How to Burp a Baby

Burping a baby can reduce spitting up and relieve bloating caused by swallowed air. Here are some tried-and-true methods.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plastic Sheet Or Old Towel

1. 

   Put a clean towel, cloth diaper or receiving blanket over your shoulder or wherever your baby's head will rest.

2. Position the baby over one shoulder with his stomach against your chest and with his head resting on your shoulder.

3. Gently pat your baby on the back and rub it in a circular motion until he burps.

4. 

   Try the 'bulldoggy burp.' Place one hand across the baby's chest, supporting his chin with your thumb and index finger. Lean your baby across that support hand and gently pat or rub his back with your free hand.

5. 

   Opt for a 'lap burp.' Position yourself so that you can comfortably place the baby's head on one thigh and his stomach on the other. Using an upward and circular motion, gently pat the baby's back until he burps.

6. Try getting exercise while you walk and burp your baby. Stand up and place your arm under the baby's rib cage, with the baby's back to your chest. Walk around slowly, leaning the baby over your arm until he burps. And be patient: Sometimes burping takes several minutes.

Tips & Warnings

• Never try to burp a baby while he is spitting up.
• Don't worry if your baby spits up occasionally - what looks like a lot of liquid is probably no more than a teaspoon. Very frequent spitting up or projectile vomiting could signal a problem; contact your doctor.
• Breast-fed babies tend to swallow less air than bottle-fed babies, so don't worry if your breast-fed baby rarely burps, as long as he seems comfortable.
• If breast-feeding, burp the baby when you switch sides or finish feeding. If bottle-feeding, burp after every few ounces or whenever he seems uncomfortable.

Who Can Help:

• Better than Botox®? Free Kit

[nholland]

on 6/23/2009 Has anyone heard of the "milkshake" style? Its referenced on the 'Happiest Baby on the Block' DVD by Dr.Karp. I tried it a few time, but felt like I was shaking my baby to death :)

[lezsays]

on 4/22/2009 These are very helpful tips.

[paniaw]

on 9/27/2008 Or you could try sitting baby on your lap, leaning his back and head against your stomach/chest for support, lift both arms gently above his head then lower them back down, and repeat this, lift his arms, lower his arms untill he burps. I found this helpful as my baby was very hard to burp.

on 8/8/2006 While you're sitting, place the baby on your lap facing you. Place your hands under his arms, and support his head with your thumbs and fingers. Sit your infant upright and slowly rock them toward you and away from you. Try to keep them from "hunching over", keeping their back erect. I like to sit on the couch, with my feet on the coffee table, creating a reclining feeding chair with my legs. This position seems to reduce gas, and makes it easy to grab and "rock-burp" my baby.

on 8/8/2006 Steps:
1. place the baby on your lap on his or her stomach
2. rub his or her back
3. pat him or her on the back with one hand
4. after patting with one hand switch to both hands
. be sure to rub in between patting