Burping Baby can be a pretty adorable way to release gas from their stomach, but it’s also an important tool for making them feel more comfortable and less full. Baby can get gas pains when they swallow air while feeding. Burping can help relieve this discomfort. It can also be important for newborns who spit up or have other gastrointestinal problems.
How to effectively burp your newborn
Burping is essential for both breastfed and bottle-fed babies, though most breastfed newborns need less burping than bottle-fed infants because they swallow less air during feedings. There are four common positions that many parents use to burp, but every baby is different so pay attention to the cues Baby gives you and make sure to use a towel or bib in case of spit-up.
1) On the chest
This tried and true position begins by holding Baby against your chest so that their chin rests on your shoulder. While supporting their head with one hand, rub or pat their back gently with the other.
2) On the shoulder
Once your little one’s neck is stronger and theycan better support their head on their own, you could also hold Baby higher up so that your shoulder presses into their belly, creating natural pressure to bring out the burp.
3) Sitting on your lap
Begin this position by sitting Baby on your lap facing away from you, using one hand to gently support their chin while being careful not to strain their neck, and using the other hand to rub their back. Encourage Baby to lean forward while you pat their back until they burps.
4) Face down across your lap
One of the easiest burping positions involves laying Baby face down across your legs so that they are lying across your knees. Make sure to support their head and gently rub or pat their back to release the air bubble.
Sources
- “Baby Basics: Burping Your Baby.” KidsHealth. The Nemours Foundation, July 2016. Web.
- “Burping, Hiccups, and Spitting Up.” HealthyChildren. American Academy of Pediatrics. November 21 2015. Web.
