September 27, 2024

Newborn babies often make a weird, gasping sound when they first inhale or are fed. And if you're a new parent, it can be pretty startling. Baby burps are normal, though, so there's no need to panic. It will pass like any other part of pregnancy, but not as quickly as you think. Our guide on how to burp a baby will get you through this stage.

  • Baby is sleeping soundly against your chest, and you breathe in that wonderful new baby smell. While breastfeeding is the optimal way to feed a baby, there may be times when a bottle or pump is required. Hold the baby to your chest. That is the safest way to do it. The chin must be resting against your sternum, and your nipple should be fully submerged in your baby's mouth. This pose is called baby-on-chest, and many babies are happy to stay in this position. But even though breastfeeding is optimal, baby-on-chest isn't the only way to nourish a newborn.

  • When cradling the baby on your lap, make sure you are supporting the baby's head and chest with your left or right hand. Cradle the baby's chin up in your hand’s palm. Rest your palm’s heel on the baby's chest. Just be careful not to grip the baby's throat, only the chin. Use your free hand to stroke or pat your baby's chest, back, and stomach.

Sitting in a comfortable rocking chair, the baby cradled across your lap, and your chest resting against your baby's tiny chest might feel cozy, but it isn't safe for the baby. Even the smallest babies can slip right out of the seat, causing a baby to slip and injure the neck.

  • Expectant moms should lay their babies on their laps when they are awake and on their bellies for sleeping. Make sure that your baby's head is higher than their chest.  pat your babies’ back gently. (Make sure that your baby's head is not facing down. Otherwise, it could choke.)

Breast-feeding is the healthiest, cheapest, and most natural way to feed your baby. So, when breastfeeding a baby, it's natural that breastfeeding mothers want to know how to breastfeed well. But what happens when breastfeeding moms have circumstances beyond their control that interfere with their feedings, such as pain or discomfort? Stop breastfeeding if the baby seems fastidious; let the baby burp, and feed again. Do try burping the baby every after 2- 3 oz or 60-90 ml bottle-feeding, and when switching breasts when breastfeeding.

Like many parents, you may not feel like you're doing the best job burping the baby. The babies have spit up or gas, and burping may help soothe their discomfort. According to the Zero to Three websites, the baby should burp after every feeding and any change to their routine. If the baby appears to be uncomfortable between feedings, burp him often. After burping, your baby should lie down and nurse. If the baby has trouble latching on, burp her every 5 minutes until she is settled.

Burping the baby every time they take a sip may seem counterintuitive (you are ensuring no air gets into the breast or a bottle), but it's the best way to burp a baby. Here's why.

  • Your baby doesn't burp after a bottle-feeding, breastfeeding, or is gassy; try burping them frequently. According to the pediatrician, every 5 to 10 minutes should be plenty. However, your baby's age and personality may be a factor; check with your pediatrician about how much time is right for the baby.

  • Is your baby spitting up a lot? A nursing mother's milk will typically be clear, and milk-fed babies often don't spit up. However, some babies are just more prone to spitting than others. These babies often spit up more while feeding, especially when they are between 1 to 3 months old. A speech pathologist from Seattle Children's hospital suggests several methods to reduce spitting up. Your baby's spit-up is perfectly normal, but a little spit-up and a lot of spit-ups can be a true nuisance. Fortunately, there are ways to help decrease spit-up when you're breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Try burping the baby—every 5 minutes during breastfeeding or every ounce during bottle-feeding if the baby spits a lot. The easy way: place your baby in an upright, stable position in a car seat, lay your baby on her tummy or back, and burp by lightly pressing her chest. The hard way: use soft, cupped hands to massage the baby’s back gently, and massage your baby's shoulders, arms and chest until she burps.

  • Many parents have been taught the "sucking" method of feeding babies. This is the top-down method where the baby's nipple is placed between the lips and sucked up and down until the baby spits it out. This adapted method can work for some babies, but others need the "flipping" method of feeding, where the baby's nipple is placed into their mouth, and the baby has flipped around so that the nipple is pressed against their stomach, and they are fed until the baby spits it out.

An infant's digestive system is immature, and when your baby gets gas from eating, it can cause discomfort. Burping the baby after feedings can help get rid of gas, but it does not always work. Change the baby's position if it doesn’t burp and try again after a few minutes to resume the feeding session. Don’t forget to burp the baby after every feeding time.

How frequently should I burp my baby?

When you are a new mom, you will likely be bombarded with questions and advice all through the day. Should you breastfeed or bottle-feed? What should you do if your baby cries for no apparent reason?

While some of the advice may seem intuitive, much of it may not be. When it comes to burping, there are a lot of conflicting opinions out there, and it can be hard to know what to do. The experts weigh in, so you can feel confident you are doing what's best for the baby.

