Baby Not Burping?
After breastfeeding, you should try to burp your baby. If your baby does not burp after 10 minutes, then he/she most likely, does not have a wind. If your baby spits up a lot, you should burp your baby more often during a feed.
Babies that are breastfed, swallow less air than bottle fed babies, since they can control the rhythm of breastfeeding and have coordinated breathing and swallowing.
Most breastfed babies do not need burping at all. Some babies might need to be burped more often than once; other babies only need to be burped once after each feeding.
When your baby swallows too much air, it can lead to crankiness, gassiness and vomiting.
To ensure that your baby is more comfortable, try to remove trapped wind from the tummy. For this reason, it is important to know how to burp a baby.
To burp a baby, you will need to gently pat the baby on the back and put gentle pressure on the tummy area.
Different Positions to Burp a Baby
On the chest or shoulder
Hold your baby against your chest so her chin is resting on your shoulder. Support her with one hand and gently pat or rub her back with the other.
Another method is to hold your baby farther up on your shoulder – high enough that your shoulder presses lightly on her belly, creating a gentle pressure that will coax the burp out. Support her with one hand and gently pat or rub her back with the other.
If you go with the second method, make sure your baby is able to breathe comfortably and isn't slumped over too far. A quick peek in the mirror to check her head placement can be helpful. This position may work better when your baby has more head and neck control.
Before trying either burping position, put a cloth over your shoulder (and even down your back) to protect your clothes from spit-up.
Sitting on your lap
Sit your baby on your lap facing away from you. Use one hand to support his body, the palm of your hand supporting his chest while your fingers gently support his chin and jaw. (Make sure you're not putting your fingers around his throat.) Lean your baby slightly forward and gently pat or rub his back with your other hand.
Before trying this burping method, you may want to put a cloth bib on your baby or put a cloth over your lap to catch any spit-up.
Face down across your lap
Lay your baby face down on your legs so she's lying across your knees, perpendicular to your body. Support her chin and jaw with one hand. Make sure your baby's head isn't lower than the rest of her body, so blood doesn't rush to her head. Pat or rub her back with the other hand.
Before trying this burping method, you may want to put a cloth over your lap to catch any spit-up.
Hold your baby with chest and tummy against your shoulder, with one hand supporting your baby's bottom, while the other hand rhythmically pats the back. Place a burping cloth or towel over your shoulder. This is the best position for burping newborns. Place your baby tummy-down across your lap. Make sure that your baby’s head is well supported. Also place a burp cloth under your baby, in case your baby spits up. Burp your baby while he/she is sitting up on your leg, leaning forward with your hand under your baby’s chin for support, while the other hand pats him/her gently on the back.
Baby Burping Techniques
If your baby becomes restless or fussy during a breastfeeding session, it could be a sign that your he/she needs to be burped. Try not to feed your little one when he/she is overexcited; your baby will be more likely to swallow air.
Try to burp your baby every five minutes during feedings; this will help keep your baby breastfeeding longer. Try the different burping positions; he/she might just burp better with one position than the other. Massaging your baby's belly will also help with winds. Walking while burping your baby will also help get rid of the winds and helps to calm a baby. Breastfeeding mothers can avoid their babies from swallowing air, by keeping them in an upright position (45 degree angle). Flexing your baby’s knees up against the chest will help get rid of trapped air, and also helps to relieve flatulence.
When to Stop Burping your Baby
After the age of 5 months, most babies do not need to be burped anymore.
Night Time Burping
Keep your baby as calm as possible before bedtime. Most of the time, at night, babies do not need to be burped, as they suck much slower and, therefore, swallow less air.
Knowing when and how to burp your baby will come naturally, as time goes by.
How to Burp Baby