Tips on Burping a Baby

How to get your baby to burp? If you are not sure why a baby needs to be burped, let me tell you the need for burping a newborn. While you are feeding your baby, your little one might be gulping a lot of air. This air gets trapped in the baby's stomach. Since babies cannot get this air out on their own, you need to burp them to release it. Gently tapping on their back generally helps in forcing the air out of their system. If you are unable to get your baby to burp, all that trapped air might cause a lot of discomfort to your baby.

If gas stays trapped in your baby's stomach, your baby might become colicky. This will make your baby cranky and long sessions of crying will leave both you and your baby exhausted. Therefore, it is extremely important to learn effective burping methods. So, if your baby doesn't burp easily, you must try out all possible techniques to get the air out of your baby's stomach. If you are new to parenthood, it's time to learn tips on burping a baby so that your little one stays happy and comfortable.

Positions to Burp a Baby

Shoulder Position
The most common method is the over-the-shoulder position. Mostly babies respond well to this position. Since babies are very delicate, make sure you use a soft towel over your shoulder. With one hand, hold your baby's bottom and pat the baby's back with the other hand. You must make sure that your collarbone is pressed against your little one's stomach. Continue patting your baby's back till the air is forced up and is released in the form of a burp.

Lap Position
If the shoulder position doesn't seem to help, you could try the lap position. Make your little one sit on your lap. Place your hand on your baby's chest and keep your fingers under your baby's chin. Rub the baby's back in a circular motion so that the gas is released.

Belly Position
Keep a soft towel over your lap. Place the baby on his/her belly in such a manner that her head is supported by one thigh while the stomach rests on the other. Make sure that your baby is comfortable. Pat the baby's back in an upward circular motion. Continue to pat till the baby burps. If your baby doesn't respond to any of these positions, you could try another method. Once you have fed your baby, stand and hold the baby in such a way that your baby's back is placed against your chest. Keep one of your hands over the baby's chest. Lean the baby slightly forward over your arm. Keep walking till the gas is released and the baby burps.

Tick Tock Method
You could also try the 'tick tock' method. You need to be in a standing position. Place your hands under your little one's armpits and use your fingers to support the baby's head. Hold the baby and keep rocking them from one side to another. As you rock them alternating between right and left side, the trapped air might be released in the form of a burp. You could also try massaging your baby's tummy to get rid of the gas.

Tips for Burping a Newborn

If your baby has been very cranky, make sure that you burp him/her more often. If you are breastfeeding your baby, you should burp the baby every time you switch breasts. If you are using a bottle, you will need to burp the baby every few ounces. You will be able to make out from your baby's actions that he/she needs to be burped. You could also burp your baby during the feeding to ensure that too much gas doesn't get trapped in the baby's stomach. Do not burp a baby while he/she is still hungry, get him/her to burp when your little one is not eating very quickly. After the baby completes nine months, you might not need to continue burping your little one. Generally when the babies are able to sit on their own, they might be able to burp on their own, but if that is not the case with your baby, you should continue burping your baby.

Hope you found the information on burping tips useful. If you are having trouble burping your baby, use these baby techniques for releasing the trapped air.