How To Burp a Baby: Best Position and Tips for New Parents

Gas bubbles trapped in a baby's stomach can lead to feelings of fullness and discomfort. One way to alleviate this is through burping. It is the key to expelling these bubbles through the esophagus and out of the mouth. 

For detailed insights on the best way to burp a newborn, continue reading to understand the why, when, and how of proper baby burping. 

Why do we need to let the baby burp?

Newborns generally require burping when they ingest air during feeding, feeling full too quickly. Bottle-fed babies are more prone to this, eating faster, but breastfeeding infants can also swallow air, especially with factors like milk oversupply, fast letdown, or hunger-induced fast feeding.

According to Dr. Shalini Forbis, a pediatrician and Dr. Mom Squad blogger for Dayton Children's Hospital in Ohio, gas could get trapped in the air and require release in the gastrointestinal system.  

Gas can also result from breaking down specific foods in the large intestine. Babies that are formula-fed might respond to ingredients in their formula, while babies that are breastfed may be affected by their parent's lactating diet.

Common culprits for gas in breastfed babies include beans, chocolate, cruciferous vegetables, dairy, fruit, fruit drinks, gum, high-fiber foods, sugar-free candies, and soda. Additionally, babies intolerant to certain foods may generate more gas, with dairy intolerance being a common cause.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends regular burping during and after feedings, regardless of visible discomfort or gas release.

The frequency of burping during feeding should be natural, with nursing parents burping before switching breasts and bottle-feeding parents burping every 2 to 3 ounces for newborns up to around 6 months old.

Overburdening babies with unnecessary burping attempts can prolong feeding time, causing frustration for a hungry baby and potentially increasing air swallowing.

Read Also: How To Burp a Newborn: Proven Techniques for Soothing Your Baby

How to let the baby burp

There are three common burping positions you can try for your baby: over the shoulder, sitting on the lap, and face-down on the lap. Each position aims to be comfortable and effective. Make sure to place a burp cloth by the baby's mouth to catch any spit-up.

The duration of burping isn't specified, but consistent burping throughout feeds is emphasized.  As for when to stop burping, there's no set age, but as a baby's digestive system matures around 4 to 6 months, burping becomes less essential.

However, if gas-related discomfort persists, continue burping and explore other techniques, such as gentle abdominal pressure and identifying and eliminating potential causes.

In case burping doesn't alleviate discomfort, alternative positions and techniques, like giving an infant massage or bicycling their legs while lying on their back, can help.

Examining the cause of excess gas, such as dietary factors, is another avenue to explore. If issues persist, consulting with a healthcare provider is advisable.

Additionally, lat's look into instances when burping might be beneficial, like waking a sleeping baby due to suspected gas discomfort or soothing a colicky baby.

Tips for burping during a feeding, especially for bottle-fed babies, includes burping after every 2 to 3 ounces and for breastfeeding, burping each time the baby switches breasts of the mom.

Keeping the baby upright for 10 to 15 minutes after feeding prevents spitting up and addresses additional considerations for babies with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

Always remember that formula-fed babies might respond to ingredients in their formula, while breastfed babies may be affected by their parent's lactating diet.

Related Article: When Do Babies Stop Spitting Up: Understanding Your Baby's Digestive Milestones