Burping is a necessary part of early childcare, to avoid common issues such as gas buildup or indigestion, that can lead to a fussy, restless baby. If you’re wondering how to burp a baby or how to make baby burp faster, read on for more information about the process and why it’s important.
In general, you should always make baby burp after feeding. Burping is a natural and necessary part of the feeding process. There are certain signs to look out for that demonstrate your baby needs burping. If your baby shows any of the following, it may be a good idea to make your newborn baby burp.
Buildup of gas may make your baby feel fuller than they are Squirming or fidgeting during feeding This may be a sign of discomfort from gas buildup Waking up to burp Sleep disturbance from gas can be avoided by burping after meals Scrunches knees up Your baby may be trying to relieve the pressure of built up gas in their abdomen Spitting up If your baby spits up after feeding or during burping, they may have excessive gas build up Sucking noise while feeding If you can hear the sound of air being taken in, chances are there will be a build-up of gas later
Just as important as knowing how to make a newborn baby burp is knowing why it is so important – this may help you understand how to make baby burp and avoid complications. The simple reasoning behind this is that burping helps avoid gas buildup. Baby’s cannot burp on their own for the first few months, therefore they have no way of expelling any air that they may have swallowed over the course of crying or being fed. Due to the natural suckling reflex, babies tend to swallow a considerable amount of air over the course of a feeding, regardless of whether they are breast or bottle feed. Babies with colic may also swallow air during crying spells, which can cause significant discomfort. It is very important to have an understanding of how to make a baby burp to avoid this discomfort and disturbance, and avoid problems such as indigestion or sleep disturbance.
Burping is usually quite simple – hold the baby in an upright position such as over the shoulder or lying on your lap and gently rub or pat their back. Wait a few minutes and try again if they don’t burp immediately. If this frequency doesn’t work, try some of the following ways to make baby burp faster:
Rub their back while pressing gently on their upper belly with your collarbone On the lap Place your hand under their ribcage and apply slight pressure and rub their back with the other hand Over the arm Place baby over your arm and pat their back as you move around Over the hand Lean baby forward with their chin resting on your hand and rub their back Over the knee Place your baby stomach-down on your knee and pat their back Knee to chest Bend the baby’s knees up to their chest gently and rub their back Rhythm method Place baby on your knee while holding them securely. Rock their upper body left and right, back and forth while bouncing them gently Bounce out Using an exercise ball, hold your baby close to your chest and sit down on the ball. Bounce up and down gently. Massage Lay baby stomach down and tilt their head to the side. Gently massage up and down your baby’s spine Cycling Place baby on their back and ‘pedal’ their legs back and forth up to their chest and back out What to do if these don’t work? If these different positions don’t work, there are a few things that may be causing your baby to have excessive gas build-up. Pay attention to the following: Mom’s Diet Breastfed babies respond to what mom is eating, and certain foods such as dairy may be causing excessive gas. Unmixed formula Try swirling while mixing formula instead of shaking, or letting it sit before feeding to release any trapped air bubbles Nipples Using the wrong sized nipple may be causing them to swallow too quickly – ensure they are using the right sized nipples Bottles Certain bottles are designed to limit the amount of air swallowed by a baby Natural Remedies Gripe water is a natural remedy containing herbs such as chamomile, ginger, or peppermint that may help soothe the baby’s stomach – make sure to check dosages, especially for infants Patience It is important to remember that all babies are different – try different methods for burping your new-born until you found what works, and stick with it.
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