Baby Burping Guide

November 17, 2018

A very funny part of having your beautiful little baby is the surprising and often inappropriately timed bodily functions they are able to produce. They’re generally emitted when you least expect them, in a place where you are least able to deal with them, and when the whole entire room is silent.

It’s quite comical when you are gazing into your little angel’s eyes thinking she or he is the most perfect creation ever to have graced the planet and then ‘BURP!’ A very surprising noise erupts in your face. Or, if you have a reflux baby, it may even come with something more solid, or liquid, than air.

First of all, let’s consider; why do babies need to burp? When they feed, air gets in as well as breastmilk or formula. This causes gas bubbles which makes your scrumptious baby uncomfortable. You might see them squirming and wriggling, crying and going red in the face. These can be signs that gas is trapped and they need release!

So here at the Organic Baby Food Shop we put our heads together to help you deal with how to burp a baby, what are the best baby burping positions, and how long to burp a baby. Never fear, your answers are here. We were desperate for the best baby burping tricks too and we’re always on the lookout for a new technique to help our crunchy mummies and daddies.

Here is a great, short, very cute and funny video to help you get started. Thanks TheQuezada 5 for showing us how to burp a newborn baby and what a great and fast result! We’ve used this technique a lot amongst our staff at the Organic Baby Food Shop and it’s one of our favorites. Baby is sitting up, head supported by a U shape you create between your thumb and forefinger, cupping baby’s head. Baby’s belly is resting on your forearm and you gently lean baby forwards and pat their back. Don’t whomp them! It’s gentle patting, not brute force.

Need more baby burping tips? Of course there’s more ways to burp a baby. We also like the old ‘over the shoulder’ technique. Where you put baby over your shoulder and gently rub their back in a circular motion and pat them gently on the back to bring up air or reflux. Have a burping cloth ready just in case so that you can catch those sticky surprises!

If your baby is a bit older you could lay them belly down on a matt. This is called ‘tummy time’ and they can wriggle about and release their gas themselves. Another small step on the path to independence but don’t give them the keys to the car just yet!

So what is the best way to burp a baby? Well, there is no best way. Different babies react to different techniques. And what works one day may work the next. Variety is the spice of life so mix it up and work it into your routine regularly after feeding.

Maybe you’re thinking; do breastfed babies need to be burped? Yes they do, burping is important for every baby. It’s true that bottle fed babies do tend to take in more gas and require more burping, but this also depends on mom’s diet if she is breastfeeding. So if you have a gassy baby, consider staying away from soft drinks, beans and cauliflower for a while.

Ok so you’ve tried everything and still no luck. What if my baby won't burp after feeding? Well, one of our mom’s had this problem. And she called grandma to come and help and show her how to do it. And wouldn’t you know it grandma did it within a few seconds. Urg! Frustrating! But, never be afraid to watch videos, ask your partner, ask a relative, ask a friend. And just keep trying, you’re doing great!