Place your other hand on their back and gently pat it to help them burp. If your baby has developed control of their head and neck, you can try to hold your baby at a slight distance from your shoulder to burp them. Position your baby’s tummy near your shoulder and gently press their tummy using your shoulder. Make sure your baby is still breathing comfortably and cup their bottom with one hand while placing the other hand on their back. Continue to gently press their tummy with your shoulder until they burp.
Place your baby on your lap, perpendicular to your body. Put their tummy on your leg and gently apply pressure to your baby’s tummy with your leg. Make sure your baby’s body is even across your legs so blood does not rush to their head. Tilt your baby’s head to one side so they can breathe properly even when they are lying on their tummy. Use your hand to support their head by placing your thumb and index finger on their jaw or chin, just below their ear. Do not place your hand against their neck or near their throat as you don’t want to choke your baby or constrict their breathing. Wait until your baby burps.
First, lean back slightly against a comfortable chair or couch forming a 130 degrees angle. You can also use several pillows on your bed to elevate yourself instead of sitting on a chair or couch. Slowly lean your baby up against your body. Have them face down. Their head should be on your chest and their stomach should be against your stomach. Support their bottom with your hand and place your other hand on their back to gently pat them. Continue lightly patting your baby’s back until they burp.
Spit up can also be caused by reflux. Reflux occurs when milk and gastric juices flow back up from the baby’s tummy and come out of their mouth, resulting in the baby spitting up. If your baby keeps spitting up a large amount of milk, you may want to try the upright position of burping by holding your baby or leaning your baby to avoid milk from flowing back to their mouth. Your baby should outgrow spitting up when they reach 12 to 24 months of age.
Always pat your baby gently on their back as your burp them as a hard or sharp pat does not encourage your baby to burp any faster or easier.
Burping is essential for infants as they need to let go of the gas in their bodies due to drinking milk. So, it is especially important to encourage them to burp when they fall asleep during their feeding. Most babies burp on their own at around two months old[6] X Research source and outgrow burping by around four to six months old, so you don’t need to worry about burping them after that point. [7] X Research source
Most babies who eat at night don’t need to be burped because they nurse less anxiously at night and as a result, suck in less air. [8] X Research source
In general, most breastfed babies need to be burped when you switch breasts and when the feeding is complete. [9] X Research source Bottle fed babies should generally be burped every two to three ounces of milk they drink. [10] X Research source If you are bottle feeding your baby, look for specialist feeding bottles that eliminate air during feeding, thereby lessening the amount of air being trapped inside your baby’s tummy.
