As babies eat, the air swallowed becomes trapped and often requires burping to relieve the discomfort. Watch for signs of trapped air while feeding your baby, including a pause in eating, fussing or moving around. These signs indicate when you need to burp your baby using the specific techniques that work for your baby.
Timing
A bottle-fed baby is more likely to swallow air and may need more burping than a breastfed baby. Stop for a burping session after each 2 to 3 ounces of formula to prevent a buildup of air in the stomach. Burp your baby again when the bottle is empty. For a breastfed baby, take a few minutes to burp when she switches from one breast to the other and at the end of the nursing session. A baby who is fussy or seems uncomfortable while eating may have trapped air. Try taking a break and burping your baby to see if she feeds more comfortably.
Positioning
Various positions provide different options for helping your baby burp. An upright position is often used with the baby's face near your shoulder. For young babies without head control, rest the head on your shoulder so it doesn't flop around. Another upright positioning option uses your lap to support your baby. Hold his head and chest with one hand with his chin resting in the palm of your hand. A final option is to rest him across your lap on his tummy with his head slightly elevated as you support it with one hand.
Action
One of your hands helps support the baby, while the other pats or rubs the back to help release the stuck air. Pat the back firmly without hurting your child or jarring her body. A rhythmic patting motion helps soothe your baby if she is also fussy during burping. If patting bothers your baby or isn't effective in releasing the burp, try firm rubbing in a circular or up-and-down motion along her back.
Tips
Keep a burp rag or other clean cloth nearby in case your baby spits up during burping. A bib helps protect your baby's clothes to some degree. Your baby may not burp every time you feed him. Give him a few minutes to release a burp. If he doesn't burp and doesn't seem uncomfortable, end the session and continue feeding or go onto another activity. An upright feeding position helps reduce the amount of air swallowed during a feeding for fewer burping issues.
