If your baby won't burp after 30 minutes, try different positions like over the shoulder or on your lap with gentle back rubs/pats, bicycle legs, tummy massages, or an exercise ball; often, they don't need a big burp if they seem comfortable and might burp later or just don't have much air, so keep them upright for 10-15 mins and consult a pediatrician if they seem distressed, as some babies swallow less air or have gas from crying.
What if my baby won't burp? If these methods don't work and your baby shows signs of trapped wind (like crying, arched back, drawing legs into tummy, clenched fists), try lying them on their back and gently massaging their tummy. Also move your baby's legs back and forth – like they're riding a bicycle.
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.
Sit upright and hold your baby against your chest.
Your baby's chin should rest on your shoulder as you support the baby with one hand. With the other hand, gently pat your baby's back. Sitting in a rocking chair and gently rocking with your baby while you do this may also help.
Truly, some babies simply don't need to burp as much as others because they don't take in a lot of air while feeding. This becomes especially common as babies get closer to 4-6 months. If you've tried for a few minutes and your baby won't burp, it's ok to stop burping as long as they seem comfortable.
How can I tell if my baby has gas?
If a baby isn't burped, they may spit up while lying down, which can sometimes cause gagging or coughing. However, healthy babies have a strong gag reflex that usually prevents true choking.
Treating No-Burp Syndrome
You can't fix no-burp syndrome with diet, exercise, or training yourself to burp. Instead, relief comes from what might be an unlikely source: Botox. Botox shots in the throat are not experimental and not a new procedure. "Botox is common for laryngeal disorders," says Pitman.
Burping requires only gentle pats–you do not need to hit your baby's back. You are patting too hard if your baby's head flops back and forth or they cry while being burped. Instead, support your baby's head while holding them high on your shoulder and gently rub or pat their back.
To burp your sleeping baby, try different positions like over-the-shoulder, face-down on your lap, sitting upright, or across your arm, keeping movements gentle to avoid waking him up. If burps don't come, don't stress. Babies may pass gas naturally, spit up later, or wake fussy.
Try these tips to soothe your baby:
After some time has elapsed, commonly around 20 minutes or so, you'll notice that Baby is mostly asleep and sucking-rhythm has become slowed while sucks have become more gentle, some describe it as “fluttery.” At this point, use your finger, at the corner of baby's mouth, to break the suction of the latch.
What If Your Baby Doesn't Burp? Don't worry if your baby doesn't burp every time. Some babies don't swallow much air during feeding and may not need to burp as frequently. If your baby seems comfortable and isn't overly bothered by gas, it's generally not a cause for concern.
Signs of overfeeding a baby include frequent spitting up/vomiting, fussiness, gassiness, a tight belly, and changes in stool (loose, green, frothy, or explosive). While babies often know when they're full (turning away, falling asleep), signs of overfeeding often involve discomfort and digestive issues, sometimes with rapid weight gain or a very full, hard tummy, especially if fed past fullness cues.
But if hiccups occur during a feeding, change your baby's position, try to get them to burp, or help them relax. Wait until the hiccups are gone to resume feeding. If they don't disappear in 5 to 10 minutes, try to resume feeding for a few minutes. Doing this usually stops them.
The 7 key danger signs for newborns, often highlighted by organizations like the WHO, are not feeding well, convulsions, fast breathing, severe chest indrawing, lethargy/unconsciousness (movement only when stimulated), high or low temperature, and jaundice (yellow skin/soles) or signs of local infection like an infected umbilical stump, requiring immediate medical attention.
Since the disorder was only recently recognized, doctors aren't sure exactly how common RCPD is, though it appears to be relatively rare. It's also possible that many people who suffer from it have only mild symptoms, so they don't seek help.
According to experts, it's not a cause for concern. The air will find its way out, either coming back up as a burp down the road or going further down to the anus and is released as gas. Your baby will typically be fine even if they don't burp immediately after feeding.
RCPD symptoms: More than just the inability to burp
Aspiration can cause symptoms including:
No, SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) typically happens silently, with no cries or signs of struggle, which is why it's so tragic and unexpected, although some minor breathing issues or congestion might appear in the weeks prior, but these aren't direct predictors of SIDS itself. Healthy newborns make normal noises like grunting or gurgling during sleep, but specific alarming sounds (like fast, labored breathing or grunting with each exhale) can signal illness, not SIDS.
But when your infant has painful gas, especially if it's frequent, it can cause your baby to cry or become fussy—until it's passed; unlike colic, which causes crying and fussiness that lasts for hours across days and weeks. Gas can have distinctive symptoms, too, such as a swollen-looking belly.
The "Colic 333 Rule" is a common guideline for identifying colic in a healthy, well-fed baby: crying for more than 3 hours a day, for more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks. While it's a helpful way to recognize persistent, intense crying spells, it's not a strict diagnosis, and you don't need to wait three weeks to seek help if you're concerned. Colic usually peaks around 6 weeks and lessens by 3-4 months, but it's important to rule out other issues with a doctor.