About Burping a Baby

Burping a baby soothes his stomach and helps relieve gas pressure after meals. It also leaves parents with a feeling of satisfaction when their new baby lets out a hearty "errp." Getting that air to come out takes some practice, though. Here are a few tips and tricks to navigate the art of burping a baby.

Significance

All babies swallow a little bit of air when they eat. In order to expel the air, relieve the little one by getting him to burp. It's a fast track to relieving bloating, spitting up and discomfort.

Types

The most common method of burping a baby is by holding him up so he can look over your shoulder. Gently pat him on the back until he is able to burp. This method works best for babies who have gained some strength in their neck and back.
Newborn babies are trickier to burp than older infants. Because they are relatively floppy from their heads to their little toes, and also because they're quite small, leaning them over your shoulder can be awkward and unproductive. Instead, sit the baby on your lap. Lean him forward with his chin resting between your thumb and index finger, the outside edge of your hand applying a light amount of pressure on baby's tummy. Use the other hand to pat him on the back. The patting and the pressure on his belly should bring up a nice little burp.
Sometimes all it takes to get a productive burp is either to rub baby's back or tummy.

Time Frame

When the baby has finished eating, that's when you would position the baby in your preferred burping pose. It should take no more than 3 to 5 minutes to coax out a burp. If nothing has happened by then, there probably isn't anything for baby to burp out.

Prevention/Solution

There are several ways to prevent excess gas in baby's tummy. When using a bottle, make sure it is tipped on an angle such that there is no air in the nipple. With breastfeeding, mom should try to avoid foods that cause gassy reactions such as broccoli and beans.

Benefits

Burping a baby prevents gas from moving uncomfortably through baby's digestive tract and relieves pressure on his tummy after a big meal. When it is done in the middle of a meal, burping makes room for more food in the stomach.

Features

As a new parent, it can be frustrating when a baby won't burp. No one ever died from not burping, though, so don't fret. If the baby has air to expel, he'll do so. If the baby falls asleep while eating, it's okay to let him sleep. Waking him up to burp him could cause more frustration than it's worth.
Also, some babies are more prone to spitting up than others, no matter how much burping they do. Spitting up is nothing to be concerned about either. It is caused by an immature valve in the esophagus that doesn't always open or close in a timely fashion.