down on your lap and gently rub or pat the back.
If your baby doesn't burp after a few minutes, change the baby's position and try burping for another few minutes before feeding again. Always burp your baby when feeding time is over.
What Is Baby Spit-Up? Spit-up is what happens when the contents of your baby's tummy come back up easily -- not forcefully -- through their mouth. It often comes along with a burp. It's not the same as vomiting, which is when your baby throws up their stomach contents with force and muscle contractions.
If he won't burp, try patting him more firmly with your whole palm, as light pats may not be effective. Another option is to pat his bottom. Many parents swear this is the only way to get their babies to burp. If patting doesn't work, see if rubbing his back does the trick.
Your newborn may be just fine if she doesn't burp before sleeping, particularly if you're breastfeeding and your baby isn't that gassy, so panic not. But if you can burp your sleeping baby, this could help avoid baby waking early or being uncomfortable due to gas.
You might be worried that your baby will end up with stomach problems if they don't burp, but that's not the case. The trapped air will find its way out, one way or another.
Babies may start hiccuping during feeding because they have excess gas that's irritating their stomach. Propping them upright and gently tapping their backs can help.
What happens if a sleeping baby doesn't burp? If you're concerned about what happens if your baby won't burp after feeding, try not to worry. He'll likely be just fine and will end up passing the gas from the other end.
If you're bottle feeding (which can include formula feeding or offering expressed breast milk), you'll want to burp him after every two to three ounces of milk. If you're breastfeeding, burp your baby each time he switches breasts.
In general, breastfed babies don't need as much burping as bottle-fed babies because they tend to swallow less air when feeding. In fact, some very efficient nursers don't need to be burped at all. But some breastfed babies definitely do need to be burped.
Overfeeding always makes spitting up worse. If the stomach is completely full, spitting up is more likely. If your baby is gaining well, give him smaller amounts (at least 1 ounce less than you have been giving). Wait at least 2 and 1/2 hours between feedings.
Additionally, a medical study found that the 'non-nutritive' sucking (sucking without feeding) with a dummy can improve the rate the stomach empties and also decrease the number of reflux episodes in a group of premature infants.
Taking a break from feeding to burp the baby may reduce the amount of air in their stomach. This can prevent hiccups. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is a good idea to burp bottle-fed babies every time they consume 2 to 3 ounces.
With your baby swaddled, hold him or her outward facing away from your body, then pat and rub the back. This is a great technique that can involve dad, friend or grandparent. Sitting your baby upright, lean baby slightly forward, with your hand under baby's chin, and then pat the back.
Try to keep your baby upright for at least 30 minutes after a feed. Try to avoid the upright seated position during this time as this position can increase pressure in the abdomen and trigger reflux. Avoid placing your infant flat on their back immediately following a feed.
New parents may worry that their newborn will have stomach problems if she doesn't burp after feeding. But pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner says not to worry: the air in your baby will find a way out.