While some infants have more gas than others, most infants eventually need to be burped. Infants need to burp far more frequently than older children or adults do. They can gulp a lot of air because they consume all of their calories.
It can be crucial to burp a baby both day and night. Babies occasionally doze off during feedings, so you may need to figure out how to burp them while they’re still asleep. How much a newborn can sleep through is amazing.
Even if your child nods out, give them a burp for a few minutes before putting them back to sleep. If not, they’ll wake up in agony from the trapped gas.
However, not all babies burp, whether they do so naturally or with your assistance. Read on to learn how to burp your baby even if they are asleep if they need it.
A crucial aspect of feeding your infant is winding or burping. Air bubbles can get stuck in your baby’s stomach as they swallow and be very uncomfortable. While some infants need assistance, others can burp on their own.
When ought I to burp my infant?
There are no set guidelines for when to burp your infant; some need it during feeding and some need it after. Keep an eye out for signs; if your baby seems uneasy when feeding, take a brief burping break. Wait till they have completed eating if they seem fine while doing so. Your infant will alert you.
Which position is ideal for burping my infant?
Your baby can be burped in a few different ways. Try each one to find which one works best, or try a combination of them:
baby over the shoulder burping
- the other shoulder
- With your shoulder supported and your baby’s chin resting on it, stroke and pat your baby’s back while supporting the head and shoulder region with one hand. It would be beneficial to move around while performing this.
infant snoring while on your lap
- perched on your lap
- Face away from you, and place your infant on your lap. Support their chin and jaw with your palm flat against their chest; avoid applying pressure to the throat region. Leaning slightly forward, pat or softly stroke your baby’s back with your free hand.
a baby lying over the lap is burping
- slouching on your lap
- Lay your infant face down across your lap. Use your free hand to gently pat or rub your baby’s back while holding their chin up (without putting any pressure on their throat).
What if my child refuses to burp?
Try laying your baby on their back and giving their stomach a gentle massage if these measures don’t relieve your baby’s trapped wind (crying, arched back, bringing legs into tummy, clenched fists). Additionally, rock your infant back and forth with its legs like they’re riding a bicycle. If this doesn’t work, speak with your health visitor; they can give you advice on what to do next.
How to burp a baby who is asleep
Whether nursing or taking a bottle, newborns frequently doze off while eating. They frequently feel content and at ease as their stomachs fill up and they begin making soothing sucking motions, and they frequently nod off.
When their sleep desire is high at night, this is very likely to occur. It’s crucial to try to get a burp out of some babies before putting them back to sleep, even if they appear happy and soundly asleep.
Burping a sleeping baby is very similar to burping an awake baby. To aid them in staying asleep, you can move more slowly. With a sleeping baby, some burping postures are a little bit simpler to manage.
For instance, many individuals may place a newborn on their knee in an upright position while cupping their chin to support the baby’s head. In this posture, the baby’s weight and gravity work together to push air out and up. If your goal is to keep the baby asleep, you might not want to try this position because it is more likely to rouse the infant.
A baby should be somewhat upright so that you may apply pressure to their stomach when burping them. If your infant doesn’t defecate straight away after eating, you might want to change their diaper before giving them a nighttime meal so you won’t have to wake them up if they nod off again.
Should I actually burp my child?
Burping is just one of the numerous responsibilities parents have to handle till their child becomes more independent. Kids and adults can easily release their own gas, but because babies have so limited control over how their bodies are positioned, many of them require assistance.
If your kid is the type who can eat without burping or if they require constant burping, you’ll find out quite early. You should discuss reflux with your doctor if your infant spits up or produces a lot of gas.
Focus on any comfort measures that work and don’t worry too much about getting burps out if you do have a colicky infant but can’t seem to get them to burp. According to one study, burping won’t assist reduce colic.
Regardless of how frequently your baby burps throughout the day, it could be beneficial to burp them after each midnight feeding. Make the most of your time while you’re up feeding the baby by making a serious attempt at burping. Following the feeding, this might help everyone sleep for a long time.
Pharmacies sell gas drops and gripe water but see your doctor before using any of them. These supplements may include harmful substances because they are not safety-regulated. Ask your doctor for coping mechanisms if your infant is frequently spitting up or particularly irritable and gassy, regardless of whether they do so. After a few months, most infants outgrow this.
The choking risk from spit-up is extremely infrequent. It’s still vital to avoid overfeeding your baby, and if they appear to benefit from it, attempt to burp them after each feeding.
How long does it take to burp?
Usually, burping simply requires a minute or two. When you lift your infant upright, a burp may appear immediately away, but other times you may need to wait a little while and encourage things with a light pat or abdominal pressure.
Get your infant used to sleeping in their cot instead of while being fed as this is another useful technique. Stop feeding them when you see them starting to nod off at the breast or bottle, give them a little burp, and then lay them down to sleep. It is simpler to do this the younger you start.
Talk to your baby’s doctor about further gas relief options if they are frequently stiff and uncomfortable. After feeding, day or night, some infants with severe reflux may need to remain upright for 30 minutes.
How to proceed if your infant does not burp
Try burping your infant for a minute if they are sleepy before putting them back to sleep. Because they eat more slowly and get less air while feeding at night, newborns may not need to burp as frequently.
If they cry when they wake up, comfort them, see if they need a new diaper, if it’s time, feed them again, and try to burp them after that feeding.
Causes of newborns’ gassiness
Although there is just anecdotal support for this, some individuals think that newborns who are bottle-fed are more prone to experience gas. As they guzzle from bottles, babies may be exposed to more air, which could lead to overfeeding. However, each child is unique, and even breastfed infants can experience extreme flatulence, sometimes as a result of dietary sensitivities.
Even though it’s rare, a breastfeeding mother might have to try numerous different foods before determining exactly what she ate to upset her baby’s tummy. A mother cannot be informed by a reliable study as to the precise reason for her baby’s excessive gas. Additionally, a lot of babies with gas don’t seem to mind it.
Takeaway
Burping is a simple but crucial approach to caring for and keeping your infant comfortable. Burping can help your baby relieve gas so they don’t get uncomfortable or wake up too early, even if they are asleep.
For instance, many individuals may place a newborn on their knee in an upright position while cupping their chin to support the baby’s head. In this posture, the baby’s weight and gravity work together to push air out and up. If your goal is to keep the baby asleep, you might not want to try this position because it is more likely to rouse the infant.
A baby should be somewhat upright so that you may apply pressure to their stomach when burping them. If your infant doesn’t defecate straight away after eating, you might want to change their diaper before giving them a nighttime meal so you won’t have to wake them up if they nod off again.
