How to burp your baby (2024)

Some babies need to burp during every feeding, while others rarely need to burp at all. Some take a lot of time to burp, while others burp with the first couple of pats. You'll soon learn your baby's burping needs – here's how to meet them.

How to burp a baby

There's more than one way to get the job done. Here are three different burping methods you can try. Experiment to find the one that's most comfortable and effective for you and your baby.

Burpyour baby on your chest or shoulder

• Put a cloth over your shoulder (letting it fall down your back) to protect your clothes from spit-up.
• Hold your baby against your chest so their chin is resting on your shoulder.
• Support their bottom with one hand and gently pat or rub their back with the other.

Or, try this as an alternative when your baby has more head and neck control:

• Hold your baby farther up on your shoulder – high enough that your shoulder presses lightly on their belly, creating gentle pressure that will draw out the burp.
• Support them with one hand and gently pat or rub their back with the other.
• Make sure your baby is able to breathe comfortably and isn't slumped over too far. A quick peek in the mirror to check their head placement can be helpful.

Burpyour baby while they're sitting on your lap

• Put a cloth bib on your baby or a cloth over your lap to catch any spit-up.
• Sit your baby on your lap facing away from you or to the side.
• Use one hand to support their body, the palm of your hand supporting their chest while your fingers gently support their chin and jaw. (Make sure you're not putting your fingers around their throat.)
• Lean your baby slightly forward and gently pat or rub their back with your other hand.

Burpyour baby face-down across your lap

• Put a cloth over your lap to catch any spit-up.
• Lay your baby face down on your legs so they're lying across your knees, perpendicular to your body.
• Support their chin and jaw with one hand. Make sure your baby's head isn't lower than the rest of their body so blood doesn't rush to their head.
• Pat or rub their back with your other hand.

Whichever position you use, here are some general tips for burping your baby:

• Make sure their back is straight, not curled over.
• Use firm but gentle pressure.
• Try circular motions, too.
• If you're bottle-feeding, you may find that certain types of bottles help your baby swallow less air and reduce the need to burp.
• If your baby tends to spit up a lot, you may want to avoid positions that put added pressure on your baby's tummy during burping (high on your shoulder or lying face down across your lap, for example).

When do babies need to be burped?

One good strategy is to take a burping break after every 2 or 3 ounces if you're bottle-feeding, or when your baby switches breasts if you're breastfeeding.

If your baby seems uncomfortable while feeding – they're squirmy, or they pull away and start crying, arch their back, or pull up their legs – it may be because they have some air in their tummy. This is a good time to give burping a try.

If you don't burp your baby when they need it, air will take up the room they need to fill with breast milk or formula. (Their tummies are small!) Trapped air can make a baby gassy or spit up often. It can also cause a vicious cycle – if your baby is unhappy because they need to burp, they may cry and swallow more air, making them need to burp even more.

Burping can also be beneficial for babies who spit up often or have gassy tummies or symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

That said, there's no rule that babies have to burp during every feeding. If your baby rarely burps and falls blissfully asleep after feeding, you may not need to burp them. In fact, some babies may not need to be routinely burped.

"If your baby is a good eater – is gaining weight well – and doesn't seem affected by gassiness or reflux, then skipping the burping sessions altogether is reasonable," explains Liz Donner, M.D., a pediatric hospitalist in Orlando, Florida.

When to stop burping your baby

As babies get older, their digestive systems become more mature, and they may learn to eat without swallowing a lot of air. This may happen around the time they start solid food, at around 4 to 6 months. There's nothing wrong with continuing to burp your baby after this time, though, if you think they still need some help.

How long do you have to burp a baby?

Some babies burp easily and others need a little (or a lot of) help. Most will let out a burp within a few moments, but others may take longer and need more coaxing.

You can stop burping your baby once they get a burp or two up and seem comfortable. If they're not full, they'll eat more – and likely need to be burped again.

If your baby hasn't burped after a few minutes and seems fussy, try a different position. If they still seem uncomfortable, lay them down for a minute on their back. Gently rub their tummy and /or bicycle their legs. Then pick them up and gently try to burp them again.

If you've tried burping your baby for a few minutes and nothing's happening, it's fine to stop – your baby may not have any air trapped that needs to come up. If you know your baby generally takes longer to burp, though, keep trying. Taking the time to make sure your baby has all the air bubbles out will make them happier – and help them rest better if they're about to nap or sleep.

Do breastfed babies need to be burped?

In general, breastfed babies don't need as much burping as bottle-fed babies because they tend to swallow less air when feeding. In fact, some very efficient nursers don't need to be burped at all.

But some breastfed babies definitely do need to be burped. If you have a fast letdown and/or a lot of milk, your baby may swallow some air as they adjust to the flow and need burping later. A breastfeeding baby may also swallow a lot of air if they're very hungry or upset when they start nursing. Every baby is different, so follow your baby's cues.

Learn more:

• Swaddling a baby
• Why babies spit up
• How to care for a newborn
• Baby hiccups