Every baby is different, and there's no way to tell for sure when to introduce a bottle. All you can do is try feeding the baby on demand since the American Academy of Pediatrics advises against pump feeding unless the baby is having trouble gaining weight. Babies younger than eight to 12 weeks should generally be fed on demand, as should babies with reflux or spit-up. Once your infant is 12 to 16 weeks old, try introducing a bottle between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., when your baby will be awake and nursing. If your baby seems hungry, but she's only nursed for 15 to 30 minutes, then give her the bottle.

Bottle-feeding is tricky. The baby learns how to drink from a spoon using the nipple. If you burp the baby after every few ounces of milk, she will learn to drink from a bottle faster. Your number one question is probably "How long will it take?" as a new parent. The length of bottle-feeding depends largely on the formula and your baby's appetite and age. Babies typically begin to feed themselves at 6 to 8 months. However, they usually have mastered bottle feeding between the ages of 8 and 10 months. Beyond 10 months, babies can become interested in "grown-up" food and drink, so bottle-feeding may come to an end.

  • Breastfeeding is one of the best things a mom can do for her child, and one of the reasons is that breastfeeding helps babies grow up to be healthier. However, it's also important to learn a few tips and tricks for breastfeeding so you can ensure you're doing it right. "Where do babies come from?" (You don't have to say it if you don't want to. Just know that "Baby, it's cold outside" is a 1964 song.) Speaking of "out" (well, outside the womb), though, babies need air to breathe. But between feedings and diaper changes, babies swallow lots of air. Let them burp when she's switched to the other breast to keep the air going. Is your newborn managing only one breast at a time? Burp mid-feed or after feeding, whichever works for her.

Occasionally, a baby may refuse to eat when she's nursing. It's common and nothing to worry about. When you switch to a different breast, she may swallow air, causing her to feel uncomfortably full. It's common for a newborn to manage only one breast at a time. To coax your baby to eat more, burp when she switches from one breast to the other.

What if my baby doesn't burp? What should I do?

A baby who fails to burp after feeding may seem fussy and uncomfortable, but don't worry. Most babies don't burp after feeding, and this will rarely cause a problem. But if your baby used to burp a lot and suddenly stops, or if they don’t burp at all, this could indicate a problem with digestion.

If your baby seems uncomfortable or fussy after a meal, that's probably the reason. While colic is the most common cause of fussiness, if your baby doesn't burp after feeding, it could be a sign of GERD, which could cause your baby to become sick to his stomach. Don't assume your baby isn't burping just because he's not passing gas. Some babies aren't quite as keen on gassy babies as the rest of us. If your baby doesn't pass gas very often, or if he's bothered by gas pains, it might be because he's swallowing lots of air.

Babies often seem completely unaffected by gas pains. Or, they simply pass the gas so often that the sensation of discomfort isn't as pronounced. But gas is gas, and babies should be healthy and comfortable. When gas is trapped and begins to ferment and bloat, it can cause pain and distress—the most common sign of which is choking.

Most new parents have probably heard the term "colic" come up in conversation at some point. Colic is the term used to describe the excessive crying or irritability that usually occurs in babies between 3 and 6 weeks. While the crying and fussing that is often associated with colic may last as long as 6 weeks, most infants outgrow the condition by 3-4 months. Colic affects roughly half of infants and typically resolves on its own by the second or third month.

Babies have a lot to learn about various parts of their bodies, and burping is one of the more important things they must learn. Burping is a physical action that is meant to help release gas from the stomach in a safe place, but babies are learning how to do it incorrectly. Burping babies can be extremely loud, especially when they start to cough or gag while out on the road. A baby's spit is not like most human’s spit, so they may spit up a lot of saliva while sleeping. This saliva can cause a lot of mess and discomfort for the baby; however, baby burping not only relieves some of the discomforts but also is important for the baby's digestion.

  1. Take a seat in an upright position and then hold the baby on your chest. The baby’s head should be resting upon your shoulder, supporting her or him with the other hand, while gently patting the baby's back with the other. You can also sit on a comfy rocking chair, then gently rock the baby.

  2. Hold the baby across your knees or on your lap in a sitting position. Hold a baby on your lap. Babies love to be held and be close to mom or dad. When holding your baby, put one hand on their back and one on their bottom. Put your hand on their shoulder and rub their back. Another way to hold the baby is on their knees. The baby will lean against you and you will be able to hold him or her this way easily. You can hold them crossed on the lap.

  3. Lay the baby on her or his belly on your lap. Do this by supporting the baby's head and ensuring it will be higher than the chest. Pat the baby’s back gently.

When your baby is born, they will experience many feeding sessions. Every baby is different and will need different amounts of food and different feeding styles. It is very important that you start burping the baby as soon as you begin feeding.

Try to have the baby burp after feeding. Prevent the milk from coming back up, Keep the baby in an upright position for about 10-15 minutes after feeding. If the baby has GERD don’t worry, all you can do is the proper burping for the baby.

Image source: edicalnewstoday.com

About the Author JChou

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}